Aphrodisias Ancient City The ancient city of Aphrodisias is situated in the Karacasu district of Aydin, Turkey, and was devoted to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It came to light in 1958 thanks to Ara Guler, a renowned Turkish photojournalist, who captured images while photographing a newly built dam in the region. Throughout the Hellenistic and Roman eras, Aphrodisias gained fame for its rich marble quarries located in the surrounding hills. This marble was widely transported and used to build temples, statues, and architectural marvels across the ancient world. The city also housed a prominent sculpture academy, and numerous statues crafted there are still preserved in its museum today. Remarkably, many of these works feature artist signatures that can be found on sculptures across Europe and even in Egypt. Archaeological digs on the city's theatre hill, which rises to a height of 78 feet, have unearthed settlement layers dating as far back as the Bronze Age, approximately between 2,800 and 2,200 BC. The official founding of the city dates to 5 BC, and it reached its peak during the Roman era, between 100 BC and 400 AD. In the Byzantine era, Aphrodisias served as the initial seat of an archbishopric and later rose to become the metropolitan center of Caria. As Christianity gained prominence, the city's name was changed to Stavropolis, meaning "the city of the Cross." Today, it is known as Geyre in Turkish. However, in the 13th century, a series of devastating earthquakes led to its abandonment and eventual burial. The remarkable history of Aphrodisias, a culturally rich ancient site in Turkey, was nearly forgotten until the dedicated excavation efforts of Turkish archaeologist Dr. Kenan Erim from New York University. Supported by a National Geographic grant in the 1960s, Dr. Erim uncovered a wealth of ruins that revealed the city's significance as one of Turkey’s most treasured archaeological discoveries. Today, travelers visiting Aphrodisias can stroll along pathways that were once walked by people over two thousand years ago. They can admire the well-preserved Temple of Aphrodite, which was later transformed into a Christian basilica, and view the impressive Tetrapylon—a grand gateway to the city's main sanctuary, meticulously reconstructed by Dr. Erim. The remains of the Baths of Hadrian still stand, and the city is home to some of the most intact theaters and stadiums in the eastern Mediterranean region. The on-site museum displays an exquisite collection of sculptures and portrait statues that showcase the city's artistic legacy. Located just over ninety minutes from Pamukkale and about two hours from Ephesus, Aphrodisias is easily accessible. Visitors can enjoy a variety of local culinary delights made with premium olive oil at cozy, family-run restaurants either near the ruins or along the route. Due to its outstanding cultural and historical value, the Aphrodisias archaeological site was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. If you have any questions or would like more information about the Aphrodisias Ancient City, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply reach out via WhatsApp. We’re happy to assist you as soon as we can. Our Tours including Aphrodisias Ancient City Private Laodicea & Aphrodisias Ancient City Tour 2 Days Private Pamukkale - Laodicea - Aphrodisias Tour from Istanbul