Ancient Sites Photo Gallery
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Turkey, Ephesus - temple of HadrianA magnificent relief of Medusa filling the interior arch of the temple of Hadrian. Other reliefs of Amazons and the Olympian gods grace the interior.
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Turkey, Ephesus - temple of HadrianJ. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Temple of Hadrian - Easter 2007Potator II
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Turkey, Ephesus - Terrace HouseLocated in the ongoing excavation of the upper-class terrace houses. Lovely floor mosaic
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Turkey, Ephesus - TheaterOne of the largest in the ancient world. The apostle Paul spoke here before getting booted out for causing riots.
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatre44000 spectators - maybe the largest ancient theatreJ. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - theatreJ. B.
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Turkey, Ephesus - Wall frescoLocated in the ongoing excavation of the upper-class terrace houses. Note the opening in the wall for circulation. The entire complex must have appeared like a luxury hotel with a central arbitorium.
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Turkey, Ephesus, Library of CelsusOne of the true glories of Ephesus is the reconstructed facade of the Library of Celsus. Dedicated in 120 A.D to the former governor of Asia Gaius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, the library contained up to 12,000 scrolls. It was burned when the Goths sacked the city in 260 A. D. The edifice to the right is the Gate of Hadrian which connected the library to the public agora or marketplace.
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Turkey, Erythrai amphitheatreErythrai amphitheatre ruins in Turkey, 2009.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Hierapolis - main streetHierapolis was used as spa since Hellenistic times.J. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - main streetHierapolis was used as spa since Hellenistic times.J. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - necropolisJ. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - roman bath(northern bath)J. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - theatreJ. B.
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Turkey, Hierapolis - theatreJ. B.
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Turkey, Iasos, View of the agora from the bouleuterionTurkey, Iasos, View of the agora from the bouleuterion
Iasos or Iassos, Latinized as Iasus or Iassus, was a Greek city in ancient Caria located on the Gulf of Iasos (now called the Gulf of Gulluk), opposite the modern town of Gulluk, Turkey. It was originally on an island, but is now connected to the mainland, near the village of Kiyikislacik, about 31 km from the center of Milas. Iasos was a member of the Delian League and was involved in the Peloponnesian War, 431–404 B.C. After the Sicilian expedition of the Athenians, Iasos was attacked by the Spartans and their allies; it was governed at the time by Amorges, a Persian chief, who had revolted from Darius II. It was taken by the Spartans, who captured Amorges and delivered him up to Tissaphernes. The town itself was plundered on that occasion. It became part of the Hecatomnid satrapy in the 4th century and was conquered by Alexander. We afterwards find it besieged by Philip V, king of Macedon, who, however, was compelled by the Romans to restore it to Ptolemy V of Egypt. It seems to have been abandoned in about the 15th–16th century, in the Ottoman period. Part of the city walls still exist, and are of a regular, solid, and handsome structure. In the side of the rock a theater with many rows of seats still remains, and several inscriptions and coins have been found there.
Photo source: By AlexanderVanLoon - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47358665Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople)Hagia Sophia (translated holy wisdom).Erected in the 6th Century (the third church at this place) during the reign of Iustinianus I. It was the main church of the byzantine empire. After the conquering of Constantinople by the osmanic turks in 1453 it became a mosque and then since 1935 a museum.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) - Halikarnassos mausoleum lionThis is a lion from the Mausoleum of Halikarnassos (now Bodrum Turkey), one of the seven world wonders. Now in the archaeological museum of Istanbul. Behind the lion is a picture of the reconstruction of the building.The building is now nearly completely destroyed.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) - Obelisk Thutmosis HippodromEgypt obelisk (from Thutmosis III temple of Karnak 1471 before christ). now on the Hippodrom place (where in ancient times was a horse race-track) in Instanbul, erected under the reign of Theodosius in the year 390 after christ.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) - Yerebatan Saray CisternThe cistern was build in the year 542 under the reign of Justinian. It is positioned near the Hagia Sophia museum. The Gorgo (a female monster with serpents instead of hairs- one view can kill) head belongs to an old unknown monument and was used here in this cistern a second time as a base of a column. The cistern consists of 336 columns. But only 2 gorgo heads can be seen in the cistern.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) - Yerebatan Saray CisternA mysterious place under modern Istanbul. The technical data: the cistern is 138 m long and 65 m wide, the capacity is 21 million US gallons of water or 80.000 cubic meters, 336 marble columns.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) - Yerebatan Saray CisternThe second Gorgo of the Cistern. I saw a third Gorgo in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul. The original temple, from where the Gorgos were removed is still unknown.
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Turkey, Istanbul (Constantinople) The Land WallThe Land Wall of Theodosius stretches for 6.5 km from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara. The first phase (a single wall with towers) was complete by 413; after a major earthquake in 447 the Wall was rebuilt and strengthened (a second outer screen and a moat were added), just in time to discourage Attila the Hun from attacking the city. The fortifications included 96 guard towers, each 18-20 m in height and spaced roughly 55 m apart. The Land Wall remained a formidable defensive barrier until the advent of artillery in the 15th century. Even in ruins, and with vegetables growing in the moat, it's still an impressive sight today. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Istanbul - Alexander III in Lion Skin Head Dress - a frontal view - from the Alexander Sarcophagus in the Istanbul MuseumWe are accustomed to seeing the lion skin head dress in profile on coinage. Rarely are we afforded a more frontal view. I took this photo of Alexander the Great portrayed on the Alexander Sarcophagus in the Istanbul Museum. The head dress in nicely portrayed in three dimensions
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Turkey, Istanbul - Medusa's marble headIn the Underground Cistern, was taken from Tarsus in ancient times.
May 2011FlaviusDomitianus
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Turkey, Istanbul - the Column of MarcianThe column of emperor Marcian, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Column of Marcian was dedicated to Marcian, built by the praefectus urbi Tatianus, sometime between 450 and 452. It still stands in modern Istanbul, though the statue of Marcian which originally topped it has been lost. Marcian also had a statue in the Forum of Arcadius, which contained the statues of several of Arcadius' successors.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20111224_Flavius_Marcianus_Augustus_Column_Fatih_Istanbul_Turkey.jpgJoe Sermarini
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Turkey, Istanbul, Boukoleon Palace9-6-2015
This section was built in the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-42 AD).
The brick walls would have been clad in Marble.
The three doorways led to a balcony.
The Sea reached up to the walls in those days.
After being ransacked by the "4th Crusade" in 1204 AD, it remained abandoned, even after Michael VIII retook the city in 1261 AD.
The Ottomans never took this section over.
In 1873 AD it was partially destroyed to make way for the railway line that began at Sirkeci Station.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Column of Constantine9-6-2015
Known locally as "ÇemberlitaÅŸ" which translates as "hooped Stone" due to the Iron hoops added in 1779 AD after an earthquake and fire. The base was also reinforced at this date.
The column was inaugurated in 330 AD and originally had three more sections with a large Capital upon which was a gilded statue of Constantine in the guise of his favourite deity, Sol.
At the base of the column was said to have been a sanctuary with ancient relics stored.
A hurricane blew down the statue, Capital and upper three sections of column in 1106 AD.
In the reign of Manuel I (1143-1180 AD) a new Capital was installed with a dedicatory inscription around it which translates as "Faithful Manuel invigorated this holy work of art, which has been damaged by time."
A Cross was also placed on top of this, removed after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 AD. Bronze Wreaths are said to have covered the joints of the column, where the stone ones are today, said to have been looted by the Franks in 1204 AD.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia , picture from 2nd FloorSimon
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Turkey, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia at NightSimon
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Turkey, Istanbul, Maiden's Tower2-6-2015
The first recorded structure on this islet dates from 1110 AD when Emperor Alexius had a tower constructed on it.
This tower was linked to another tower on the European side (the Mangana district) by an iron chain.
This tower was connected to the nearby Asian coast by a causeway upon which was built a wall.
A number of additions and uses have happened to the tower since then, the last of which were steel supports after the devastating earthquake of 17 August 1999.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring7-6-2015
The full name of this ancient complex is "Monastery of the Mother of God at the Spring" but it is often known as "Zoödochos Pege" (Life-giving spring).
The Turkish name of it and the area is "Balıklı" which translates as "place where there are fishes" due to the presence of fish in this spring.
The era of the first Church complex around this spring is given either from the time of Emperor Leo I (457-74 AD) or Justinian I (527-65 AD).
Earthquakes and enemy invasions saw numerous rebuilding of this complex through the centuries.
The last was after the Pogroms of the 1950's.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Mosaic Museum9-6-2015
The south-western section of the Great Palace (dated to the reign of Emperor Justinian, 527-65 AD) was excavated in the years 1935-38 and 1951-54 by the University of St. Andrews.
This section comprised a Peristyle courtyard, decorated in Mosaics.
The Austrian Academy of Sciences undertook preservation work on the Mosaics in the years 1983-97.
In the photo above, you can also see the pipes inside the walls that would have water and heating.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Mosaic MuseumOutside the Museum is an array of columns, capitals, entablature and even marble Lions.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Princes Islands, Proti10-6-2015
The Monastery of the Transfiguration, on the island of Kınalıada (Proti).
A place of exile and burial of many members of the Byzantine aristocracy, including Emperors.
The earliest of which is said to have been Leo V (813-20 AD) but the most famous was Romanus IV (1068-71 AD).
Note the Corinthian capital in the foreground.
Like many ethnic Greek Church complexes in Turkey, this is often closed.Constantine IV
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Turkey, Istanbul, Rumeli HisariRumeli Hisari means ‘Rumelian Castle’: Rumelia (derived from ‘Rome’) being the Turkish word for the Balkan lands which once belonged to the Roman (Byzantine) Empire. The Rumeli Hisari was constructed in 1452 a few miles north of Constantinople on the European side of the Bosphorus by order of Sultan Mehmet II. Impressively, the whole fortress was built in less than four months. The Rumeli Hisari sits opposite an older, smaller Ottoman fort on the Asian side, the Anadolu Hisari (Anatolian Castle). Together the two forts effectively controlled traffic through the Bosphorus, cutting Constantinople off from the Black Sea and ensuring that an Ottoman army operating on the European side could be supplied from the granaries of central Anatolia. The building of Rumeli Hisari was preparation for the investment and conquest of Constantinople, which took place the following year.
The Rumeli Hisari/Anadolu Hisari forts are built at the point where the Bosphorus is most constricted (about 700m across). This is the same narrows where the Persian King Darius I over 2500 years ago built a ‘bridge of boats’ to transport his army across to attack Thrace (see Herodotus, Histories 4.87f). And these days a modern suspension bridge links Asia to Europe at the same spot, but sadly it rather spoils the view.
Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Kaunos - the TheatreA nicely proportioned theatre of the Greek type, with 34 rows of seats (18 below the diazoma and 16 above). The two arched entrances are original. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Kaunos: The Baetyl SanctuaryThe flat terrace above the agora and harbour of Kaunos has a long history of sacred use. In late antiquity a three-nave Christian church was constructed here. Before that (from the first century BCE) the site was a temple and temenos dedicated to Zeus Soteros. Earlier still (perhaps fifth century BCE) is this unusual round structure, built at an angle to the axis of the later temple.
When first uncovered, the structure’s purpose seemed mysterious. But the mystery was partially solved when archaeologists sank a trench underneath the central flat circular slab and found a large, roughly conical baetyl, 3.5m in height resting on bedrock about 6.5m below the present surface. This sacred stone, associated with the eponymous founder of the city, appears as a design on several of the city’s coins.
Note that the inner ring wall is plastered on its interior surface, suggesting that quantities of water (or other liquids) were involved in whatever rituals were conducted here.
Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Kizilcakuyu (Euromus, Caria) The Temple of Zeus LepsinosThe Temple of Zeus Lepsinos at Euromus was built on the site of an earlier Carian temple in the 2nd century AD during the reign of the emperor Hadrian.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Kursunlutepe - ancient Skepsis, Troas View of the village of KurÅŸuntepe from the highest point of the site of ancient Skepsis.
Skepsis or Scepsis, an ancient settlement in the Troad, is today the village of Kursunlutepe, near the town of Bayramic in Turkey. The famous library of Aristotle was kept at Skepsis before being moved to Pergamum and then Alexandria. It was also home to Metrodorus of Scepsis and Demetrius of Scepsis. Several times in its history, the citizens of Skepsis were forced to move elsewhere. In 306 B.C., Antigonus evacuated Skepsis and other cities in the area and forced the residents to move to Alexandria Troas. Tradition holds that Saint Cornelius the Centurion, the first gentile convert to Christianity, became the first bishop of Skepsis in the early days of Christianity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkepsisJoe Sermarini
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Turkey, LystraLystra has never been excavated, so the mound you’re looking at is a typical Middle Eastern ‘tel’. However, an inscription was found here (now displayed in the Konya Archaeological Museum) which makes the site identification secure. Lystra has significant New Testament links: Barnabas and Paul while visiting Lystra were mistaken for gods [Acts 14:6ff] and Paul’s companion Timothy was born here [Acts 16:1]. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Metropolis, Ionia from the EastMetropolis was on the road between Smyrna and Ephesus. Neolithic, Hittite, Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are represented at the site. Metropolis was a part of the Kingdom of Pergamum during the Hellenistic period, the time when the city reached a zenith of cultural and economic life. Metropolis had a temple dedicated to Ares, one of only two known dedicated to the war god. Strabo wrote that the district produced excellent wine. The ruins are of a Hellenistic city heavily Romanized, with Byzantine remains laid across it – a church to the east of the city, and fortification walls laid across city that connect to the Hellenistic defenses on the Acropolis. Excavations began in 1989. A Hellenistic marble seat of honor with griffins was found in the Ancient Theater. The original seat is in the Ä°zmir Archeological Museum and a replica has been placed at the site.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(Anatolia)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metropolis_from_the_east.jpg
By David Hill (DiaboloDave), 2003.
Released to the public domain.
Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Metropolis, Ionia, the Roman TheaterMetropolis was on the road between Smyrna and Ephesus. Neolithic, Hittite, Mycenaean, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are represented at the site. Metropolis was a part of the Kingdom of Pergamum during the Hellenistic period, the time when the city reached a zenith of cultural and economic life. Metropolis had a temple dedicated to Ares, one of only two known dedicated to the war god. Strabo wrote that the district produced excellent wine. The ruins are of a Hellenistic city heavily Romanized, with Byzantine remains laid across it – a church to the east of the city, and fortification walls laid across city that connect to the Hellenistic defenses on the Acropolis. Excavations began in 1989. A Hellenistic marble seat of honor with griffins was found in the Ancient Theater. The original seat is in the Ä°zmir Archeological Museum and a replica has been placed at the site.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_(Anatolia)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amph_theatre_Metropolis.JPG
By David Hill (DiaboloDave), 2007.
Released to the public domain.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Misis, Roman bridge over the PyramusRoman bridge in Misis-Mopsuestia over the Pyramus. Constantius II built this magnificent bridge over the Pyramus (Malalas, Chronographia, XIII; P.G., XCVII, 488) afterwards it was restored by Justinian (Procopius, De Edificiis, V. 5) and it has been restored again recently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopsuestia Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, near Denizli, Laodicea on the LycusLaodicea on the Lycus was an ancient city built on the river Lycus (Curuksu), in Lydia, later the Roman Province of Phrygia Pacatiana. It contained one of the Seven churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It is now near the modern city of Denizli. In 2013 the archaeological site was identified as a of World Heritage Site. The existing remains attest to its former greatness. Its many buildings include a stadium, baths, temples, a gymnasium, theaters, and a bouleuterion (Senate House). On the eastern side, the line of the ancient wall may be distinctly traced, with the remains of the Ephesus gate; there are streets traversing the town, flanked by colonnades and numerous pedestals. North of the town, towards the Lycus, are many sarcophagi, with their covers lying near them, partly embedded in the ground, and all having been long since rifled.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laodicea_(2).JPG
Photo by Rjdeadly, 16 May 2012Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Nymphaeum of PergeThe monumental fountain or nymphaeum of Perga consists of a wide pool, and behind it a two-storeyed richly worked facade. From its inscription, it is apparent that the structure was dedicated to Artemis Pergaia, Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna, and their sons. An inscription belonging to the facade, various facade fragments, and marble statues of Septimius Severus and his wife, all found in excavations of the nymphaeum, are now in the Antalya Museum.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Perga - AgoraPerge’s principal market square is a substantial space (sides approximately 75m) dating mostly from the 2nd century CE and colonnaded on all four sides. At its centre is a small circular temple (just over 13m diameter) of uncertain dedication: presumably either Hermes or (perhaps more likely) Tyche. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Perga - Agora (Shop Sign)Hidden away in one corner of the agora is this rather delightful trading sign. The meat hook and knife presumably indicate that this location was a butcher’s shop. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Perga - Collonaded StreetPart of the wide (20m) colonnaded boulevard which runs almost the whole length of the lower city (over 500m), testimony to Perge’s importance as a commercial centre. In antiquity both sides of the street would have been lined with fancy shops, and the ‘shopping experience’ was enhanced by an ornamental water canal running down the middle of the road, fed from the nymphaeum which you can see at the far end. Beyond the nymphaeum is the path leading up to the city’s acropolis. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Perga - Roman BathsThe hot room (caldarium); some traces of the original marble flooring are visible at the far end. Underneath, a well-preserved hypocaust of slightly unusual design, based on pilae tiles formed into arches rather than the more common upright stacks. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Pergamum - TheatreThe Hellenistic theatre at Pergamum is extraordinary. It’s built into a steep hill-side, in close proximity to the city’s famous altar of Zeus, as well as to temples dedicated to Athena and Dionysus. But the constraints of the chosen site meant that the theatre could not take the ‘normal’ Greek shape (rather more than a semi-circle). Instead, to fit in the required number of seats, the cavea was extended vertically: there are 78 rows. The result is vertiginous. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Perge city overviewRoman rule of Perge began in 188 BC, and most of the surviving ruins today date from this period. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Perge remained inhabited until Seljuk times, before being gradually abandoned.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perge_city_overview.jpgJoe Sermarini
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Turkey, Priene, The Temple of Athena at PrieneThe Temple of Athena at Priene was started by Mausolus but completed by Alexander the Great, who hired the great Greek architect Pytheos to complete the design and construction. It is the largest temple in Priene. Pytheos situated the temple so that it had (and still has) a beautiful view over the valley and river below Alexander the Great invested heavily into rebuilding all of the Greek cities of the Ionic league following the defeat of the Persians. This classic Greek temple was done in the Ionic style and had no frieze around the top. Instead, a dentil design sat above the columns and architrave. The statue of Athena that was originally inside the temple was based on the famous statue by Phidias in the Parthenon of Athens.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Ruins of the main street in Perga, capital of Pamphylia, Asia Minor.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamphylia. 23 February 2006. Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Sanliurfa Province, Urfa - Roman Columns of EdessaThe heritage of Roman Edessa survives today in these columns at the site of Urfa Castle, dominating the skyline of the modern city of Urfa.
Photo by Bernard Gagnon, 24 May 2014.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Sardis, "Mint of Croesus"This complex archaeological site includes the electrum refinery in Sardis, dating from the 6th century BC and the time of Croesus. Here, the natural electrum nuggets dredged from the river were smelted, and the gold and silver separated and refined separately. No evidence of actual coin striking at the site is known, though it seems most likely that the minting would have been done at the same location as the metal refining. Mixed up with the site are ruins of a Roman villa, and a Byzantine church.Sap
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Turkey, Sart - Sardis, Lydia, Remains of the Temple of Artemis with the acropolis visible in the backgroundTurkey, Sart - Sardis, Lydia, Remains of the Temple of Artemis with the Acropolis visible in the background.
The Temple of Artemis, originally built in 300 B.C., renovated by the Romans in the 2nd century A.D., Sardis, Lydia.
Photo by Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany, 2 April 2015.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side - Temple of AthenaSide’s temple of Athena, together with an adjacent temple dedicated to Apollo and a later Byzantine basilica, occupy a spectacular site on the edge of the city’s ancient harbour. This is wonderful, picture-postcard stuff! Unfortunately, the rest of Side is a dump: a ghastly collection of bars and discos, cheap eateries, souvenir shops and garish hotels, whatever charm it once had totally destroyed by modern mass tourism. The most disappointing ancient town I’ve ever visited. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia Temple of Apollo The ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Side, Antalya, Turkey.
The great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. The well-preserved city walls provide an entrance to the site through the Hellenistic main gate (Megale Pyle) of the ancient city, although this gate from the 2nd century BC is badly damaged. Next comes the colonnaded street, whose marble columns are no longer extant; all that remains are a few broken stubs near the old Roman baths. The street leads to the public bath, restored as a museum displaying statues and sarcophagi from the Roman period. Next is the square agora with the remains of the round Tyche and Fortuna temple (2nd century BC), peripteral with twelve columns, in the middle. In later times it was used as a trading center where pirates sold slaves. The remains of the theater, which was used for gladiator fights and later as a church, and the monumental gate date back to the 2nd century. The early Roman Temple of Dionysus is near the theater. The fountain gracing the entrance is restored. At the left side are the remains of a Byzantine Basilica. A public bath has also been restored. The remaining ruins of Side include three temples, an aqueduct, and a nymphaeum.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunrise_apollo_side.jpg
Photo by Saffron Blaze, via http://www.mackenzie.co
Date: 21 October 2011
Authorization: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.enJoe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia Temple of Tyche on the commercial agoraThere are two agoras: a commercial one and one, called "State agora." On the commercial one there is a round temple, well-restored, that was dedicated to Tyche. The agora is over 8000 square meters, surrounded by columns, with shops, exedras and latrines and washing places. On it inconceivable numbers of slaves must have been traded, for during part of its history Side was a major center for pirates who stationed their fleet here. In the center stood a temple for the protective goddess of the city, Tyche. The present construction dates from the 2nd century A.D., it was in use in Byzantine times.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side_Tyche_temple_on_agora_6140.jpg
Author, Date: Dosserman, 20 February 2015
Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia The Commercial AgoraTurkey, Side, Pamphylia the Commercial Agora
The great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. The well-preserved city walls provide an entrance to the site through the Hellenistic main gate (Megale Pyle) of the ancient city, although this gate from the 2nd century BC is badly damaged. Next comes the colonnaded street, whose marble columns are no longer extant; all that remains are a few broken stubs near the old Roman baths. The street leads to the public bath, restored as a museum displaying statues and sarcophagi from the Roman period. Next is the square agora with the remains of the round Tyche and Fortuna temple (2nd century BC), peripteral with twelve columns, in the middle. In later times it was used as a trading center where pirates sold slaves. The remains of the theater, which was used for gladiator fights and later as a church, and the monumental gate date back to the 2nd century. The early Roman Temple of Dionysus is near the theater. The fountain gracing the entrance is restored. At the left side are the remains of a Byzantine Basilica. A public bath has also been restored. The remaining ruins of Side include three temples, an aqueduct, and a nymphaeum.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side_Commercial_agora_panorama_2.jpg
Author, Date: Dosserman, 20 February 2015
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia Theater 2nd Century ADThe great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory which a wall and a moat separate from the mainland. There are colossal ruins of a theater complex, the largest in Pamphylia, built in the 2nd century A.D. Following design it relies on arches to support the sheer verticals. The Roman style was adopted because Side lacked a convenient hillside that could be hollowed out in the usual Greek fashion more typical of Asia Minor. In Greek fashion, the seating (for 15,000–20,000 people) curves 210° vice the usual 180° for a Roman theater. The stage building was ornately adorned but the decorations and the theater are damaged, in part due to a strong earthquake. The theater was converted into an open-air sanctuary with two chapels during the 5th or 6th century (Byzantine times).
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side_Theatre_4192.jpg
Author, Date: Dosseman, 21 March 2011
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia Theater 2nd Century AD ExteriorTurkey, Side, Pamphylia theater 2nd century AD, exterior. The great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory which a wall and a moat separate from the mainland. There are colossal ruins of a theater complex, the largest in Pamphylia, built in the 2nd century A.D. Following design it relies on arches to support the sheer verticals. The Roman style was adopted because Side lacked a convenient hillside that could be hollowed out in the usual Greek fashion more typical of Asia Minor. In Greek fashion, the seating (for 15,000–20,000 people) curves 210° vice the usual 180° for a Roman theater. The stage building was ornately adorned but the decorations and the theater are damaged, in part due to a strong earthquake. The theater was converted into an open-air sanctuary with two chapels during the 5th or 6th century (Byzantine times).
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side_TH_au.JPG
Author, Date: Dosseman, 21 March 2011
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Side, Pamphylia Theater 2nd Century AD panoramaTurkey, Side, Pamphylia, theater 2nd century AD, panorama
The great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory which a wall and a moat separate from the mainland. There are colossal ruins of a theater complex, the largest in Pamphylia, built in the 2nd century A.D. Following design it relies on arches to support the sheer verticals. The Roman style was adopted because Side lacked a convenient hillside that could be hollowed out in the usual Greek fashion more typical of Asia Minor. In Greek fashion, the seating (for 15,000–20,000 people) curves 210° vice the usual 180° for a Roman theater. The stage building was ornately adorned but the decorations and the theater are damaged, in part due to a strong earthquake. The theater was converted into an open-air sanctuary with two chapels during the 5th or 6th century (Byzantine times).
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Side_Theatre_panorama.jpg
Author, Date: Dosseman, 21 March 2011
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Termessos - TheatreThough Termessos is fairly close to a major tourist resort (Antalya) it’s not over-visited, perhaps because it’s a fairly steep uphill climb to reach the principal monuments from the nearest point where you can park. But the effort is worth it: the setting (inside Güllük DaÄŸi National Park) is spectacular and the ruins at this unrestored site are as romantic a pile of tumble-down stones as anyone could wish for. Abu Galyon
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Turkey, Yakapinar (Mopsos) - Mosaics depicting Noah's Ark in the Misis Mosaic MuseumMosaics depicting Noah's Ark from ancient Mopsos in the Misis Mosaic Museum.Joe Sermarini
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Turkey, Yalvac, Antioch of Pisidia, St. Paul'sSt. Paul’s Church (Great Basilica). The building reflects all the elements of basilical plan and consists of three naves and a semicircular apse. The exterior surface of the apse is encircled with a hexagonal wall. The apse has a diameter of 10,8 m and a depth of 9,2 m. The central nave is separated from the narrow naves on the sides by two rows of columns each having 13 columns and these columns test on hexagonal bases. The 27 x 13 m narthex (entrance) on the west of the building, which measures 70 x 27 m, lies in the east west direction and leans on the city walls. The ground of the central nave is composed of red, yellow, white and black tesserae and is covered with a mosaic decorated with geometric and floral motifs. The name of Archbishop Optimus, represented Antiocheia in the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD and one of the founders of Orthodoxy takes place in an inscription on the mosaic in front of the apse. This name forms a basis for dating the building construction to the late 4th century AD. This date is the beginning date for the monumental churches in Anatolia. The Great Basilica of Antiocheia is one of the two earliest example of Early Christian churches. The church visible today is the 5th – 6th century AD church, which was a restored version from the late 4th century AD and placed on the 1st floor of the church of Optimus. St. Paul, regarded as the most famous and efficient missionary of Early Christianity together with St. Pierre, had three visits to Antiocheai between the years 46-62 AD and preached in the synagogue under the foundations of the current church. He announced Christianity to the world from here. In his preaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath he read texts from Holy Law and writings of the prophet. This is considered as St. Paul’s first preaching as a missionary. On the picture: The semicircular apse of the basilica, situated at its east side. It is encircled by an exterior hexagonal wall.Joe Sermarini
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Ukraine - Olbia, Sarmatia, Black Sea AreaRuins of Olbia, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AncientTownOlvia.jpg (Image in public domain)
Pontic Olbia is an archaeological site of an ancient Greek city on the shore of the Southern Bug estuary (Hypanis) in Ukraine, near the village of Parutyne. The archaeological site is protected as the National Historic and Archaeological Preserve. The preserve is a research and science institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The Hellenic city was founded in the 7th century BC by colonists from Miletus. Its harbor was one of the main emporium on the Black Sea for the export of cereals, fish, and slaves to Greece, and for the import of Attic goods to Scythia.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olbia_(archaeological_site)
Joe Sermarini
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Yap Island, MicronesiaA 400-year old flagged stone trail on Yap Island, leads down to village and into a "stone money" bank. There are several similar stone money banks on the island. Way back when, the Yapese voyaged 700 miles across the sea in out-rigger canoes to the island of Palau, where they mined and wrought these stones.Mayadigger
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Yap Island, Micronesia, Stone moneyThis larger example is known as "O'Keefe" money and is not as valuable as the earlier stone moneyMayadigger
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