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The_Temple_of_Artemis2C_originally_built_in_300_BC2C_renovated_by_the_Romans_in_the_2nd_century_AD2C_Sardis2C_Lydia.jpg
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 SermariniFeb 29, 2024
Apameia_Phrygia.jpg
Turkey, Dinar - Ruins of Apamea Cibotus (Apameia ad Maeandrum)Ruins of Apamea Cibotus (Apameia ad Maeandrum)
Apameia in Phrygia (or Apamea, Apamea Cibotus, Apamea Kibotos, or Apamea ad Maeandrum) was an ancient city founded in the 3rd century B.C. by Antiochus I Soter, who named it after his mother Apama. It was in Hellenistic Phrygia, but became part of the Roman province of Pisidia. Apamea is mentioned in the Talmud (Ber. 62a, Niddah, 30b and Yeb. 115b). Christianity was very likely established early in the city. Saint Paul probably visited the place when he went throughout Phrygia. The mid third century A.D. coins of Apamea Kibotos with scenes of Noah and his ark are among the earliest biblical scenes in Roman art. Apamea continued to be a prosperous town under the Roman Empire. Its decline began with the local disorganization of the empire in the 3rd century and when trade routes were diverted to Constantinople. Although a bishopric, it was not an important military or commercial center in Byzantine times. Its ruin was completed by an earthquake.

Photo by Haubi Gerhard Haubold, 20 October 1994, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Joe SermariniFeb 25, 2024
Meroe_Sudan.jpg
Sudan, Island of Meroe - Archaeological Site - Pyramids of Meroe - Northern CemeterySudan, Island of Meroe - Archaeological Site - Pyramids of Meroe - Northern Cemetery
by Ron Van Oers, 2017 © UNESCO
https://whc.unesco.org/en/documents/114973
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mero%C3%AB
1 commentsJoe SermariniJan 17, 2024
1920px-Qasr_Al-Abd2C_Hellenistic_palace_dating_from_approximately_200_BC2C_Jordan_282541413126829.jpg
Jordan, Qasr Al-Abd, Hellenistic palace dating from approximately 200 BCJordan, Qasr Al-Abd, Hellenistic palace dating from approximately 200 B.C.
Photo by by Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany, 18 April 2017.

Qasr al-Abd (Arabic: 'Castle of the Slave') is a large Hellenistic palace from the first quarter of the second century BCE. Its ruins stand in modern-day Jordan in the valley of Wadi Seer, close to the village of Iraq Al-Amir, approximately 17 kilometers west of Amman.

Qasr al-Abd is believed to be Tyros, the palace of a Tobiad notable, Hyrcanus of Jerusalem, head of the powerful Tobiad family and governor of Ammon in the 2nd century BCE. The first known written description of the castle comes down to us from Josephus, a first-century Jewish-Roman historian:

He also erected a strong castle, and built it entirely of white stone to the very roof, and had animals of a prodigious magnitude engraved upon it. He also drew round it a great and deep canal of water. He also made caves of many furlongs in length, by hollowing a rock that was over against him; and then he made large rooms in it, some for feasting, and some for sleeping and living in. He introduced also a vast quantity of waters which ran along it, and which were very delightful and ornamental in the court. But still he made the entrances at the mouth of the caves so narrow, that no more than one person could enter by them at once. And the reason why he built them after that manner was a good one; it was for his own preservation, lest he should be besieged by his brethren, and run the hazard of being caught by them. Moreover, he built courts of greater magnitude than ordinary, which he adorned with vastly large gardens. And when he had brought the place to this state, he named it Tyre. This place is between Arabia and Judea, beyond Jordan, not far from the country of Heshbon.
— Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, translated by William Whiston, Book XII, Chapter IV, 11.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasr_al-Abd
Joe SermariniDec 25, 2023
Antiocheia_in_Psidia.jpg
Turkey, Antiocheia in PsidiaRemote view of the ancient city called Antioch located in Yalvaç district of Isparta province, in Turkey.
Photo by Maderibeyza at Turkish Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioch_of_Pisidia
Joe SermariniDec 03, 2023
Maison_Carree_in_Nimes_281629.jpg
France, Nimes - Maison CarreeThe Maison carrée is an ancient Roman temple in Nîmes, southern France; it is one of the best-preserved Roman temples to survive in the territory of the former Roman Empire. It is a mid-sized Augustan provincial temple of the Imperial cult, a caesareum.

The Maison carrée inspired the neoclassical Église de la Madeleine in Paris, St. Marcellinus Church in Rogalin, Poland, and in the United States the Virginia State Capitol, which was designed by Thomas Jefferson, who had a stucco model made of the Maison carrée while he was minister to France in 1785.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_carr%C3%A9e

In September 2023, the Maison carrée of Nîmes was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Joe SermariniOct 29, 2023
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Israel, Ancient ruins of Beit She'anAncient ruins of Beit She'an
Public Domain - PikiWiki - Israel free image collection project 2009
Joe SermariniAug 23, 2023
Skara_Brae.jpg
Scotland, Orkney Islands - Skara BraeEurope's most complete Neolithic village inhabited from 3180 BC to about 2500 BC, discovered in 1850 after a severe storm uncovered parts of the villagenogoodnicksleftFeb 26, 2023
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Italy, Rome, Arch of Septimius SeverusThe Arch of Septimius Severus was erected in 203 A.D. to commemorate the Parthian victories of Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta in their campaigns against the Parthians of 194-195 A.D. and 197–199 A.D.

Interestingly, Caracalla invoked damnatio memoriae on Geta after he had his younger brother killed and Geta's name was removed from the Arch, though it's still faintly visible today.
2 commentsRon C2Dec 26, 2022
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Italy, Rome, Arch of ConstantineThis is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine in Rome. Erected in 315 AD, it was one of the last monumental buildings erected before the capitol was moved to Constantinople and is still impressive today. It commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312.

It is thought much of the sculptural decoration consists of reliefs and statues removed from earlier triumphal monuments dedicated to Trajan (98–117), Hadrian (117–138) and Marcus Aurelius (161–180).
1 commentsRon C2Dec 26, 2022
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Italy, Rome, Arch of TitusThe Arch of Titus was erected in 81 AD by Domitian shortly after the death of Titus to commemorate his consecratio and the victory of Titus together with their father, Vespasian, over the Jewish rebellion in Judaea.

The Arch if notable for the menorah depicted on the arch, one of the best period depictions of the artifact from the Jewish temple.
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
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Italy, Rome, The temple of the Divine Antoninus Pius, Roman ForumThis is what remains of the Templs of the Divine Antoninus Pius. It was constructed by the Emperor Antoninus Pius, beginning in 141 AD in honor of his deified wife, Faustina the Elder. Faustina was the first Roman empress with a permanent presence in the Forum Romanum. When Antoninus Pius was deified in 161 AD, the temple was re-dedicated to both Antoninus and Faustina by Marcus Aurelius.

Apart from the baroque church facade that replaced the ancient roof the building is remarkably intact compared to the rest of the Forum.
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
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Italy, The Temple of Venus and Rome, Velian Hill, RomeThought to have been the largest temple in Ancient Rome, the temple of Venus and Rome is located on the Velian Hill, between the eastern edge of the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum. It's built partially on the site of Nero's Domus Aureus. It was dedicated to the goddesses Venus Felix ("Venus the Bringer of Good Fortune") and Roma Aeterna ("Eternal Rome"). The amount of porphyry in this temple was notable, even for Rome.Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
arch_const.jpg
Italy, Rome, Arch of ConstantineThis is the Triumphal Arch of Constantine in Rome. Erected in 315 AD, it was one of the last monumental buildings erected before the capitol was moved to Constantinople and is still impressive today. It commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312.

It is thought much of the sculptural decoration consists of reliefs and statues removed from earlier triumphal monuments dedicated to Trajan (98–117), Hadrian (117–138) and Marcus Aurelius (161–180).
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
diocletian_baths_2.jpg
Italy, Rome, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (The Baths of Diocletian)The baths of Diocletian were monumental in size. Much of the original building remains today, thanks in large measure to the church converting a large portion of the building into the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.

This is only one transept in what is a colossal building, but it gives an idea of the grandeur that was imperial Rome. The columns and ceiling stonework are original, but much of the wall decoration is 16th century, attributed to Michealangelo who restored the buildings to a church after centuries of looting. This is perhaps the largest standing western Roman building in the world with intact ceilings, it gives you a sense of what the height of Roman civilization might have looked like at its best.
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
diocletian_baths.jpg
Italy, Rome, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian)The baths of Diocletian were monumental in size. Much of the original building remains today, thanks in large measure to the church converting a large portion of the building into the basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.

The entrance to the building, which is used for Italian state religious functions, was originally the frigidarium. Admission to the building is free, and this is a MUST stop when in Rome for fans of the Ancient Roman Empire.
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
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Italy, St. Peter's gate in the Basicilica of St. Mark in Venice.This is one of the frontal (western facade) portico entrances to St Mark's basilica in Venice. The church was founded in 1063 and is an fine example of byzantine architecture. Many of the columns, reliefs, and sculptures were spoils stripped from the churches, palaces, and public monuments of Constantinople as a result of the Venetian participation in the Fourth Crusade. Among the plundered artefacts brought back to Venice were the four ancient bronze horses that were placed prominently over the entry.

The mosaic depicts the arrival St Mark's body in Venice.

St Mark the Evangelist's body is buried here, after the Venetians plundered if from Alexandria.
Not shown, but sitting just above this mosaic, were the 4 bronze horses that adorned the main gate to Constantinople. Since 1974, these are exact replicas - the originals are in a nearby museum. The venetians carried them off as plunder when the 4th crusade sacked Constantinople in 1204.
Ron C2Dec 26, 2022
basilica_mural.jpg
Italy, Venice, Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta Torcello interior mural showing the last judgementthis church is a notable example of Late Paleochristian architecture, one of the most ancient religious edifices in the Veneto, and containing the earliest mosaics in the area of Venice. The basilica was founded by the exarch Isaac of Ravenna in 639. The mosaic pieces are 24kt gold cabochons and the colors are largely semi-precious stone. It was built when the area was still very much under the influence of the Byzantine empire.

Sadly, this building is WAY off the beaten path and is almost never visited.

The skull of Saint Cecilia is kept as a relic here.
1 commentsRon C2Dec 26, 2022
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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.1 commentsSapDec 25, 2022
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Jordan, Tell HesbanJordan, Tell Hesban. In Numbers and Deuteronomy Esbus is the capital of Amorite king, Sihon (also known as Sehon). The biblical narrative records the Israelite victory over Sihon during the time of the Exodus under the leadership of Moses. Moses died soon after the victory, after viewing the "promised land" from the top of Mount Nebo. Restored under the name of Esboús or Esboúta, it is mentioned among the towns of the Roman Arabia Petraea by Ptolemy.

Photo by Bashar Tabbah
Joe SermariniOct 23, 2022
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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=47358665
Joe SermariniOct 09, 2022
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England, London, British Museum, Nereid Monument from Xanthos LyciaLondon, British Museum, Partial reconstruction of the Nereid Monument at Xanthos in Lycia, ca. 390–380 BC. Main floor, room 16: Nereid Monument.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthos
Joe SermariniOct 08, 2022
AncientTownOlvia.jpg
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 SermariniAug 30, 2022
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Greece, Lesbos, Messa: The pan-Lesbian sanctuary of Messa, Lesbos (probably of Aphrodite).The pan-Lesbian sanctuary of Messon, at the center of the island, was established in early historic times and served as the seat of the Lesbian Koinon (Commonwealth). The temple had eight columns on the short sides and 14 on the long sides. Most of the temple was built of white volcanic rock. Marble was selectively used for the decorative elements. The cella walls were made of reddish volcanic rock. The temple was probably destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd or 4th century A.D. Seven kilns from that period were found in the area. Architectural members of the temple were used to build the kilns, which were then probably used to burn other parts of the temple for lime production.

Photo by Tedmek 20 Jun 2010, released to Public Domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lesbos_Messa01.JPG
LondonJul 08, 2022
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Spain, Bilbilis (Augusta Bilbilis)Photo by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20367699

Augusta Bilbilis was a city (or municipium) founded by the Romans in the province of Hispania Tarraconensis. It was the birthplace of famous poet Martial c. 40 AD. The modern town of Calatayud was founded near this Roman site.

Recent excavations have uncovered many of the impressive remains visible today which dominate the surrounding area and are testament to the city's rich past.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilbilis_(Augusta_Bilbilis)

Joe SermariniJan 27, 2022
Gerasa_1200~0.jpg
Jordan, Jerash, (Gerasa, Decapolis)Ancient Greek inscriptions from the city support that the city was founded by Alexander the Great and his general Perdiccas, who allegedly settled aged Macedonian soldiers there during the spring of 331 BC, when he left Egypt and crossed Syria en route to Mesopotamia. However, other sources, namely the city's former name of "Antioch on the Chrysorrhoas, point to a founding by Seleucid King Antioch IV, while still others attribute the founding to Ptolemy II of Egypt.

After the Roman conquest in 63 BC, Jerash and the land surrounding it were annexed to the Roman province of Syria, and later joined the Decapolis league of cities. The historian Josephus mentions the city as being principally inhabited by Syrians, and also having a small Jewish community. In AD 106, Jerash was absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia, which included the city of Philadelphia (modern day Amman). The Romans ensured security and peace in this area, which enabled its people to devote their efforts and time to economic development and encouraged civic building activity.

Jerash is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. And is sometimes misleadingly referred to as the "Pompeii of the Middle East" or of Asia, referring to its size, extent of excavation and level of preservation.

Jerash was the birthplace of the mathematician Nicomachus of Gerasa (Greek: Νικόμαχος) (c. 60 – c. 120 AD).

In the second half of the 1st century AD, the city of Jerash achieved great prosperity. In AD 106, the Emperor Trajan constructed roads throughout the province, and more trade came to Jerash. The Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in AD 129–130. The triumphal arch (or Arch of Hadrian) was built to celebrate his visit.

The city finally reached a size of about 800,000 square meters within its walls. The Persian invasion in AD 614 caused the rapid decline of Jerash. Beneath the foundations of a Byzantine church that was built in Jerash in AD 530 there was discovered a mosaic floor with ancient Greek and Hebrew-Aramaic inscriptions. The presence of the Hebrew-Aramaic script has led scholars to think that the place was formerly a synagogue, before being converted into a church.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerash

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Place_ovale_de_Gerasa_new.JPG
Azurfrog, 2 November 2013
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Joe SermariniOct 11, 2021
Petra_Theater.jpg
Jordan, Petra, The TheaterAt the end of the narrow gorge, the Siq, stands Petra's most elaborate ruin, popularly known as Al-Khazneh ("the Treasury"), hewn into the sandstone cliff. While remaining in remarkably preserved condition, the face of the structure is marked by hundreds of bullet holes made by the local Bedouin tribes that hoped to dislodge riches that were once rumored to be hidden within it. A little farther from the Treasury, at the foot of the mountain called en-Nejr, is a massive theater, positioned so as to bring the greatest number of tombs within view. At the point where the valley opens out into the plain, the site of the city is revealed with striking effect. The theater was cut into the hillside and into several of the tombs during its construction. Rectangular gaps in the seating are still visible. Almost enclosing it on three sides are rose-colored mountain walls, divided into groups by deep fissures and lined with knobs cut from the rock in the form of towers.

Date: 26 October 2006
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/douglaspperkins/286630893/
Author: Douglas Perkins

Joe SermariniJun 28, 2021
Treasury_Petra.jpg
Jordan, Petra, Al-Khazneh" or The TreasuryAl-Khazneh is one of the most elaborate temples in Petra, a city of the Nabatean Kingdom. As with most of the other buildings in this ancient town, including the Monastery, this structure was carved out of a sandstone rock face. The structure is believed to have been the mausoleum of the Nabatean King Aretas IV in the 1st century A.D. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in both Jordan and the region. It became known as "Al-Khazneh", or The Treasury, in the early 19th century by the area's Bedouins as they had believed it contained treasures. Many of the building's architectural details have eroded away during the two thousand years since it was carved and sculpted from the cliff. The sculptures are thought to be those of various mythological figures associated with the afterlife. On top are figures of four eagles that would carry away the souls. The figures on the upper level are dancing Amazons with double-axes. The entrance is flanked by statues of the twins Castor and Pollux who lived partly on Olympus and partly in the underworld. Joe SermariniJun 27, 2021
Cyrene.jpg
Lybia, Kyrene (Cyrene) City RuinsCyrene was an ancient Greek and later Roman city near present-day Shahhat, Libya. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region. It gave eastern Libya the classical name Cyrenaica that it has retained to modern times. Cyrene lies in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar uplands. The city was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo. It was also the seat of the Cyrenaics, a famous school of philosophy in the fourth century B.C., founded by Aristippus, a disciple of Socrates. Joe SermariniJun 19, 2021
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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 SermariniSep 23, 2020
Metropolis_from_the_east.jpg
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 SermariniSep 23, 2020
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Turkey, Ephesos, Façade of the Celsus library, in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Turkey.Turkey, Ephesos, Façade of the Celsus library, in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Turkey.

The Library of Celsus is an ancient Roman building in Ephesus, Anatolia, now part of Selçuk, Turkey. The building was commissioned in the 110s A.D. by a consul, Gaius Julius Aquila, as a funerary monument for his father, former proconsul of Asia Tiberius Julius Celsus Polemaeanus, and completed during the reign of Hadrian, sometime after Aquila's death. The library is considered an architectural marvel, and is one of the only remaining examples of a library from the Roman Empire. The Library of Celsus was the third-largest library in the Roman world behind only Alexandria and Pergamum, believed to have held around twelve thousand scrolls. Celsus is buried in a crypt beneath the library in a decorated marble sarcophagus. The interior measured roughly 180 square metres (2,000 square feet). The interior of the library and its contents were destroyed in a fire that resulted either from an earthquake or a Gothic invasion in 262 C.E., and the façade by an earthquake in the tenth or eleventh century. It lay in ruins for centuries until the façade was re-erected by archaeologists between 1970 and 1978.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ephesus_Celsus_Library_Fa%C3%A7ade.jpg
Benh LIEU SONG, 21 June 2010
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Joe SermariniSep 03, 2020
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Spain, Segovia, AqueductThe Aqueduct of Segovia (Spanish: Acueducto de Segovia; more accurately, the aqueduct bridge) is a Roman aqueduct in Segovia, Spain. It is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription (one was apparently located in the structure's attic, or top portion[citation needed]), the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. The general date of the Aqueduct's construction was long a mystery, although it was thought to have been during the 1st century AD, during the reigns of the Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan. At the end of the 20th century, Géza Alföldy deciphered the text on the dedication plaque by studying the anchors that held the now missing bronze letters in place. He determined that Emperor Domitian (AD 81–96) ordered its construction and the year 98 AD was proposed as the most likely date of completion. However, in 2016 archeological evidence was published which points to a slightly later date, after 112 AD, during the government of Traianus or in the beginning of the government of emperor Hadrianus, from 117 AD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AcueductoSegovia_edit1.jpg
Manuel González Olaechea y Franco, 21 March 2004
Joe SermariniSep 02, 2020
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Crimea, Kerch, Prytaneion of PanticapaeumThe prytaneion of Panticapaeum, second century BC. Kerch's Obelisk of Glory is visible in the background. Panticapaeum was an ancient Greek city on the eastern shore of Crimea, which the Greeks called Taurica. The city was built on Mount Mithridat, a hill on the western side of the Cimmerian Bosporus. It was founded by Milesians in the late 7th or early 6th century BC. The ruins of the site are now located in the modern city Kerch.

Joe SermariniAug 27, 2020
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Turkey, Dalyan, Cliffside Tombs of Ancient city of KaunosToday, these elaborate graves form part of the UNESCO-recognised Ancient City of Kaunos, a 2,500-year-old archaeological site also home to a 5,000-seat Hellenistic theatre, a rock-cut Roman bath, and several Lycian temples and churches.
Dating back to the 4th century BC, the “Lycian King Tombs of Kaunos” feature Greek-style pillars and intricate hand-carved reliefs depicting gods, angels and spirits. Inside, ancient monoliths and limestone-lined chambers mark the final resting place of the Lycian elite.
The remarkable structures pictured above are in fact only a small proportion of the 170 or more rock-cut graves of various shapes, making up the Kaunian necropolis. These temple tombs, clustered in two main groups, are the most elaborate graves of the city.
*AlexAug 20, 2020
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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 SermariniApr 09, 2020
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Turkey, Antalya, The ruins of the Temple of Apollo at SideThe ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Side, Antalya, Turkey
21 October 2011
Photo by:
Saffron Blaze, via http://www.mackenzie.co
This file was a finalist in Picture of the Year 2012.
This is a featured picture on Wikimedia Commons (Featured pictures) and is considered one of the finest images.
Joe SermariniApr 08, 2020
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Israel, Hamat Gadar, inscription of the Empress Eudocia's poem about the Hamat Gader bathsIsrael, Hamat Gadar, inscription of the Empress Eudocia's poem about the Hamat Gader baths, 5th Century AD

The Hamat Gader Poem inscribed on the baths at Hamat Gader was very short, and can be included here, as evidence of her hexameter writing style. The poem was inscribed so visitors could read it as they went into the pool.

I have seen many wonders in my life, countless,
But who, noble Clibanus, however many his mouths, could proclaim
Your might, when born a worthless mortal? But rather
It is right for you to be called a new fiery ocean,
Paean and parent, provider of sweet streams.
From you the thousandfold swell is born, one here, one there,
On this side boiling-hot, on that side in turn icy-cold and tepid.
Into fountains four-fold four you pour out your beauty.
Indian and Matrona, Repentius, holy Elijah,
Antoninus the Good, Dewy Galatia, and
Hygieia herself, warm baths both large and small,
Pearl, ancient Clibanus, Indian and other
Matrona, Strong, Nun, and the Patriarch's.
For those in pain your powerful might is always everlasting.
But I will sing of a god, renowned for wisdom
For the benefit of speaking mortals.

The inscription of the poem

The line "Of the Empress Eudocia" flanked by two crosses is set above the poem. This title line was added after the carving of the main inscription, making room for some doubt whether the poem was indeed authored by Eudocia. Clibanus is the name given to the source of the hot water. After praising his qualities and those of his many springs ("the thousandfold swell"), the poem enumerates "four-fold four", thus sixteen different parts of the bath complex, fourteen of which bear a name; these names include Hygieia (the pagan goddess of health), a whole range of pagan personal names, "holy Elijah" referring to the prophet, and two refer to Christians – a nun and a patriarch.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eudocia's_poem_Hamat_Gader.png
Greek Inscriptions from Ḥammat Gader: A Poem by the Empress Eudocia and Two Building Inscriptions Author(s): JUDITH GREEN and YORAM TSAFRIR
Source: Israel Exploration Journal, Vol. 32, No. 2/3 (1982), pp. 77-96
Joe SermariniNov 27, 2019
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Israel, Hamat Gadar, Ruins of the Roman BathsHamat Gader was already a well known health and recreation site in Roman times, mentioned in Strabo, Origen and Eunapius, as well as the Rabbinic literature. Construction of the bath complex began in the 2nd century by the 10th Roman Legion, which was garrisoned in nearby Gadara (modern Umm Qais). The ancient Hebrew name means hot springs of (the ancient city of) Gadara. The Arabic name El-Hamma preserves this, and the name of the tel located near the site, Tel Bani, is a corruption of the Latin word meaning "baths." The empress Aelia Eudocia composed a poem praising the qualities of the multiple springs which was inscribed so that visitors could see it as they went into the pool.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hamat-gader_25.jpg
Photo by Daniel Ventura
Joe SermariniNov 27, 2019
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Israel, Hamat Gadar, Ruins of SynagogueHamat Gader was already a well known health and recreation site in Roman times, mentioned in Strabo, Origen and Eunapius, as well as the Rabbinic literature. Construction of the bath complex began in the 2nd century by the 10th Roman Legion, which was garrisoned in nearby Gadara. The ancient Hebrew name means hot springs of (the ancient city of) Gadara. Gadar today is nearby modern Umm Qais. The Arabic name El-Hamma preserves this, and the name of the tel located near the site, Tel Bani, is a corruption of the Latin word meaning "baths." The empress Aelia Eudocia composed a poem praising the qualities of the multiple springs which was inscribed so that visitors could see it as they went into the pool. The mosaic pavement recovered from the 5th century Hamat Gader synagogue, is now installed in the entrance hall of the Supreme Court of Israel.


Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hamat-gader-archeol-site-synagoge.jpg
Joe SermariniNov 27, 2019
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Israel, Jerusalem, Supreme Court Entrance Hall - Mosaic from Hamat Gader Synagogue A section of the mosaic pavement recovered from the ancient Hamat Gader synagogue, now installed in the entrance hall of the Supreme Court of Israel.

Hamat Gader was already a widely known health and recreation site in Roman times. It is mentioned in Strabo, Origen and Eunapius, as well as the Rabbinic literature. Construction of the bath complex began in the 2nd century by the 10th Roman Legion, which was garrisoned in nearby Gadara. The site includes a Roman theater, which was built in the 3rd century CE and contained 2,000 seats. A large synagogue was built in the 5th century CE. The empress Aelia Eudocia composed a poem praising the qualities of the multiple springs which was inscribed so that visitors could see it as they went into the pool.
Joe SermariniNov 26, 2019
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Israel, Beth Shean, Ancient RuinsBeit She'an, better known in English as Beth Shean, is a city in the Northern District of Israel. It has played an important role in history due to its geographical location at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. In the Biblical account of the battle of the Israelites against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were hung on the walls of Beit She'an (1 Samuel 31:10-12). In Hellenistic and Roman times, the city was named Scythopolis and was the leading city of the Decapolis, a league of pagan cities. The ancient city ruins are now protected within the Beit She'an National Park. Joe SermariniNov 26, 2019
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Israel, Beth Shean, The Roman TheaterBeit She'an, better known in English as Beth Shean, is a city in the Northern District of Israel. It has played an important role in history due to its geographical location at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley. In the Biblical account of the battle of the Israelites against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, the bodies of King Saul and three of his sons were hung on the walls of Beit She'an (1 Samuel 31:10-12). In Hellenistic and Roman times, the city was named Scythopolis and was the leading city of the Decapolis, a league of pagan cities. The ancient city ruins are now protected within the Beit She'an National Park. 1 commentsJoe SermariniNov 26, 2019
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EGYPT, Hatshepsut Mortuary TempleLocated on the west bank of the Nile near the Valley of the Kings.

Photo taken during a visit to Egypt in March 2019.
cmcdon0923Oct 19, 2019
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Turkey, İncealiler - Termessos ad OenoandaOenoanda in the upper valley of the Xanthus River, was a colony of Termessos Major, and was also called Termessos Minor. The ruins of the city lie west of the modern village İncealiler in the Fethiye district of Muğla Province, Turkey, which partly overlies the ancient site. An extensive inscription of Diogenes of Oenoanda has been identified from over 300 scattered fragments, apparently from the stoa, varying in size from a few letters to passages of several sentences covering more than one block. The inscription sets out Epicurus' teachings on physics, epistemology, and ethics. It was originally about 25,000 words long and filled 260 square meters of wall. The stoa was dismantled in the second half of the third century A.D. to make room for a defensive wall; previously the site had been undefended.

By Ansgar Bovet - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18861664
Joe SermariniJun 29, 2019
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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 SermariniJun 23, 2019
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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 SermariniJun 23, 2019
Side_Theatre_panorama.jpg
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 SermariniJun 23, 2019
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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.en
Joe SermariniJun 23, 2019
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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 SermariniJun 23, 2019
Side_Theatre.jpg
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 SermariniJun 22, 2019
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Italy, Rome, The Painted Garden of LiviaThe painted garden of Livia Augusta was located at her country residence in Prima Porta, 15km north along the Via Flaminia. It was decorating the walls of a windowless underground room which was probably used as a summer room.

The painted garden runs along the four walls depicting plants and trees in different periods of time with overlapping flowering and mature fruits. Plant species depicted include: umbrella pine, oak, red fir, quince, pomegranate, myrtle, oleander, date palm, strawberry, laurel, viburnum, holm oak, boxwood, cypress, ivy, acanthus, rose, poppy, chrysanthemum, chamomile, fern, violet, and iris. Birds are present almost everywhere.

In 1950 the frescoes were detached from the villa and transferred to the Museo Nazionale Romano di Palazzo Massimo, close to Stazione Termini, and located at the third floor.

Feb 19, 2019
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Greece, Epirus, Kassope Street in Kassope and view to the southGreece, Epirus, Kassope Street in Kassope and view to the south

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kassope_2016-05-09_13.06.21.jpg
9 May 2016 Rjdeadly

Kassope or Cassope was an ancient Greek city in Epirus. Kassope occupies a magnificent and remote site on a high platform overlooking the sea, the Ambracian Gulf and the fertile lands to the south, and with the slopes of the Zalongo mountain to the north. It is considered one of the best remaining examples of a city built on a rectilinear street grid of a Hippodamian plan in Greece. The first settlements on the site are from the Paleolithic. However the city of Kassope was founded in the middle of the 4th century B.C. as the capital of the Kassopaeans, a sub-tribe of the Thesprotians. It belonged to the Aetolian League. Cassope or Cassopia is mentioned in the war carried on by Cassander against Alcetas II of Epirus, in 312 B.C. The city flourished in the 3rd century BC, when large public buildings were built. Kassope also minted its own coins. It was destroyed by Roman forces in 168-167 B.C. Kassope was abandoned in 31 B.C. when the remaining inhabitants resettled to Nikopolis the region’s new capital. The visible remains include the Cyclopean walls, an agora, a theater, the prytaneion.
Joe SermariniFeb 16, 2019
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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 2012
Joe SermariniFeb 02, 2019
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Turkey, Antalya Province, Limyra - TheaterLimyra was a small city in Lycia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, on the Limyrus River, about 5 1/2 KM from the mouth of that river. The ruins are about 5 km northeast of the town of Finike (ancient Phoenicus) in Antalya Province, Turkey. It was a prosperous city, and one of the oldest cities in Lycia. It had rich and abundant soil, and gradually became one of the finest trade settlements in Greece. Pericles adopted it as the capital of the Lycian League. The city came under control of the Persian Empire after it was conquered by Cyrus the Great. He later annexed Lydia and its territories after a decisive victory at the Battle of Thymbra and the Siege of Sardis, where he defeated armies twice as large as his. Cyrus then got his greatest general: Harpagus of Media to conquer the much smaller kingdoms in Anatolia, while he went to conquer the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Anatolia would become an important place for the Persian monarchs who succeeded Cyrus. The massive Royal road constructed by Darius went from the Persian capital of Persepolis, to the Anatolian city of Sardis. Limyra would stay under Persian control until it was conquered and sacked by Alexander the Great. It is mentioned by Strabo (XIV, 666), Ptolemy (V, 3, 6) and several Latin authors. Gaius Caesar, adopted son of Augustus, died there (Velleius Paterculus, II, 102). Ruins consist of a theater, tombs, sarcophagi, bas-reliefs, Greek and Lycian inscriptions etc. About 3 km east of the site is the Roman Bridge at Limyra, one of the oldest segmented arch bridges of the world.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:LimyraTheater1.jpg
Photo by Kpisimon, 8 May 1988
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Joe SermariniJan 25, 2019
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Syria, Arwad / Ruad (Arados, Phoenicia)Arwad, an island about 800 m long by 500 m wide, about 50 km north of Tripolis, was settled in the early 2nd millennium B.C. by the Phoenicians. Ancient Arados was an important trading city surrounded by a massive wall and an artificial harbor on the east side toward the mainland. Its powerful navy and ships are mentioned in the monuments of Egypt and Assyria. In the Bible, an "Arvad" is noted as the forefather of the "Arvadites," a Canaanite people. Arados ruled some neighboring cities on the mainland, such as Marat (present-day Amrit) and Sumur, the former nearly opposite the island and the latter some kilometers to the south and held hegemony over the northern Phoenician cities from the mouth of the Orontes to the northern limits of Lebanon, something like that of Sidon in the south. Under the Persians, Arwad was allowed to unite in a confederation with Sidon and Tyre, with a common council at Tripolis. When Alexander the Great invaded Syria in 332 B.C., Arados submitted without a struggle under her king Strato, who sent his navy to aid Alexander in the reduction of Tyre. The city received the favor of the Seleucid kings of Syria and enjoyed the right of asylum for political refugees. It is mentioned in a rescript from Rome about 138 B.C. in connection with other cities and rulers of the East, to show favor to the Jews. This was after Rome had begun to interfere in the affairs of Judea and Syria and indicates that Arwad was still of considerable importance at that time.

Photo by NASA.
Joe SermariniJan 16, 2019
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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 SermariniJan 15, 2019
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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.jpg
Joe SermariniJan 06, 2019
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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.1 commentsJoe SermariniDec 15, 2018
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Greece, Kos, Gymnasium of Kos, archaeologic site in Kos city, Kos island Gymnasium of Kos, archaeologic site in Kos city, Kos island.Joe SermariniDec 15, 2018
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Turkey, Dalyan - The rock tombs of KaunosOutside the official Kaunos archeological site, near Dalyan, Turkey there are six rock tombs on the Dalyan river (4th – 2nd century BC). The façades of the rock tombs resemble the fronts of Hellenistic temples with two Ionian pillars, a triangular pediment, an architrave with toothed friezes, and acroterions shaped like palm leaves.1 commentsJoe SermariniDec 14, 2018
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Greece, Amphipolis, Lion of Amphipolis - Via Egnatia, west side of the Strymonas riverAmphipolis is best known for being a magnificent ancient Greek polis (city), and later a Roman city, whose impressive remains can still be seen. It is famous in history for events such as the battle between the Spartans and Athenians in 422 B.C., and also as the place where Alexander the Great prepared for campaigns leading to his invasion of Asia. Alexander's three finest admirals, Nearchus, Androsthenes and Laomedon, resided in this city and it is also the place where, after Alexander's death, his wife Roxane and their small son Alexander IV were exiled and later murdered. Excavations in and around the city have revealed important buildings, ancient walls and tombs. The finds are displayed at the archaeological museum of Amphipolis. At the nearby vast Kasta burial mound, an important ancient Macedonian tomb has recently been revealed. The unique and beautiful "Lion of Amphipolis" monument nearby is a popular destination for visitors.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Loewe_von_Amphipolis.jpg
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
Date 16 June 2018
Author Neptuul
Joe SermariniAug 08, 2018
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Italy, Rome, Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, with the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, view from Palatine Hill, May 2005.Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, with the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda, view from Palatine Hill, May 2005. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is an ancient Roman temple in Rome, adapted as a Roman Catholic church, Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda. It is in the Forum Romanum, on the Via Sacra, opposite the Regia. The temple was begun by Antoninus Pius in 141 and was initially dedicated to his deceased and deified wife, Faustina the Elder. When Antoninus Pius was deified after his death in 161 AD, the temple was re-dedicated jointly to Antoninus and Faustina at the instigation of his successor, Marcus Aurelius. The ten monolithic Corinthian columns of its pronaos are 17 metres high. The rich bas-reliefs of the frieze under the cornice, of garlanded griffons and candelabri, were often copied from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Antoninus_and_Faustina Photograph released to the public domain.
1 commentsJoe SermariniAug 07, 2018
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Turkey, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia at NightSimonJul 22, 2018
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Turkey, Istanbul, Hagia Sophia , picture from 2nd Floor1 commentsSimonJul 22, 2018
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Scotland, Antonine Wall, Distance SlabThese inscribed stones, known as distance slabs, are unique in the Roman Empire. They celebrate the work of the legions which constructed the Antonine Wall in Scotland. Evidence suggests that the slabs, all made of local sandstone, were set into stone frames along the length of the Wall and are likely to have faced South into the Empire.
Nineteen of these slabs are known of so far, the elaborate carving on many of them celebrating the culmination of a successful campaign by the triumphant Roman army.

IMP CAES TITO AELIO HADRI ANTONINO AVG PIO P P LEG II AVG PER M P IIIIDCLII FEC
"For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Father of his Country, the Second Augustan Legion completed 4652 feet"

This slab was found at Bridgeness, Bo'ness in 1868, it is now in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
*AlexJul 14, 2018
Found_at_Hutcheson_Hill,_West_Dunbartonshire_near_Cleddans_.jpg
Scotland, Antonine Wall, Distance SlabThese inscribed stones, known as distance slabs, are unique in the Roman Empire. They celebrate the work of the legions which constructed the Antonine Wall in Scotland. Evidence suggests that the slabs, all made of local sandstone, were set into stone frames along the length of the Wall and are likely to have faced South into the Empire.
Nineteen of these slabs are known of so far, the elaborate carving on many of them celebrating the culmination of a successful campaign by the triumphant Roman army.

IMP C T AE HADRIANO ANTONINO AVG PIO P P VEX LEG XX VV FEC PP III
"For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Father of his Country, a detachment of the Twentieth Valient and Victorious Legion built this over a distance of 3000 feet"

This slab was found at Hutcheson Hill, near Cleddans, West Dunbartonshire and it is now in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
*AlexJul 14, 2018
Old_Kilpatrick,_West_Dunbartonshire_-_Antonine_Wall.JPG
Scotland, Antonine Wall, Distance SlabThese inscribed stones, known as distance slabs, are unique in the Roman Empire. They celebrate the work of the legions which constructed the Antonine Wall in Scotland. Evidence suggests that the slabs, all made of local sandstone, were set into stone frames along the length of the Wall and are likely to have faced South into the Empire.
Nineteen of these slabs are known of so far, the elaborate carving on many of them celebrating the culmination of a successful campaign by the triumphant Roman army.

IMP C T AE HADRIANO ANTONINO AVG PIO P P VEX LEG XX VV FEC PP IIII CDXI
"For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Father of his Country, a detachment of the Twentieth Valient and Victorious Legion built this over a distance of 4411 feet"

This slab was found at Old Kirkpatrick, West Dunbartonshire and is now in the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
*AlexJul 14, 2018
Antonine_Wall.jpg
Scotland, Falkirk, Section of the Antonine WallThe Antonine Wall was built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Representing the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire, it spanned approximately 63 kilometres (39 miles) and was about 3 metres (10 feet) high and 5 metres (16 feet) wide.
Construction began in AD 142 at the order of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, and took about 12 years to complete.
Most of the wall and its associated fortifications have been destroyed over time, but some remains are still visible. Many of these have come under the care of Historic Scotland and the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
1 comments*AlexJul 13, 2018
Lilia__Roughcastle.jpg
Scotland, Roughcastle Roman Fort, LiliaLilia, which have been found at eight different locations along the 39 miles of the Antonine Wall, are part of its defensive system. The defensive line would have consisted of the ditch, the wall and these lilia, which you might call the ancient Roman equivalent of a minefield.
These deep pits, which would have had something like a sharpened stake in the centre of them, were known as lilia because they apparently reminded the Romans of lilies. They are shown on Trajan's column in Rome and were also described by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars.
The lilia pictured above are at the Roman fort of Roughcastle, on the Antonine Wall, a few miles west of Falkirk.
1 comments*AlexJul 13, 2018
Column_of_Marcus_Aurelius_The_Miracle_of_the_Rain.jpg
Italy, Rome, The Column of Marcus Aurelius with Detail Memorializing the "Miracle in the Rain"The Column of Marcus Aurelius in Piazza Colonna. The five horizontal slits (visible in the middle photo) allow light into the internal stairway. The photo on the right shows detail memorializing the "Miracle in the Rain."

On June 11, 173, during the Marcomannic Wars (166–180), the Roman army in Moravia was outnumbered and surrounded by the Quadi, suffering from the extreme heat, out of water, and on the verge of defeat. Dio writes, "many clouds gathered and a mighty rain, not without divine interposition, burst upon them...when the rain poured down, at first all turned their faces upwards and received the water in their mouths; then some held out their shields and some their helmets to catch it, and they not only took deep draughts themselves but also gave their horses to drink...while those on the one side were being drenched and drinking, the others [the Quadi] were being consumed by fire [lightning] and dying." The Romans were soon victorious. Marcus was saluted imperator for the seventh time and the "miracle of the rain" was memorialized on Marcus Aurelius' column. In 174, Marcus Aurelius officially conferred the title Fulminata (Thundering) to the Legio XII Fulminata.

Photos by Adrian Pingstone released to the public domain.
Joe SermariniJun 14, 2018
Amrit.jpg
Syria, The Ma'abed - Temple at Marathos (Amrit)One of the most important excavations at Marathos (Amrit) was the Phoenician temple, commonly referred to the "ma'abed," dedicated to the god Melqart of Tyre and Eshmun. The colonnaded temple, excavated between 1955 and 1957, consists of a large court cut out of rock measuring 47 × 49 metres (154 × 161 ft) and over 3 metres (9.8 ft) deep, surrounded by a covered portico. In the center of the court a well-preserved cube-shaped cella stands. The open-air courtyard was filled with the waters of a local, traditionally sacred spring, a unique feature of this site. The temple—which was dated to the late 4th century BC, a period following the Persian expansion into Syria—shows major Achaemenid influence in its layout and decoration. According to Dutch archaeologist, Peter Akkermans, the temple is the "best-preserved monumental structure from the Phoenician homeland."

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amrit#/media/File:Amrit01.jpg
Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki
Joe SermariniMay 25, 2018
800px-StatuenMozia.jpg
Motya Charioteer marble sculptureThe remarkable and exquisite Motya Charioteer marble sculpture found in 1979 is world famous and is on display at the local Giuseppe Whitaker museum.

Motya was an ancient and powerful city on an island off the west coast of Sicily, between Drepanum (modern Trapani) and Lilybaeum (modern Marsala). The island was renamed San Pantaleo in the 11th century by Basilian monks. It lies in the Stagnone Lagoon, and is within the comune of Marsala. The island is nearly 850 metres (2,790 ft) long and 750 metres (2,460 ft) wide, and about 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) (six stadia) from the mainland of Sicily. It was joined to the mainland in ancient times by an artificial causeway (paved road), by which chariots with large wheels could reach the town.

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StatuenMozia.jpg
Photo by: AEK
Released under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Joe SermariniJan 28, 2018
roman_Brno.jpg
Czech Republic, Morava region - Brno - V-shaped ditch of Roman temporary campV-shaped ditch of Roman temporary camp in Brno watching ford crosing on Svratka River in area of Marcoman tribe for while sometimes from 172 - 180 AD in time of Marcus Aurelius' Marcomannic Wars.
Dec 2017 excavated
1 commentsBohemianJan 16, 2018
20630025.jpg
Iran, Naqsh-e-Rajab, Fars ProvinceThe investiture of Ardashir I (left) by Ahura Mazda2 commentsSchatzDec 19, 2017
Iran030~0.jpg
Iran, Ardashir I, 224 - 242 ADThe investiture of the first Sasanian king, Ardashir I, by Ahura Mazda (left), a rock relief in Naqsh-e-Rostam north of Persepolis.1 commentsSchatzDec 19, 2017
Iran029.jpg
Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvincePart of the relief showing Hormizd II (303-309 AD) toppling a mounted enemy.SchatzDec 10, 2017
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe investiture of Narseh (293-303 AD) by the goddess AnahitaSchatzDec 10, 2017
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceTwo-panel equestrian relief showing the exploits of Bahram II, most likely against a Roman on the upper part, on the lower panel perhaps against an Indo-Sasanian ruler.SchatzDec 10, 2017
iran2_103.jpg
Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceBahram II in combat with a mounted Roman
SchatzDec 10, 2017
Iran028.jpg
Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe grandee relief of King Bahram II (276-293 AD) surrounded by his entourage
SchatzDec 10, 2017
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe Sasanian king Shahpur I (241-272 AD) with his characteristic hairdo, the korymbos, in front of two prisoners, the supplicant Roman emperor Valerian and Philip the Arab after the battle of Edessa in 240 AD
SchatzDec 10, 2017
Iran030.jpg
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe top of this tomb shows king Dareios I worshiping in front of a fire altar with Ahura Mazda’s symbol above.SchatzDec 10, 2017
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceThe tomb of Dareios I (522-486 BC)is the only one identified with certainty from the head of the relief. The others are believed to be those of Xerxes I (486-465 BC), Artaxerxes I (465-424 BC), and Dareios II (423-404 BC).SchatzDec 10, 2017
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Iran, Naqsh-e-Rostam, Fars ProvinceOn a steep rock face just a few miles north of Persepolis lies the necropolis of the Achaemenid kings consisting of the tombs of Dareios I and three of his successors (the fourth tomb is around the corner). Some time after this picture was taken, the sandy hill in front of the rock was removed so that one could see the Sasanian rock reliefs between and below the tombs from a distance.
SchatzDec 10, 2017
017_14.jpg
Iran, Bisitun, Kermanshah ProvinceAt the entrance to the bas relief face of Mount Bisotun, some yards up, a sculpture of Herakles rests on a lion skin, cup in hand, club, bow and quiver behind him. It dates back to the year 148 BC.SchatzDec 06, 2017
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Iran, Bisitun (Behistun), Kermanshah ProvinceOn the road from Hamadan (ancient Ekbatana) to the city of Kermanshah halfway up Mount Bisitun a number of unique bas reliefs from about 520 BC catch the eye. The Achaemenid king Dareios I (522 - 486 BC) had the largest one chiseled into the face of the mountain to tell the world of his triumph over his rival Gaumata and nine other rebels. The sensational part of the relief are the extensive cuneiform inscriptions above, below, and to the sides of the figures. They are in Elamite, Babylonian, and Old Persian, the latter a language which was created on the king’s order since up to then there was no written Persian language. The creation is a mixture of Elamite, Babylonian, and Aramaic. It was not deciphered until the middle of the 18th cent. AD by a British officer, adventurer, and amateur archeologist Sir Henry Rawlinson.
SchatzDec 06, 2017
022_19.jpg
Iran, BisitunCloser view of the main relief showing King Dareios I with his defeated rivals. Unfortunately there were no camera drones when this picture was taken.
SchatzDec 06, 2017
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