Ephesus is teeming with cats. I happen to love cats and this is my best cat shot from Ephesus. The reason I chose this photo today is that I just caught Cat Scratch Disease, an infection following the scratch of a cat, not from Ephesus, but from the ancient city of Olympos in Lycia. I never knew such… Continue reading Picture of the day: Cat among the ruins of the Prytaneion at Ephesus (Turkey)
Category: Asia Minor
Picture of the day: The Temple of Apollo at Claros, Ionia
The Temple of Apollo at Claros (also called Klaros) was a very important center of prophecy as in Delphi and Didyma. The temple, which probably replaced an earlier one, is dated to the third century BC and is the only temple built in Doric style in Ionia. It was built upon a stepped platform measuring 26… Continue reading Picture of the day: The Temple of Apollo at Claros, Ionia
Exploring Seleukeia (Lyrbe) – images from a forgotten city in Pamphylia
The ancient city of Seleukeia (or Lyrbe) is located 15 km north of Manavgat and was only rediscovered by archaeologists in the early 1970s. The city is known to have been founded as a fortified acropolis, serving as a final defence and protection in the event of an attack on Side. Upon the pirates' capture… Continue reading Exploring Seleukeia (Lyrbe) – images from a forgotten city in Pamphylia
Statue of Hadrian wearing the Corona Civica (Civic Crown), from the North Nymphaeum at Perga, Antalya Museum
Inv. no. 3861-3863 Baiae portrait sculptural type. The emperor is depicted here as a nude hero. A paludamentum is draped over his left shoulder and arm. In his left hand is the sheath and sword and he wears a laurel wreath on his head.
Hadrian goes to Attaleia – images from Hadrian’s Gate at Antalya
Antalya was founded as Attaleia by Attalus II, King of Pergamum, around 150 BC to establish a naval base. It is possible that the town was an expansion of an older settlement or was built on top of a pre-existing one, as 2008 excavations suggest. In 133 BC, Attalus III, the last king of Pergamum,… Continue reading Hadrian goes to Attaleia – images from Hadrian’s Gate at Antalya
Exploring Aspendos – images from a wealthy city of Pamphylia
The second place I visited during my recent trip to Turkey was Aspendos (see itinerary map here). Aspendos is one of the most popular historic sites in the Antalya region. It is located beside the river Eurymedon (Köprüçay) and is renowned throughout the world for its magnificent ancient theatre. During ancient times, the central region of Antalya was known as Pamphylia and Aspendos… Continue reading Exploring Aspendos – images from a wealthy city of Pamphylia
The gladiator relief and other highlights from the Burdur Archaeological Museum (Pisidia, Turkey)
No visit to Sagalassos would be complete without checking the Archaeological Museum at Burdur, the provincial capital. Major finds from Sagalassos are housed in this museum which is located a short drive from the site. Photos of this magnificent archaeological site were posted in part 1 and part 2 of my piece on Sagalassos. The museum… Continue reading The gladiator relief and other highlights from the Burdur Archaeological Museum (Pisidia, Turkey)
Exploring Sagalassos – images from the city in the clouds (part 2 – Lower Agora)
As mentioned in part 1, Sagalassos made the headlines in the international press in 2007 and 2008 due to the unexpected discovery of three extraordinary statues of the emperors Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius and empress Faustina the Elder, Antoninus Pius' wife. The statues were originally located in the frigidarium, the coldest and largest room in the Roman… Continue reading Exploring Sagalassos – images from the city in the clouds (part 2 – Lower Agora)
Exploring Sagalassos – images from the city in the clouds (part 1 – Upper Agora)
The first visit of my recent trip to Turkey was the archaeological site of Sagalassos in Pisidia. We had the place almost to ourselves, a real treat. Few people seem to have heard of Sagalassos, and the site is a bit off the beaten track. Sagalassos made the international press headlines in 2007 and 2008… Continue reading Exploring Sagalassos – images from the city in the clouds (part 1 – Upper Agora)