Aphrodite's gateway

by Auntieblues

Title

Aphrodite's gateway

Artist

Auntieblues

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

The ancient city of Aphrodisias, once the capital of the province of Lydia, is located near the village of Geyre in the district of Karacasu . The history of the city can be traced back to the early bronze age and there is even clear evidence of a chalcolithic culture prior to the 3rd millennium B.C. The use of the name Aphrodisias began after the 3rd century B.C., in the Hellenistic period.

The wealth and cultural and political importance of the city is clearly attested by the size and magnificence of the buildings of which it is composed.The name Aphrodisias is derived from Aphrodite, the goddess of nature, beauty, love and plenty, and was one of the most famous cult centres of the goddess.

The Tetrapylon was the monumental gateway which greeted pilgrims when they approached the Temple of Aphrodite. t was constructed in the middle of the 2nd century. The Tetrapylon consisted of four rows of four columns (tetra = four and pylon = gateway in Greek) It connects the major street to the sacred way heading toward the sanctuary of Aphrodite.

The front row of Corinthian columns with spiral fluting look out on to a street with north-south alignment. On the pediment over the west columns were decorated with relief figures of Eros and Nike hunting among the acanthus leaves.

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September 27th, 2014

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