Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias is an ancient city and archaeological site in Denizli Province, western Turkey, named after the goddess Aphrodite and inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2017.

The site’s highlights include a large temple precinct dedicated to Aphrodite, an arcade-like agora, a monumental Sebasteion with carved reliefs, and a conspicuous stadium and theatre that define the city plan. The adjacent Sculpture Museum displays a substantial number of original marble statues and reliefs found on-site.

Aphrodisias developed from Hellenistic origins and reached its greatest prosperity in the Roman Imperial period, especially between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD; it was noted for workshops producing high-quality marble sculpture. Systematic excavations began in the 20th century and were led for many years by Turkish and international teams, notably a long-running New York University project under Kenan Erim.

The ruins sit in the valley near the modern village of Geyre in the Karacasu district, on a fertile plain at the foot of Aegean-range hills in western Anatolia. The site is accessed via local roads from nearby towns in Denizli Province.

• UNESCO status: Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 for its well-preserved ensemble of monuments and sculpture.
• Sculpture highlights: Most of the best-preserved sculptures and reliefs are displayed in the on-site museum, which is the best place to see original marble works removed from the ruins.

What to See #

• Ancient city remains: Located on a fertile plain near the modern village of Geyre (Karacasu district), the site contains an extensive urban plan with an agora, theatre, and multiple public monuments dating mainly to the Roman Imperial period (1st-3rd centuries AD).
• Sculpture Museum: A museum adjacent to the ruins houses a large collection of original marble sculptures and architectural fragments recovered from the site, displayed in chronological order and in restored groupings.
• Sebasteion: The Sebasteion is a sculpted civic complex from the Roman period notable for its deeply carved narrative reliefs that celebrate imperial cult and local elites.
• Stadium and Theatre: The stadium and theatre survive as visible earthwork and stone structures used for athletic contests and performances; the stadium aligns with the city grid to the south of the agora.
• Tetrapylon: The Tetrapylon marks a major street intersection and is one of the more visually intact urban monuments, set between the agora and the sacred area of the temple.