Temple of Augustus and Rome
Temple Roman temple in Ankara preserving Augustus' inscription
A Roman-era temple ruin in Ankara’s Ulus district, visited for its surviving columns and inscriptions and as a stop on archaeological walks through the city’s ancient quarter.
The Temple of Augustus and Rome is a Roman imperial cult temple in Ankara (ancient Ancyra), Turkey, erected during the reign of Augustus in the late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD. It is best known for preserving the local copy of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti inscription.
What remains today includes the temple’s scarp and wall surfaces where the Res Gestae was inscribed in Latin with a Greek translation. The inscription panels are a primary historical source for Augustus’s own record of his accomplishments and are a principal reason scholars and visitors come to the site.
The temple was built by Roman authorities for the imperial cult and functioned as a civic and religious monument in Ancyra. Over the centuries it suffered damage and partial collapse; fragments and inscriptions were studied and conserved from the 19th century onward.
The site lies in the Ulus quarter of central Ankara, immediately beneath the Ankara Citadel and within the area of the ancient Roman forum.
- Res Gestae inscription: Contains the surviving bilingual panels of Augustus's Res Gestae - an important primary source on his reign - preserved in Greek and Latin on the temple site.
- Central Ankara location: Located in Ankara's Ulus district, immediately below the city citadel and within the Roman-era forum area.
How to Get to Temple of Augustus and Rome #
Located in Ankara’s Ulus district, within easy walking distance of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Ulus Square. From Kizilay or Ankara train station a short taxi or metro ride to Ulus followed by a few minutes on foot.
Tips for Visiting Temple of Augustus and Rome #
- Arrive early in Ankara's old quarter to see the temple ruins before afternoon heat and traffic noise intensify.
- Combine with a walk to the nearby Museum of Anatolian Civilizations for context on Roman-era Ancyra.
- Most guidebooks still translate the site as part of the Roman forum area; follow local signage for the Temple of Augustus and Rome.
Best Time to Visit Temple of Augustus and Rome #
Best in spring or autumn for comfortable sightseeing weather; Ankara's summer can be hot and dry.
Weather & Climate near Temple of Augustus and Rome #
Temple of Augustus and Rome's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 30°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 9°C. The wettest month with 52 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 15°C. The driest month with just 10 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 11°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
