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.
Temple of Augustus and Rome at a Glance#
Address: Augustus Temple area, Ulus district, Ankara, Turkey
Hours: Visible from public streets (no formal hours)
Admission: Free to view from outside; access via museum or guided tours may have fees
About Temple of Augustus and Rome#
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -4° - 4° | -3° | 44 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.6h |
| February | Acceptable | -3° - 6° | -1° | 34 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.6h |
| March | Good | 0° - 11° | 4° | 36 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 2.3 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 5° - 17° | 11° | 45 mm | partly cloudy | 67% | 2.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.1h |
| May | Very Good | 9° - 22° | 15° | 52 mm | partly cloudy | 64% | 2.1 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.2h |
| June | Excellent | 13° - 26° | 19° | 33 mm | mostly sunny | 59% | 2.1 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 14.7h |
| July | Ideal | 16° - 30° | 23° | 14 mm | clear | 49% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 14.5h |
| August | Ideal | 15° - 29° | 22° | 10 mm | clear | 47% | 2.4 m/s | 2.0 very high | 13.5h |
| September | Ideal | 11° - 25° | 18° | 14 mm | mostly sunny | 51% | 1.9 m/s | 1.4 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 6° - 19° | 12° | 31 mm | some cloud | 63% | 1.7 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Good | 0° - 12° | 5° | 33 mm | partly cloudy | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 9.9h |
| December | Poor | -2° - 5° | -1° | 44 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.3h |
