Tetrapylon, Aphrodisias, Aydin, Turkey

Tetrapylon or monumental gateway, 2nd century AD, Aphrodisias, Aydin, Turkey. The tetrapylon greeted pilgrims visiting the Temple or Sanctuary of Aphrodite and linked the main North-South street of the town to the Sacred Way leading to a large forecourt in front of the temple. It consists of 4 rows of 4 columns and the pediment over the West columns is decorated with reliefs of Eros and Nike hunting among the acanthus leaves. Aphrodisias was a small ancient Greek city in Caria near the modern-day town of Geyre. It was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who had here her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias. The city suffered major earthquakes in the 4th and 7th centuries which destroyed most of the ancient structures. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13428240

Media ID

45098517

Size

5504px x 5388px (9.7MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen