Aphrodisias
Ancient Greek Hellenistic city in Geyre, Aydın, Turkey / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Aphrodisias (/æfrəˈdɪsiəs/;[1] Ancient Greek: Ἀφροδισιάς, romanized: Aphrodisiás) was a small ancient Greek Hellenistic city in the historic Caria cultural region of western Anatolia, Turkey. It is located near the modern village of Geyre, about 100 km (62 mi) east/inland from the coast of the Aegean Sea, and 230 km (140 mi) southeast of İzmir.
Ἀφροδισιάς | |
Location | Geyre, Aydın Province, Turkey |
---|---|
Region | Caria |
Coordinates | 37°42′30″N 28°43′25″E |
Type | Settlement |
History | |
Cultures | Greek, Roman |
Associated with | Alexander of Aphrodisias, Chariton |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1904–1905, 1962–present |
Archaeologists | Paul Augustin Gaudin, Kenan Erim, Christopher Ratté, R. R. R. Smith |
Public access | Yes |
Website | Aphrodisias Archaeological Site |
Includes | Archaeological Site of Aphrodisias and Ancient Marble Quarries |
Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi |
Reference | 1519 |
Inscription | 2017 (41st Session) |
Area | 152.25 ha |
Buffer zone | 1,040.57 ha |
Aphrodisias was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who had here her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias. According to the Suda, a Byzantine encyclopedic compilation, before the city became known as Aphrodisias (c. 3rd century BCE) it had three previous names: Lelégōn Pólis (Λελέγων πόλις, "City of the Leleges"),[2] Megálē Pólis (Μεγάλη Πόλις, "Great City"), and Ninóē (Νινόη).[3]
Sometime before 640, in the Late Antique period when it was within the Byzantine Empire, the city was renamed Stauropolis (Σταυρούπολις, "City of the Cross").[4]
In 2017, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.[5]