Sebasteion, Aphrodisias, Stauroupolis

Aphrodisias was a small Hellenistic and Roman city in the northeastern section of the ancient precinct of Caria, on the southwest coast of Asia Minor. The site is located near the modern village of Geyre. Named after Aphrodite, the city was renamed Stauroupolis ("City of the Cross") circa 640 AD. A monumental and highly decorated Temple complex dedicated to Aphrodite and to the first Imperial Roman family (the Julio-Claudian dynasty), was found located northeast of the Theatre. Inscriptions found on site call this complex 'Sebasteion'. Initially built circa 14-37 AD, during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, this complex was destroyed by earthquakes numerous times and repeatedly re-built. The main structures within the complex were completed circa 41-54 AD (reign of Emperor Claudius). The complex consisted of three main parts: an impressive two-leveled monumental Propylon, a Temple and three-leveled, 80-meter long each, colonnaded galleries flanking a 14-meter wide ceremonial marble road. The Propylon and Northern Gallery were probably commissioned by the brothers Menander and Eusebes and Eusebes' wife, according to an inscription found on an architrave. The Temple and the Southern Gallery were commissioned by the brothers Diogenes and Attalus.