Ancient Greek temple 2,500 years old discovered in Turkey

In 2016, archaeologists discovered fragments of an ancient Greek temple near the outskirts of Izmir, Turkey. During the excavation, scientists realized that there is more to the ground than individual artifacts. Later it turned out that the find is the temple of Aphrodite. Comparing historical reports, experts guessed that the building was erected in the 6th century BC, when the cult of the goddess of love and fertility was very common.

Experts found many elements indicating the ancient Greek origin of the shrine. Among the artifacts are fragments of a female statue on the floor, a figure of a woman's head.

If we look at the pages of history, it becomes clear how the Greek goddess could have ended up in the territory of the Turkish state. Scientists suggest that the Greek colonists moved to the area of the present city of Izmir to have access to the sea. These areas were the ideal place to open the temple of Aphrodite. And the estimated size of the building allows us to conclude that the Greeks inhabited these lands in large numbers.

According to a popular Turkish publication, researchers have found and documented findings that have expanded the understanding of the people who inhabited these territories since 600 BC.

Today's authorities are trying to preserve the most valuable find not only from urban developers, but also from a more significant threat - antiquities hunters, including visiting foreigners.

By the way, the temple of Aphrodite is not the only archaeological value found in the territory of modern Turkey. Other unique artifacts found in recent years include ancient frescoes in the underground temple of Cappadocia, which archaeologists believe could change the history of the region and all Orthodoxy, as well as the skeleton of a battle camel and the supposed burial site of Suleiman the Great, the Sultan, under whose rule the Ottoman Empire saw its heyday.

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