What secrets lie hidden beneath our feet? Right before you stands the Temple of Augustus and Rome. It’s a grand name for a structure that appears quite humble at first glance. But don’t let the state of its ruins fool you! This temple, known locally as Augustus Tapınağı, is a powerful link to Ankara’s Roman past, a period when this city was known as Ancyra.
Constructed between 25-20 BC, the Temple of Augustus and Rome marked a turning point in Ankara’s history. After the Roman conquest of central Anatolia, Ancyra became the capital of the Roman province of Galatia. This temple, dedicated to the Emperor Augustus and the goddess Roma, was a symbol of Roman power and influence over this newly acquired territory.
While much of the temple has crumbled over time, you can still see the echoes of its former grandeur. Picture towering columns, six in total, marking the entrance to the inner sanctum. Imagine beautifully carved marble, now weathered but still hinting at the intricate designs that once adorned its walls. This wasn’t just a place of worship, it was a statement.
But the Temple of Augustus and Rome holds more than just architectural significance. It’s here that one of history’s most important documents was discovered. The Monumentum Ancyranum, inscribed on the temple walls, contains Augustus’ own account of his reign – the Res Gestae Divi Augusti. This inscription is the most complete surviving copy of that text, more complete than even those found in Rome itself.
So as you stand before these ancient stones, you’re not just looking at ruins. You’re witnessing a tangible piece of Roman history, a story etched in marble and whispering tales of emperors and empires. Let your imagination transport you back to when Ancyra thrived under Roman rule, and the echoes of their legacy still resonate within these very stones.