Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi
Aizanoi Zeus Tapınağı · Aezani Zeus Temple · Çavdarhisar Zeus Temple
Roman Imperial (High Empire)·Roman Phrygia (Aezanitai polis under Rome)·🇹🇷 Kütahya, Çavdarhisar (ancient Aezani/Aizanoi), Turkey
About
About Temple of Zeus at Aizanoi
Best-preserved Ionic pseudodipteral temple in Anatolia crowning the terraced sanctuary hill of Phrygian Aizanoi (later Roman double-cult centre). 117–155 CE under Hadrian–Antoninus, 9×15 columns (15 m), it stands on a high podium with vaulted substructures (cryptoporticus) forming a large artificial terrace. 500 CE. The 35-m long vaulted cryptoporticus beneath preserved is a masterpiece of Roman concrete. C. restoration keeps the temple almost complete to entablature, as emblem of Roman Phrygian urbanism beside the adjacent Macellum and Stadium-Theatre complex.
Why it mattersMost intact pseudodipteral in Anatolia illustrating Roman podium temple with engineered terrace.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Two-storey cella function — cult passage or treasury
- 02Quarry source for 15-m monoliths
Theories
- 01Imperial crypt for oracle (?)
- 02Hadrianic urban prestige project
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.117–155 CE (Hadrian to Antoninus Pius)
- Period
- Roman Imperial (High Empire)
- Culture
- Roman Phrygia (Aezanitai polis under Rome)
- Builders
- Aizanoi polis elite and Roman provincial architects
- Purpose
- Metropolis temple of Zeus with combined Imperial cult crypt
- Abandoned
- Late 5th c. CE conversion to church precursor
- Rediscovered
- 1824 Leake visit; 1926 DAI exc. Naumann
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
117 CE
Hadrian grants neocorate; foundation
155 CE
Antoninus dedication inscription
1824
Leake sketches temple with 9 columns standing
2008
Cryptoporticus consolidation and UNESCO Tentative upgrade
On the ground
Structures & features
39.2002° N · 29.6100° E · 1010 m · 2 mapped features
Cryptoporticus Vault
vaulted substructure35-m vaulted substructure passage under podium with opus caementicium
39.2005° N · 29.6098° ECella and Antae
cellaDual-storey cella interior with anta columns and Imperial partition wall
39.2001° N · 29.6102° E