Temple of Zeus at Soli-Pompeiopolis
Soli Zeus Tapınağı · Soli Zeus Temple · Pompeiopolis Colonnaded Temple
Roman Imperial (Antonine)·Cilician Greek and Roman Pompeiopolis·🇹🇷 Mersin, Mezitli, Soli-Pompeiopolis (Viranşehir), Turkey
About
About Temple of Zeus at Soli-Pompeiopolis
Harbour temple of Soli, the Cilician port refounded as Pompeiopolis 67 BCE by Pompey the Great for resettled pirates, 200 m from the sea via a marble colonnaded street (480 m, 200 columns). The Temple of Zeus (?)/possibly Athena or Asklepios (c.150 CE Roman Corinthian peripteral 6×12, 20×34 m) sits on a podium 100 m inland from the harbour mole, with 5 columns re-erected to 8 m. The 12-m thick city walls enclose the Hellenistic theatre. Coin legend SOLOIKON with Zeus Nikephoros and Soli as Aratus' birthplace (c.315 BCE poet of Phaenomena) underscore intellectual heritage. Dokuz Eylül University excavations since 1999 focus on colonnaded street and temple anastylosis.
Why it mattersPompeian pirate-resettlement urbanism case study with harbour temple-colonnade ensemble.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dedication Zeus vs Athena vs Asklepios identification
- 02Harbour mole chronology
Theories
- 01Pompeian propaganda temple for piracy amnesty
- 02Aratus cult incorporation
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.150 CE (Antonine)
- Period
- Roman Imperial (Antonine)
- Culture
- Cilician Greek and Roman Pompeiopolis
- Builders
- Pompeiopolis polis under Antonines
- Purpose
- Harbour polis temple dominating colonnaded street and pirate-settlement zone
- Abandoned
- 7th c. CE earthquake and harbour silt
- Rediscovered
- 1810s Leake; 1999 Yağcı Dokuz Eylül excavation
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
67 BCE
Pompey refounds Soli as Pompeiopolis
150 CE
Antonine Corinthian temple construction
524 CE
Anazarbian earthquake damages temple
1999
Yağcı Soli-Pompeiopolis project starts
On the ground
Structures & features
36.7410° N · 34.5380° E · 3 m · 2 mapped features
Harbour Temple Podium
temple podiumCorinthian podium with 5 columns to 8 m overlooking harbour street
36.7415° N · 34.5385° EColonnaded Street
colonnaded way480-m marble colonnaded way from harbour mole to temple axis with 200 bases
36.7405° N · 34.5375° E