A unique treasure in Ankara: The only example in the world
Located within the boundaries of the Altındağ district of Ankara, adjacent to the Hacı Bayram Mosque, the Temple of Augustus harbors a unique treasure.
The hill opposite Ankara Castle has always been considered a ‘sacred’ place throughout history. A temple built for Cybele during the Phrygian period was located at the site, and between 25-20 BC, a temple was built for the Roman Emperor Augustus by Plimanes, the daughter of the last Galatian ruler Amintas. After the spread of Christianity to the Roman Empire, it was used as a church during the Byzantine period. Subsequently, the structure, which was also preserved during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, served as a place for imams to stay in previous centuries.
Faced the danger of collapse in the 2000s
The Cella Wall of the Temple of Augustus faced the danger of collapsing with a 10% slope in the early 2000s. Efforts by the Anatolian Cultural Academy Association, inspections by delegations from METU and Italy, and funding from the municipality prevented its collapse with steel construction. The monument, one of the most visited places by tourists in Turkey along with the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, was closed and protected after this reinforcement work.
The only example in the world
The reason for the intense interest in the monument is primarily the inscription, which is the only example in the world. At the time of Emperor Augustus, there were four examples of inscriptions describing his activities in his own words. Two of these were destroyed and lost, while the third, located in Rome, was melted and used for ‘bronze’ needs in the Middle Ages, leaving the one in Ankara as the only example.
Cover to be put on
The Temple of Augustus, which has stood for 2,000 years, constitutes one of the rare examples in the world where three different beliefs converge. There are also traces from the period when it was used as a church on the Eastern Wall and figures from the Ottoman period. Efforts are underway for the monument to stand for another 2,000 years. The collapse of the wall was prevented with steel construction. Previously, the fountains placed in this area were closed because they were causing damage to the monument and the mosque.
The monument also needs to be protected from effects such as erosion and acid content in rain due to air pollution. For this reason, some projects have been submitted to the Cultural Heritage Protection Board. With the implementation of these projects, it is aimed to cover the monument and protect it from weather conditions.
