THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS IN AIZANOI ~ KUTAHYA ~ TURKEY

One of the best preserved temples of Zeus is located in Western Anatolia, in the area of Aizanoi in Kutahya. In antiquity, the Greek city of Aizanoi thrived there and in later times it was occupied by the Romans. In the 2nd century CE, the Roman emperor Hadrian commissioned the building of this majestic religious sanctuary. 

The temple is built upon a podium with many steps. Originally,it was surrounded on all sides by ionic columns, creating a kind of porch called 'peristasis', which served for ceremonial processions. The peristasis consisted of 15 columns along the length of the building and 8 columns along its width- nowadays, only the columns of the northern and western sides remain standing. The podium on which the temple stands measures 33x37 meters. The influences of Greek architecture are clearly seen both in the design of the building and its decorations.
This imposing building was the most important religious center of the region, and it honoured two deities- Zeus was worshipped in the section above ground, and the underground part was dedicated to Cybele. 

During the 13th century CE, the Tatars added battle scenes on the walls of the structure. However, neither these additions nor time have managed to reduce the splendour of the Temple, which stands as a monument to Zeus, the Ruler of  Gods and mortals.