Afrodisias

From Selcuk we headed back inland to see three of the most famous classical and natural sites in Turkey, the ruins at Afrodisias, the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, and, above them, the Roman spa city of Hierapolis. Afrodisias (that's how the Turks spell it) was one of the best sites we have seen yet, in the extensiveness and condition of its structures but also in the many interesting un-reassembled parts just laying around everywhere.

Us in front of the great city gate of Afrodisias

Afrodisias' stadium, seating 30,000, the best-preserved such structure from the 
Roman world



Many of the seats had markings on them, said to be seating reservations! 
("Family of Pseudolus Maximus, IV seats, home games,  LXIX...Go LIONS!")



Temple of Aphrodite; later a basilica

A mason's mark (to get paid)

One of the city's two agora, part of the south agora

Looking back to the north agora and Hadrian's Baths

The theatre, built into the side of a hill excavations of which revealed neolithic 
habitation going back to 5800 BCE

Looking from the hill back toward the Temple of Aphrodite and the stadium: 
the long line of columns traces the length of a pool and arcade in the south agora

Public hall and more baths

Remains of the Sebasteion, a three-level arcade for the worship of emperors 
and glorification of the empire; remains of many of the friezes are in the museum

Museum annex, where most of the Sebasteion resides; the museum contains a 
great wealth of statues, busts, and other items recovered in the various 
excavations, many in very good condition

Perhaps the most important of which is this, the city's official 
statue of Aphrodite