Zeus Temple to regain its glory

MUĞLA – Anadolu Agency

AA photo

The Zeus Lepsynos Temple from the 2nd century B.C. will be revived to regain its former glory, as archaeological excavations continue in the ancient city of Euromos in the western province of Muğla’s Milas district. 

Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Archaeology Department academic and Euromos excavations head Abuzer Kızıl said the excavations in the ancient city had restarted five years ago after a 36-year hiatus. 

Kızıl said cleaning, drilling, geophysical, mapping, culvert and excavation works have been carried out in recent years in the temple, agora, theater, necropolis, bath and walls of the ancient city.

He said they had important projects to carry out on the Zeus Temple, adding that lots of architectural ruins still existed in the temple. 

Stating that the Zeus Temple was one of the best preserved temples in Anatolia, Kızıl added, “Among 17 pillars in the temple, 16 are still surviving with their beams. We will continue documenting the architectural elements of the temple.” 

He said their goal was to revive the blocks on the ground through a comprehensive restoration work and make the temple glorious again. 

Kızıl said that due to its location, Euromos was one of the luckiest ancient cities in Anatolia, and that it was also one of the significant cities of Karia. 

He also said they were working hard to best promote the Zeus Temple after quality restoration work. “Now the most important thing for us is to get rid of the concrete molds casted by late Prof. Ümit Serdaroğlu in the 1970s. It is really very difficult to do it. It makes us tired,” he added. 

Important for regional tourism

Kızıl said the ancient city of Euromos and the Zeus Temple had importance in terms of regional promotion and tourism in addition to its archaeological and scientific importance. 

“We are still working on it. We enumerate each of thousands of pieces… one by one. The work in this temple is a doctorate thesis. We are working with a research assistant. At the same time, we are working with foreign academics for its restoration. I believe that after the restoration of broken columns the ancient value of this temple will increase.” 

Kızıl said university students and academics from Turkish and foreign universities participated in the work at the site and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and the Muğla Governor’s Office and the Metropolitan Municipality all made contributions. 

The Zeus Temple is located by the wayside of the Milas-Söke highway. It is believed that it was constructed in the time of Emperor Hadrian.