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Temple of Zeus in Muğla to regain its former glory
Temple of Zeus in Muğla to regain its former glory
The Temple of Zeus Lepsynos, which was built with donations in the second century B.C. in the Milas district of the western province of Muğla and is among the best-preserved temples in Anatolia, is being restored. (AA Photo)
Excavation and restoration work continues in the ancient city of Euromos, which is located within the boundaries of Selimiye neighborhood and is home to the temple. Speaking to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Abuzer Kızıl, the head of the excavations in the ancient city of Euromos and faculty member of the Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University’s Archeology Department, that 16 of the 17 columns in the ancient city were still standing with their upper beams.
Stating that the temple in the ancient city was built by benefactors during the Roman period, Kızıl said that according to the documents they obtained from the European travelers, a part of the temple had been in ruins for 300 years. He noted that with the project, they aimed to strengthen the temple against earthquakes and restore it to its former glory.
Explaining that they classified most of the architectural elements of the Temple of Zeus during the excavations and documentation they carried out throughout the year, Kızıl said: “We still have 80 percent of the architectural elements of the temple. This is a serious advantage for the restoration to be made in accordance with the original. We will restore the temple to its former glory.”
Stating that they will progress in stages within the scope of the project, Kızıl said that the first stage of work would be to excavate the blocks around the temple, which they estimate might be partially buried or under the ground. He also noted that they have been dreaming of restoring the temple for years and that they were happy that this dream now comes true.
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