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One of the ancient cities in Turkey is Aphrodisias. It is named as a tribute to Aphrodite. Aphrodisias lies in the Maeander River Basin, in a valley 100 miles southeast of the Izmir port. Aphrodisias was the home of the breathtaking temple of Aphrodite.
The Temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias was an Ionic pseudo-dipteros of 8 x 13 columns. It was built around 100 B.C. over a shrine from about the third century B.C. from which mosaics have still survived. The temple had a huge statue of Aphrodite, that was more than 10 feet tall, and some of the parts have been recovered. There are fourteen columns still standing, and two still have their architrave in place. Just like other temples dedicated to Aphrodite, one can presume that this temple also fulfilled a therapeutic sexual role. Prostitution was a feature of the Aphrodite cult, that was practiced by priestesses and female temple slaves called hierodules. The Delphic Oracle instructed that patrons leave an offering of some kind. Caesar offered a staue of Eros, and Sulla for instance gave a gold crown and double ax. The temple was converted into a three-aisle basilica by the Byzantines in the fifth century.
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