Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the Ancient City of Aphrodisias, located in Aydın's Karacasu district, will become a record-breaking ruin site with projects allocated a total budget of 1 billion 750 million lira.
Speaking at the Promotion Meeting of the Ancient City of Aphrodisias, Ersoy pointed out that this was one of the leading centers where the talent of sculpture was reflected in the Roman period.
Stating that most of the ruins seen in the city belong to the Roman period, Ersoy said, "The Aphrodisians introduced themselves to the Roman world with their mastery in the art of sculpture, and we will introduce their heritage to the whole world with the conservation work we will carry out." said.
Ersoy stated that coordinators consisting of Turkish scientists were assigned to ancient cities with foreign excavation leaders, and Prof. Dr. Ersoy, who was also the Head of the Tripolis Ancient City Excavation for Aphrodisias. Dr. He shared the information that Bahadır Duman was appointed.
Providing information about what will be done within the scope of the "Aphrodisias Heritage to the Future" project, Ersoy said:
“In addition to the city park and pool in Afrodisias, we are starting conservation work on the Tetrapylon, one of the most magnificent buildings, and excavation and restoration work on the Tetrastoon. In ancient times, the basilica in Aphrodisias was the largest indoor building in the city. With a new project focusing on the front of the building, we completed the work of removing the huge entrance columns in 2023 and displayed Diocletian's 'ceiling price edict' on the facade of the building. Now, with the new project we have prepared, we will excavate the remaining part of the building, complete the conservation of the mosaics and raise the columns to make it easier for visitors to perceive the building. "By excavating the gymnasium, which was excavated approximately 120 years ago and remained underground again in the intervening time, we will reveal the structure again and create an alternative to the visitor route."
Emphasizing that they will open the bath rooms to visitors within the scope of the project, Ersoy stated that they will unearth a new structure in Aphrodisias with the excavations to be carried out in the Agora and make the city's city walls visible.
night museum
Stating that they will carry out documentation, conservation and restoration works for the Ottoman period baths and Geyre houses in Aphrodisias within the scope of the project, Ersoy stated that they are planning two new exhibition areas in the ancient city, which has many inscriptions and embossed marble sarcophagi.
Stating that they will open the ancient city to visitors within the scope of night museology by illuminating the monumental buildings and tour routes, Ersoy continued as follows:
“We will also carry out strengthening works, exhibition, arrangement and repair practices in our Afrodisias Museum. We will ensure that the city reaches more people with all these projects prepared for Aphrodisias, the applications that have started and with intensive work, and we will allocate a budget of 1 billion 750 million lira for the process. We will meet here again a year later to observe the changes here. "Aphrodisias will be an example for our other ruins, and we will have a spot that breaks visitor records with its night museology and advanced restoration works."
Aydın Governor Yakup Canbolat, AK Party Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor candidate Mustafa Savaş, Karacasu Mayor Mehmet Erikmen, AK Party MKYK Member Umut Tuncer, AK Party Provincial Chairman Gökhan Ökten and MHP Provincial Chairman Haluk Alicik also attended the program.