Temple of Aphrodite to be Buried by Urban Progress?
A 6th century BC temple to Aphrodite, the godess of love, may end up buried beneath new construction indefinitely, leaving it invisible to future generations.
Tucked away behind metal construction fences lie some of the visible remains of an ancient temple. Most of the ancient temple foundations are now hidden, overlaid by urban sprawl, and what fraction can still be seen is eclipsed and sandwiched in by buildings. The unsuspecting pedestrian may never even notice it. It is shrouded in part by overhanging vegetation. It lies almost forgotten now within its modern context as the steady march of change and development has passed it by.
The Late Archaic period temple, 200 years older than the Parthenon, was originally built to honor the Greek godess of Aphrodite (Venus), the godess of love, in the 6th century B.C. It was later moved during Roman times to another location, which was considered a sacred area where there was a concentration of temples and shrines. There it has since remained, a part of the ancient area of Thessaloniki and now resting within the municipality of modern Thermaikos in the city Square of Antigoninon. It is an example of the Ionic style of architecture that was a trademark of ancient Greece during the 6th - 5th centuries BC.
To be fair, not all of the ancient temple's elements and features have been left to oblivion beneath the surface. Some of its architectural features and artifacts can be seen today by visitors to the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, thanks to the efforts of the archeologists and officers of the 6th Department of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. But, reports officials of the Temple of Venus project, "The height of the columns reaches seven meters and realistically cannot be exhibited in any exhibit halls of the museum in order to highlight the exact size."
The temple was first excavated in 1936, after which it fell off the map during the invasion and destruction of the Nazi occupation and subsequent postwar urban development. In 2000, excavations were renewed under the direction of well-known archaeologist A. Tassios in connection with the demolition of an apartment building that overlaid the remains. He uncovered the temple, Grecian-Roman statues, and architectural fragments, at least some of which are now exhibited in the Museum.
Like many of the other great monuments and antiquities of Greece, the temple is a symbol of national pride, thought of as not only a treasure of Greece but a priceless representation of global heritage.
In terms of priorities, however, not everyone sees it in quite the same way. Unless the land on which the temple rests can be expropriated by the Central Archaeological Council, new construction will ensure it remains buried and unseen, indefinitely. The owners of the land are opposed to expropriation. Continuing discussion between the parties will decide the fate of the temple. The issue represents a classic case of urban development versus cultural preservation and development.
Maintains the officials of the Temple of Venus project: "The architectural and artistic value of the temple is immense. The temple can be saved and honored as part of Greece's rich history if its importance is realized and respected by the government. Cultural pride and history must be preserved and valued. Only one third of the possible artifacts have been excavated from this site."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The state of visible remains of the temple, partially enshrouded by vegetation and littered with refuse, to the left of the modern structures. Detailed views below. Credit: Temple of Venus
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Thessaloniki urban and metropolitan area in which the temple is located is most noted for its numerous monumental Byzantine sites and antiquities, although its history extends back over 2,300 years, thus including some ancient Greek and Roman remains, both discovered and yet-to-be discovered. The city was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon near the site of Thermae, the original location of the temple. The king named the new settlement after his wife, Thessalonike, who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great and the princess of Macedon, being the daughter of Philip II. The city eventually became the most important city in Macedon, and is today the second largest urban area of Greece.
More information about the Temple of Aphrodite and the issues surrounding the temple site can be obtained at the Temple of Venus site at http://templeofvenus.gr/en.
Photo, Top Left and Third from Top, Left: Artist's rendition and diagram of the Temple of Aphrodite in relation to it's urban setting in the Square of Antigoninon, near the central circular fountain. Credit: Temple of Venus. Originally published in the newspaper Sunday Macedonia from Stelina Margaritidou.
Photo, Second from Top, Right: Temple of Aphrodite exhibit in Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Temple of Venus
All Other Photos: Credit: Temple of Venus
