The Ancient City of Magnesia in Asia Minor, now part of Aydin Province in Turkey, has revealed another ancient treasure – the gateway to a temple dedicated to Zeus.
Turkish archaeologists, who have been excavating the city of Magnesia for decades, recently uncovered the temple’s gateway after the site was first discovered in the 1890s by a German archaeologist who restored much of what he found.
The newly excavated gateway to the Temple of Zeus. (Photo: Greek).
Not far from this site, another temple dedicated to the Greek Goddess Artemis has also been discovered.
The entrance to the Temple of Zeus was uncovered as part of ongoing excavations in the Ortaklar area, led by Associate Professor Gorkem Kokdemir from Ankara University.
“I have been working on the Magnesia excavations for 23 years, since 1998,” Kokdemir explained.
According to Kokdemir, the invaluable treasures of the ancient city of Magnesia were first excavated in the late years of the Ottoman Empire. The German archaeologist Carl Humann, who also excavated in Pergamon and many other cities in western Anatolia, worked on Magnesia from 1891 to 1892.
Kokdemir stated that Humann was the first to discover the modern Temple of Zeus, but much of it was later reburied. “He spent two years in Magnesia and excavated the Temple of Zeus, the temple that we have rediscovered,” he emphasized.
He explained: “This place is significant due to its architectural history. The temple dates back to the 3rd century BC and is one of the earliest temples of the Hellenistic period.”
The city of Magnesia, located in today’s Aydin Province of Turkey, has a rich history that archaeologists of that time coveted, and as was common in that era, Humann simply took much of what he found and handed it over to the government.
The archaeological area of the Temple of Zeus in Magnesia. (Photo: Greek).
Kokdemir added that Humann “revealed architectural elements of this temple and took about 10% of the temple to Berlin. He brought many artifacts to Berlin, such as sculptures and inscriptions, along with other structures from the Temple of Zeus.”
Today, at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, visitors can see parts of the Temple of Zeus that stand 5.5 to 6 meters tall. The architecture of the temple has been completed with what he called “90% of the parts replicated.”
Archaeologists say that the Temple of Zeus is one of the most important sacred sites in Magnesia.
“In ancient cities, people did not worship just one god… they worshiped many gods or goddesses,” he emphasized. “In Magnesia, the primary deity is Artemis, and the second is Zeus.”
Kokdemir stated that his archaeological team is excavating the remains of the Temple of Zeus, including the gateway, to gather additional architectural information, complete missing details, and reintroduce the temple for rigorous archaeological study.
He said: “The gateway has been buried underground for hundreds of years. It was only visible during Humann’s time and was soon buried under 4 meters of soil.”
The Magnesia excavation team hopes to find 60 to 70% of the original parts of the Temple of Zeus. They plan to start restoring the temple, adding 5-meter-high columns and reconstructing the roof.
The city of Magnesia was established about 2,400 years ago in the 4th century BC. “The most prominent aspect of the land is the temples built for the gods and goddesses, as well as the festivals and games held for these deities,” Kokdemir noted.
Among all the ancient structures in Magnesia, the Temple of the Goddess Artemis is the largest religious architectural work. It is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built by Hermogenes, the Temple of Artemis is his masterpiece.
Kokdemir explained part of the reason why Magnesia played such an important role in the ancient Greek world, stating that “in the 3rd century BC, about 2,300 years ago, festivals were held with the most important games in the Mediterranean region, the Delphi Apollo Games.”
According to Kokdemir, “participants from Italy, Greece, from many points in Anatolia, and from the islands took part in the games that lasted 5 days. The games underscored the importance of the city of Magnesia, while also helping the city to grow and prosper.”
