Sunday, July 29, 2007

Aphrodisias


That's me, in the foreground, in front of the Tetrapylon gateway at Aphrodisias, Turkey.

This site has been sacred to the Mother Goddess since 5800 B.C.E. The city was named Aphrodisias, for Aphrodite, in the second century B.C.E., and it remained a pagan stronghold long after Christianity came to the region. The temple to Aphrodite was built in the first century C.E. and much later, during the Byzantine era, converted to a basilica. The ruins at Aphrodisias have been beautifully preserved and reconstructed; the museum there houses the goddess figure who likely stood in the temple. An imposing figure, only suggestively human or female - and thus a far cry from the Venus de Milo or Botticelli's goddess - the statue's gown bears images of the three Graces, winged human figures, Gaia and Uranos, Selene and Helios - the moon goddess and sun god - and Aphrodite herself depicted as a sea goddess, accompanied by a dolphin and triton.

[Come] here to me from Krete to this holy temple
where is your graceful grove
of apple trees and altars smoking
with frankincense.

And in it cold water makes a clear sound through
apple branches and with roses the whole place
is shadowed and down from radiant-shaking leaves
sleep comes dropping.

And in it a horse meadow has come into bloom
with spring flowers and breezes
like honey are blowing

In this place you Kypris taking up
in gold cups delicately
nectar mingled with festivities:
pour.

(Sappho, Fragment 2, translated by Anne Carson)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love all the things you share here, and have lurked for a long, long time (via Bloglines!), but I thought I'd pop in and express my gratitude. :)

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Ooooh, so beautiful. I've wanted to visit Turkey for a long time now. Thanks for sharing this.

Aquila ka Hecate said...

Thank you so much for sharing, Inanna, and welcome back!

Although I grew up in the UK, and thus took European holidays frequently, I've never been to Turkey.
I'd obviously like to go now as a Goddess worshiper, but your presence will have to stand substitute for many of us.
Love,
Terri in Joburg

Anonymous said...

Yay! I've been lurking waiting to hear about Turkey. So happy to see Aphrodite here today as I spent the weekend in devotion to her.

Cynthia
Seattle

deborahoak said...

Beautiful!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Lovely! Thanks for sharing, especially the poem by Sappho.