Alabanda

Alabanda

Türkiye · Aydın

Ancient cityExcavation ongoing
Approximate periodClassical, Hellenistic and Roman See on the map ↓

In brief

Alabanda near Çine is one of the cities of ancient Caria. Following the excavations initiated by Halil Edhem Bey, work continued at various times, uncovering public buildings and sculptures.

What was found?

  • 1Fragments of the statue of Hadrianus

    Fragments found in separate locations belonging to a statue depicting the Roman Emperor Hadrianus. They show that the emperor was represented in the city by a monumental statue.

  • 2Bouleuterion

    The city council's meeting building. It is among the principal architectural remains of Alabanda's administrative life.

  • 3Theatre

    One of the city's preserved public buildings. It documents the existence of an architectural space set aside for public performances.

  • 4Temple of Apollon

    Among the principal remains of sacred buildings at Alabanda. It allows the city's religious architecture to be studied.

What does it point to?

The council building, theatre, and temple show that Alabanda had separate public spaces for administration, performances, and worship. The statue of Hadrianus indicates the Roman emperor's visible presence in the city.

What did it teach us?

  1. It revealed that Hadrianus was represented in the city by a monumental statue.
  2. The council building documented the existence of a dedicated building for local government meetings.
  3. The theatre and temple remains showed that public life was organised around different functions.

Images

Alabanda Bouleuterion
Kefaser at Turkish Wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The Theater of Alabanda (49222297773)
faktor1komma5 /by Claus P. Heibel from Didim/Aydın, Türkiye · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Doric Temple of Zeus Chrysaoreus, built in the 3rd century BC, Alabanda, Caria, Turkey (16
Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

In 2021, six fragments of a statue identified as depicting the Roman Emperor Hadrian were found.

Record

Culture
Carian, Hellenistic and Roman
First modern dig
1904
Team / historical
Ali Yalçın Tavukçu / Atatürk University
Coordinates
37.5917°, 27.9856°

Sources

  1. dosim.ktb.gov.tr
  2. avesis.atauni.edu.tr
  3. aa.com.tr
  4. en.wikipedia.org
  5. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı — Alabanda tanıtım broşürü

Nearby excavations


—
—
12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

  • 2,600-year-old mudbrick structure identified beneath the city of Buto in Egypt

    The walls of a large mudbrick structure identified through satellite and geophysical surveys were confirmed by a trial excavation. According to the researchers, a layer of sand placed beneath the foundations may have helped protect the structure in the waterlogged ground of the Nile Delta.

    Heritage Daily ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • Celtic woman's grave containing jewelry and animal remains found in Germany

    A woman's skeleton, heavy bronze anklets, a sapropelite arm ring, and the remains of a lamb or kid were found in the grave in Bavaria. According to the researchers, placing the animal in the grave as a food offering represents an unusual example of Celtic funerary practices in the region.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Cupboard containing personal belongings, childhood amulets and coins found in Pompeii

    Grooming items, 38 bronze coins and a necklace made up of at least 24 amulets were found in a cupboard in a house in Pompeii that had remained closed since the eruption in AD 79. The preservation of these objects together provides detailed information about everyday life and personal mementos in Roman times.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • Lead seal of a bishop named Stefan found in Croatia

    Excavations on the islet of Lukovac uncovered a document seal bearing the name Stefan and the title of bishop in Latin. According to the researchers, the seal, tentatively dated to the 6th–7th centuries, offers rare evidence of early church administration in a region with limited written sources.

    Heritage Daily ↗
  • Roman-period sarcophagus of a child buried with toys found in Romania

    A wheeled toy horse, a rooster-shaped rattle, jewelry and organic remains were recovered from a sealed child’s sarcophagus dating back approximately 1,800 years in the ancient city of Tomis. The preservation of wooden coffin fragments and the shroud also offers a rare opportunity to study child burials in Roman times.

    HeritageDaily ↗
  • Roman-period grave found in the seating area of the ancient theater in Gölyazı

    A tile-covered grave dating to the 1st century AD and containing cremated human remains was uncovered in the theater of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum. Why the burial took place in the theater despite the city having a separate cemetery remains unknown; the find raises new questions about the use of public spaces.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions found at Teos

    A marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions on reused stone blocks were found around the Temple of Roma and Augustus at Teos. The inscriptions shed light on the city’s political and legal relations, while researchers say the portrait and inscription fragments show that the temple was also connected to the cult of Antinoos.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • New prehistoric settlement identified on the shore of the Dardanelles

    A newly published study presented Yaylatepe Höyük, identified during surface surveys in 2024, and its pottery spanning the end of the Late Chalcolithic to the beginning of the Late Bronze Age for the first time. According to the researcher, the settlement, which has a visual connection with Asartepe on the opposite shore, contributes to understanding prehistoric coastal connections along the strait.

    Arkeoloji Dergisi ↗

    All excavation sites (385)

    Türkiye

    Kazakhstan

    Federated States of Micronesia

    Guatemala

    Honduras

    North Macedonia

    Sri Lanka