Temple of Jupiter (Silifke)

Temple of Jupiter

Roma Tapınağı
From the south
Shown within Turkey
Location	Silifke, Mersin Province, Turkey
Region	Cilicia Trachea
Coordinates	36°22′33″N 33°55′49″E
Type	Temple
Site notes
Condition	Mostly in ruins

The Temple of Jupiter is a ruined Roman temple in Silifke, Turkey. It was built in the 2nd century, and presently one column still stands.

Silifke is an ilçe (district) in Mersin Province. Although the city which was founded by Seleucus I Nicator is an old city, the ground level of the city was elevated because of the floods caused by Göksu River (Calycadnus of the antiquity) and there aren't many archaeological remains on the surface of the present city fabric. Jupiter's temple is a notable exception because it was originally built on a 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high platform. Presently, there is no official restoration work on the ruins. But they are protected by fencing. They are situated to the west of the İnönü Boulevard of Silifke at 36°22′33″N 33°55′49″E.

History

Jupiter's Temple was built in the 2nd century AD during the Roman Empire. According to a legend told by the historian Zosimus of the 5th century, when the fields around Silifke were infested by grasshoppers, Silifke citizens asked the god Apollo to protect their crop. Apollo sent a flock of grasshopper-eating birds. The people built the temple to show their gratitude.

It was a peripteros type temple with 14x 8 corinthian columns. Its outer dimensions were 40 metres (130 ft) length and 21 metres (69 ft) width. The height of the columns were 10 metres (33 ft). Presently only one column is standing. During the Byzantine Empire era, the temple was transformed into a church.

See also

• List of Ancient Roman temples