Hadrian’s Olympian Temple Discovered in Türkiye – History

A marble block dedicated to Emperor Hadrian was discovered in the ancient city of Braudos in western Türkiye. The inscription translates as “Hadriano Olympias, Savior and Founding Emperor” and most likely dates to the latter part of Hadrian’s reign (132-138 AD).

Braundos was founded around 280 BC as a military colony for Macedonian soldiers in the army of the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucid Empire was a Greco-Macedonian Hellenistic state founded by Seleucus, the general and successor of Alexander the Great. The Seleucid rulers focused on establishing military colonies across their territories, spreading Hellenic culture, and ensuring a rapid supply of experienced soldiers throughout the empire, which at its height stretched from the Aegean Sea to what is now Pakistan.

Built on an original fortress atop a high mountain and surrounded by the Ushak-Urube Grand Canyon, the city has only one entrance, making it nearly impossible to surprise and easy to defend. It was incorporated into the Asiatic province of the Roman Empire in 133 BC. Braundos reached its greatest prosperity in the 1st century AD, recovering stronger than ever from the earthquake of 60 AD. Many of the buildings found at the archaeological site date from this period, although new construction continued into the fourth century. After centuries of neglect and depopulation, Braudos was abandoned in the 12th century.

The site was rediscovered in the 1830s, but professional excavations did not begin until 1995. Since 2018, the Braudos Archaeological Excavation Project has been excavating this ancient city all year round and has discovered Hellenistic gates, temples, public baths, public baths and other remains. stadiums and other buildings. This year’s excavations explored the Temple of Demeter, an Ionian temple built around AD 50 on the south side of the city.

The inscribed marble block was excavated from an east-west colonnaded street in front of the temple. It is 31.5 inches tall and 13.8 inches wide and can be an altar or a statue base. It was found beside a row of four plinths on the street side.

Hadrian Olympios was a nickname used in the Greek city after Hadrian completed the Temple of Olympian Zeus (also known as the Temple of Olympia) in Athens in 132 AD. Hadrian was a staunch supporter of Hellenism and formulated the official program of Panhellenism (advocating for a unified Greece). In 125 AD he encouraged the creation of the Panhellenion, a regional confederation of Greek cities, and established/restored games and cults. The plan culminated in the opening of the Olympic Stadium 638 years after construction began under Hippias, the last tyrant of Athens.

After the completion of the New/Old Temple, Hadrian took “Panhellenios” as one of his titles, and Athens erected many statues of him, including a colossus behind the Temple of Olympia. The remains of more than 90 Hadrian altars have been found in Athens alone, and cities across Greece erected their own statues and altars to the affectionate emperor. The nickname “Olympia” was more popular than “Panhellenios”, associating the emperor with the king of the gods and aligning imperial worship with the traditional Olympian pantheon. In fact, Hadrian Olympias became the most commonly used emperor’s name throughout the Greek world.