Classically-themed paintings from the Legion of Honor

Entrance to the Palace of the Legion of Honor

Ruins with a Sybil by Giovanni Paolo Panini, 1731

Ruins with a prophet by Giovanni Paolo Panini, 1731

 

Lucretia by Joos van Cleve, ca. 1525

Detail of Jacopo di Arcangelo's Brutus and Portia, ca. 1485

Tivoli at Sunset by Gellée, ca. 1643

Diana and Endymion by Dandré-Bardon, 1726 CE

 

Detail of a Roman scene by Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, ca. 1788 CE

Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco

The Palace of the Legion of Honor has a nice little collection of classical antiquities.

Season sarcophagus, ca. 270 CE

 

Glass flasks, Roman, Eastern Mediterranean

 

Torso of Hermes, 2nd century CE

 

Figurine of a dancing woman, Sicily, 2nd century BCE

 

Cycladic figure, ca. 2500 BCE

Asklepios, 2nd century BCE

 

Denarius of M. Porcius Laeca

Obverse of a denarius of M. Porcius Laeca, Crawford #270 (125 BCE)

Reverse of a denarius of M. Porcius Laeca, Crawford #270 (125 BCE)

Aizanoi

Aizanoi was a pleasant surprise. Its temple of Zeus is apparently one of the best preserved in Turkey, the theater is pretty spectacular, there are some Roman bridges, baths, a stadium, forum, and a round building with Diocletian’s Price Edict inscribed on it. All these things are spread around the modern village of Çavdarhisar.

Temple of Zeus

 

Outside the Temple of Zeus

 

Under the Temple

 

Theater from the Stadium

 

Theater

 

Stele

 

Price Edict!

Aphrodisias: the Museum

The Museum at Aphrodisias is every bit as wonderful as the site itself. Particularly nice are the reliefs from the Sebasteion (so nice not to have to go to Boston, Berlin, or London to see the rest of a site!).

Achilles & Penthesilea, Sebasteion

 

Pythagoras

Pindar

 

Nero & Agrippina the Younger, Sebasteion

 

A goddess inscribing a trophy, Sebasteion

 

Best ancient hair ever?

 

Bellerophon & Pegasus, Sebasteion

 

Aphrodisias

Easily the best place I visited in Turkey this summer, Aphrodisias is sprawling and full of great sights (even before you get to its excellent museum).

Tetrapylon

 

Theater

 

Temple of Aphrodite

 

Stadium

 

Stadium

 

Sebasteion

 

Bouleuterion

Kos Archaeological Museum

The Asklepeion on Kos is a bit underwhelming compared to other Aegean sites but the Archaeological Museum on Kos very nice (though the lighting could stand a few improvements).

Aphrodite & Eros

 

Hermes

 

Child

 

Asklepios arrives on Kos

 

Artemis

 

Young man

Priene

Despite being a populated settlement for more than 1600 years, you can be forgiven for never having heard of Priene. It just didn’t play a major role in Greek history. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit; the remains are very impressive and the city is a good example of Hippodamian town planning. Though steep in places and perhaps in need of a few more explanatory signs, the site offers plenty of shade and great views.

The acropolis viewed from the Sanctuary of Athena

 

The theater

 

Theater

 

Honorary theater seat

 

Column drums, Sanctuary of Athena

 

City walls

 

Sewer

Ephesus

Impressive? Sure. But crowded and without much shade…

Crowds

 

Theater

 

South Gate of the agora

 

The bouleuterion or council chambers

 

Nike!

 

The Inscriptions Museum, closed (apparently as usual)

 

Library of Celsus

Didyma

Didyma was the site of a temple of Apollo and important oracle in the territory of Miletus.

Temple of Apollo

 

Temple of Apollo

 

Temple of Apollo

 

Some sort of sea monster?

Interior

 

Fallen drums