Restoration work that began last year has brought the ancient columns of the Temple of Athena back to life, with 20 of them now completely finished, Sabah reported.
The Temple of Apollo is among Turkey's most iconic publicity visuals and one of the world's top tourist destinations. Recent excavation and restoration efforts in Side, a historically significant port city dating back to the 7th century BC in the Pamphylia region, have focused on reviving the temples.
Under the direction of the Directorate of Survey and Monuments in Antalya, the project restored the numerous columns of the Temple of Athena to their former glory.
Veysel Akin, director of the Directorate of Surveying and Monuments, shared details of the ongoing work:
"At the beginning of the restoration in 2023, there was only one column standing and even it did not have a capitol. Today, 20 columns have been restored, 4 of them specifically in the northeast, the capitals and architectural elements have been restored, and the columns have been reinforced with steel rings for structural stability," he explained.
Akin stressed that the architectural elements have been verified as belonging to the Temple of Athena and are included in the approved restoration plan.
"We are erecting the original columns that were identified as part of the temple, authentic marble steps were found during the excavation of the east facade, and the missing parts were filled in using marble dust and mortar. Our aim is to complete the restoration soon and dedicate the temple as part of the ministry's Heritage for the Future project, making it a highlight of the museum's night tours," the director added.
Professor Ferishtah Alanyali, head of the excavations in the ancient city of Side, noted that the area around the temples of Apollo and Athena, known as the "Sacred Harbour Area", contains more than just the two temples.
"Recent research has shown that this area includes additional sacred spaces beyond the temples. That is why we now call it the 'Temple Area' or the 'Sacred Port Area. The first excavations here began in 1947 and recent restoration work, with significant support from the ministry, has made it one of the most critical projects under the Heritage for the Future initiative," the archaeologist said.
Alanyali said that while the restoration of the Temple of Athena is nearing completion, preparations for the restoration of the Temple of Apollo are also underway.
"Restoration and conservation efforts began in the basilica and surrounding areas in 2009-2010; however, no work was done on the Temple of Athena until 2023. Now significant progress has been made quickly, with careful and detailed efforts," he stressed.
All of the columns used in the restoration are original, historic pieces; according to Dr. Alanyali:
"Many parts of the temple had been lost over time, especially in the late 19th century when locals used stones from the site to make lime. Although we do not have all the original parts, we are focusing on using as many authentic elements as possible in the restoration of the Temple of Athena."
"As you know, the image of the Temple of Apollo is one of the most used visuals in Turkey's tourism advertising. It is one of the first places visitors want to see when they come to Side, and it draws crowds at all times of the day. The restoration projects, which received significant support in 2023, are a source of pride not only for us, but also for visitors," the excavation manager added.
The restoration of the Temple of Athena is expected to be completed soon, with plans to consecrate the site and open it to visitors as part of the Heritage for the Future project. | BGNES
