Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis
Olba-Ura
Hellenistic (300 BCE)·Olba Teukrid·🇹🇷 Mersin, Silifke, near Ura, Turkey
About
About Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis
Olba acropolis cliff excavated by Keil & Wilhelm 1910s, linked to Diokaisareia valley 4 km via aqueduct.
Why it mattersKey Olba Teukrid temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Trade network extent
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 300 BCE
- Period
- Hellenistic (300 BCE)
- Culture
- Olba Teukrid
- Purpose
- Olba's first capital — cliff acropolis with Zeus temple overlooking Calycadnus gorge
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1923
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 300 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis
On the ground
Structures & features
36.5840° N · 33.9240° E · 1150 m · 3 mapped features
Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — Principal Temple
templetemple at Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — hydraulic feature
36.5859° N · 33.9230° EOlba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — Northern Altar
altaraltar at Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — outlier feature
36.5831° N · 33.9240° EOlba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — Southern Shrine
shrineshrine at Olba — Temple of Zeus on Cliff Acropolis — subsidiary complex
36.5851° N · 33.9241° E