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Supporting the excavations carried out at Aphrodisias, the city of the Goddess Aphrodite, Yapı Kredi Private Banking Department has supported the works of the Geyre Foundation for many years in order to carry this antique city, which is famous with its sculpts, to the next generations by placing it on the agenda of the art and culture in the way it deserves.
The support provided by Yapı Kredi for the antique city of Aphrodisias and its communication has progressively increased since the last quarter of 2007. A special auction was organized at the Rahmi Koç Museum on 17 January 2008 within the scope of the project titled “Keep Your Name Alive with a Historical Marble Relief” for the benefit of the “New Sebasteion Hall”, where 80 authentic reliefs were unearthed in the antique city of Aphrodisias. Eleven reliefs sold at the auction held at the event organized by the support of Yapı Kredi Private Banking and has become immortal with the names of their supporters. The funds raised at the event were used to contribute to completion of the New Sebasteion Hall, which was opened in May.
Moreover, Yapı Kredi selected Aphrodisias as the theme for all promotional materials (organizer, calendar, etc.) prepared for 2008, and has used such materials as the channel for the communication conducted throughout the year.
A new exhibition hall was built for Aphrodisias in 2008, which is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Geyre Foundation. Added to the existing Aphrodisias Museum located at the Karacasu Town of Aydın, New Sebasteion Reliefs – Sevgi Gönül Hall was opened on 31 May 2008 thanks to the support of Yapı Kredi Private Banking and Geyre Foundation. Construction of the 770 meter square hall had begun in March 2007. The 80 reliefs uncovered during the excavations are displayed at the New Sebasteion Reliefs – Sevgi Gönül Hall, designed by Architect Cengiz Bektaş without damaging the texture of the antique city and with extremely sensitive approach.
Unrivaled works of arts created by skilful masters of the period were also displayed at a major exhibit organized in Istanbul by Yapı Kredi Cultural Activities and Arts. Yapı Kredi Vedat Nedim Tör Museum hosted the exhibition titled “Portraits of Rome from Aphrodisias”. Total of 52 superb pieces, 51 items from the Aphrodisias Museum and 1 item from the Istanbul Archeological Museum, were displayed at the exhibition. Thanks to the communication carried out during the exhibit, familiarity of the antique city of Aphrodisias has increased. The exhibit had been open to art enthusiasts from 26 September 2008 till 25 January 2009.
About the Aphrodisias
The antique city of Aphrodisias is among the most important archeological sites coming from Hellenic and Roman period. Located at the Menderes Valley in the Aegean Region, it is within the borders of Geyre Municipality in Karasu, Aydın and sits on an area covering 520 hectares.
According to findings, the first settlement at the Aphrodisias took place in the Chalcolitic Age (6000 – 3500 B.C.). Aphrodisias was selected as the capital city of Rome in the 3rd Century A.D. and had functioned as the capital city for a century. Aphrodisias had remained attractive and lively until the 7th Century A.D., and was taken over by with different administrations during 11th and 12th centuries with the arrival of Seljuk and Ottoman Turks to Anatolia, and then slowly lost its importance and had become a village again. After becoming home to abundant historical riches for many centuries, the city was totally evacuated in the 14th Century.
Aphrodisias is a center of many priceless remains. Only one fourth of the treasure has been unearthed with the excavation works carried out so far in this land, which is currently a home for many art objects of unparalleled value.
Recognized as one of the most important sites from the Hellenic and Roman period, the antique city of Aphrodisias has been uncovered with careful excavations carried out by the Institute of Fine Arts of the New York University under the sponsorship of Geyre Foundation (established in 1987) since 1961 as an important cultural asset to be entrusted to next generations.
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