Temple of Domitian Substructure 2

View of the northeastern corner of the substructure of the Temple of Domitian. 

Between the two columns, with the carved figures on the top, and the stone wall and arches, there was a covered colonnaded walkway.  Note the staircase that leads up from the walkway to the top of the platform on which the temple was located.

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This Temple was built by the Roman Emperor Domitian (r. 81–96) in A.D. 89–90.   It is also called the "Temple of the Sebastoi."  After his assassination, and the condemnation of his memory (damnatio memoriae), the Temple was rededicated to his father, Vespasian, and brother, Titus—these are the "Revered Ones," the Sebastoi in Greek.

The huge platform on which it was built measured 165 x 328 ft. (1.24 acres) and the temple on top of it 78 x 112 ft.  The Temple contained a 16 ft. statue of the Emperor.  The statue, originally thought to be Domitian, now is thought to be that of Titus (r. A.D. 79–81).  The head and arm are on display in the Ephesus Museum.

The temple was almost completely destroyed during the Christian Era.