Roman Temple of Augustus (Augustus Tapınağı)

The Roman Temple of Augustus, known locally as Augustus Tapınağı, represents one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Turkey and serves as a crucial link to Ankara's ancient past as the Roman city of Ancyra. Built in the 1st century BCE and dedicated to the Roman Emperor Augustus and the goddess Roma, this temple gained historical significance far beyond its original religious function. The temple houses the famous Monumentum Ancyranum, a bilingual inscription (in Latin and Greek) that contains the Res Gestae Divi Augusti – Augustus's own account of his achievements and the glory of the Roman Empire.

This inscription, carved into the temple walls, provides invaluable historical information about the Roman Empire during Augustus's reign and is considered one of the most important epigraphic documents from antiquity. The temple itself showcases classic Roman architectural elements, with its impressive columns and stone masonry demonstrating the sophisticated building techniques of the period. Located next to the Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque, the temple creates a unique juxtaposition of civilizations, representing the layers of history that characterize Ankara. Archaeological excavations around the temple have revealed additional Roman structures and artifacts, contributing to our understanding of ancient Ancyra's urban layout and importance as a regional administrative center.