Greek goddess of love, beauty and pleasure - her Roman equivalent, Venus
Birth of Venus (detail) - Sandro Botticelli
Three years ago we explored the remains from antiquity of a city called Aphrodisias lying in the fertile upper reaches of the Meander Valley, Turkey
Tetrapylon - the magnificent monumental gateway which led into the city
At its heart are the remains of a great pagan temple dedicated to Aphrodite. Once there were 40 Ionic columns surrounding the temples perimeter, now most lie where they fell during severe earthquake temors in the c4th and c7th.
Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli - 1484 in Uffizi
But we seek antiquities new as soon we head off to an island where Greek Myths tell us Aphrodite was born
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In the garden this week a large male Green Woodpecker
captured through the window - males have a red moustache, females black - his beak is caked in mud from digging in our lawn looking for grubs
Some garden corners taken this week - fulfilling a request from Catherine ♡
Botticell images via
Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli - 1484 in Uffizi
But we seek antiquities new as soon we head off to an island where Greek Myths tell us Aphrodite was born
In the garden this week a large male Green Woodpecker
Some garden corners taken this week - fulfilling a request from Catherine ♡
Botticell images via
Hello Rosemary, How lucky you were to explore that ruined temple and city. I can see how the buildings stood when they were intact, but some of those ruins with heavy stone carvings high in the air seem to defy gravity!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Always fascinating to see the remains are still there and imagine how it would have looked like.
ReplyDeleteThat green woodpecker is wonderful. I have only seen grey ones here.
Those images are beautiful, Rosemary. How wonderful to have visited Aphrodisias.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks fresh and pretty as Spring approaches.
Have a great holiday!
Have fun in Aphrodite's birthplace! Looking forward to photos on your return!
ReplyDeleteJust when I think you might have run out of travel stories you surprise me with another one. What a fascinating historic site. The Meander Valley looks gorgeous. It would be fun to see a computer reconstruction of what the temple looked like before the earthquake destroyed it.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is just beautiful, so lush, healthy and perfectly manicured. I love the combination of the brick and stone. It adds such a wonderful texture. Lovely pottery too. I don't see any Whichford I recognize. ;-) Hello kitty.. What's your name?
Thank you so much for this post! What an honor.
We visited this site when we lived in Turkey, your photos bring back many happy memories. Your garden is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteDear Rosemary, Such sensational photographs! What's more beautiful than blue sky, white clouds and reminders of an elegant past.
ReplyDeleteYour garden looks so well cared for. I see your artistry in your design. I was about to ask you for a few photos of your garden. I am so glad that Catherine beat me to it.
Such marvelous big bright photos!
ReplyDeleteA green woodpecker! You lucky thing, I've never seen one.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how those remaining pillars still stand so tall and straight after all these centuries. I enjoyed seeing the photos of your garden. Enjoy your trip!
ReplyDeleteLovely garden.
ReplyDeleteNot so good that nature has destroyed so much of the pillars and such. After such a long time it's wonderful that some things have remained.
Enjoy your holiday.
Aphrodisias is one of the most amazing sites I have visited. Looking forward to your pictures of Cyprus
ReplyDeleteI love the remains. Can't wait to see more. Thanks for the garden corners collage, too.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, again! It´s such a pleasure to take a look at your blog, always...
ReplyDeleteHave a happy saturday, take care!
Titti
Have a wonderful time! Your garden looks in good shape. How are your box hedging doing? Sarah x
ReplyDeleteAmazing remains of the temple , such beautiful pillars. And a really beautiful and lush garden , love the variety and personality , quite inspiring.
ReplyDeleteHello Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteYour images of Turkey are very enticing. Your green woodpecker looks grateful for being allowed visit your garden. Your variety of flower pots are perfectly placed.
Helen xx
Dear Rosemary - Spectacular whitish ruins! The bone structure of ancient buildings and gateways takes me into the world of mythology. The seventh photo is so atmospheric and inviting to the birthplace of Venus. Wonderful prelude to your travel.
ReplyDeleteYoko
I would love to have seen this city in its prime. Can you imagine? You can see from the size and beauty of what's left that it would have been magnificent. I like to imagine the workers and artisans who made it all possible.
ReplyDeleteA green woodpecker? I never heard of such a thing, Rosemary. :) It is gorgeous.
Wonderful to have the opportunity to see those ruins and wander around them, getting a sense of what it must have been like: they thought it would last forever - just like us. FABULOUS shot of the green woodpecker, Rosemary - you must be very chuffed! I used to watch one feeding in a previous garden. There's a great spotted woodpecker that occasionally feeds at a tree outside my study window, the little tinker.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful clear photos. Reminds me a bit of my trip to Italy. Did. I not see that painting in Florence?
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a green woodpecker.....nice.
Dearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteThat was a very worthwhile visit into antiquity with a great mystic around all of Aphrodite's myths.
Over the ages, the Turkish and Greek borders have changed too.
Love your Green Woodpecker photo and what a lush garden you have. WISH we too had fertile soil and of course your climate is also less harsh.
Sending you hugs for the weekend. I've finished my 2nd Fleur de Lys crocheted curtain and also completed the performance with our choir for a large Joint Civic Luncheon on St. Patrick's Day. Feeling happy and now up to the performance in the theatre on May 6 and 7...
Mariette
A nice poetic post... and a cracking woodpecker photo.
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed by the photo of the woodpecker. I could never get a shot like that.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the garden pictures are lovely, full of signs of spring!
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