The Augustus Temple standing adjacent to the
Hacı Bayram Mosque was discovered during the excavations carried out by
M. Krecker in the year 1926-1928 and
H. Z. Koşay in 1939. It dates back to 25-20 BC. It is known that this temple is built on the ruins of an earlier temple which was built in the second half of the 2nd century BC and which again was dedicated to the
God of the
Sky Men and
Mother Goddess Kybele. The temple is famous for the inscriptions in
Greek and
Latin languages.
Augustus Temple is measuring 36x54.82. The 2 m. high temple most probably was built on the most even location of Ankara. This temple has been built in conformation with the double row pillar layout of
Hermogenes who was one of the eminent architects of the
Hellenistic period. At the entrance of the temple there are four pillars in
Korinth order. With the pillars lined up in Ionistic order added to the temple in 150 AD it became a formation with eight rows with 15 pillars in each row.The rectangular structure which is planned in pseudodipteros is surrounded by fortysix chorinthian pillars with eight of them on the short side and fifteen on the long. The Marble temple stands on a pediment of several steps. The most important feature of the temple is that the testament of
Augustus has been inscribed onto the walls of the temple both in
Greek and
Latin. After
Christianity became widespread in
Anatolia, the temple was changed into a basilica. Early 15th century
Hacı Bayram Mosque was built next to the temple. Hacı bayram was the founder of a religious order born in 1352. It is known that Hacı Bayram who had composed two hymns and a few lyric poems died in 1429. The
mosque built in his name is adjacent to the
Augustus Temple. The building which is rectangular in shape is a good example of the traditional mosque structure of 18th and 19th centuries. The inner part is covered with a wooden ceiling. At the ceiling there is a rozette surrounded by flower motives in 6 rows. The inner part of the mosque is decorated with tiles from
Kütahya. Adjacent to the building there stands the
Hacı Bayram tomb dating back to 1429.
