Euromos & Temple of Zeus

Ancient City

Rising among olive groves, one of Anatolia’s best-preserved ancient temples — spellbinding with its sixteen standing columns.

Appearing suddenly among olive trees right beside the Milas–Söke road, the Temple of Zeus Lepsynos at Euromos is one of the most striking ancient temples still standing in Turkey. Built in the Corinthian order in the 2nd century AD, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, sixteen of its columns still stand upright; on some you can read inscriptions bearing the names of those who funded their construction. That the temple was never finished is clear from columns left unfluted.

In the early morning or near sunset, when light filters between the columns, the temple seems to come alive; the silvery leaves of the olive trees and the surrounding silence give visitors the feeling of being alone with the ancient world. The theatre, agora and city walls of the Carian city of Euromos lie a short walk around the temple. Thanks to its closeness to Milas, it combines easily with Labraunda and Lake Bafa into a single day of culture.