Tetrapylon of Aphrodisias

Tetrapylon of Aphrodisias was the monumental gateway which greeted pilgrims when they approached the Temple of Aphrodite. It connects the major street to the sacred way heading toward the sanctuary of Aphrodite. The name Aphrodisias is derived from Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Aphrodite's major symbols include myrtle, roses, doves, sparrows, and swans. In Greek mythology, the swan is a bird sacred to Aphrodite and Apollo.