Temple of Augstus

Site Description: The planning of Sebastia in the Roman era was consistent with the planning of cities in that period, as the city was divided into two parts: the upper city or what is known as the Acropolis; It included religious buildings, the presidential HQ, and the lower city designated for private, public, and commercial facilities, and the practice of daily life for citizens, including the public square, basilica, city wall, theater, stadium, and others. In Sebastia, the top of the site became the site of the Acropolis of the Roman city, and excavations at this top revealed two temples, one of which was dedicated to the god Curie, where only small parts and the Great Temple of Augustus remained.At the city's highest point, Herodotus built a temple, which he consecrated to honor Emperor Augustus. It was a temple of great height because of the hill on which it was built, and it was seen from great distances and was built directly on the ruins dating back to the Iron Age.The temple's layout is rectangular, extending north to south, measuring 35 x 24 m. It is preceded by an open yard from the north. From the outer yard, the ascent to the temple balcony is carried out through a wide stone staircase with the width of the temple front. The archaeologists estimated the height of the front facade to be about 15 m, and some of its walls are still standing at an altitude of 7 m above ground level. In front of the temple's balcony was a row of vast and high stone columns consisting of circular bases topped by the column, formed from successive cylindrical pieces; some pieces are still at the site. From this balcony, the rest of the temple sections were entered, namely the sanctum and the holy of holies; it is reserved only for priests and clerics, where the public is not allowed to enter.The building was built of limestone, and is close in planning and building style with other Roman temple styles. The archaeological excavations at the site revealed a giant headless statue, believed to have been the body of Emperor Augustus, and the altar dedicated to offering sacrifices was also found in the outer courtyard. The temple was demolished during the Roman period, and then rebuilt in the second century AD with the same previous planning during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus.