Caria

Aphrodisias, Turkey. An ancient city of the Caria region in southwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey), Aphrodisias was a favourite of Julius Caesar. The ruins of the city include bathhouses, a stadium, a theatre, a market, and the Temple of Aphrodite (shown here). The temple was originally built around the time of the birth of Christ, and was reconstructed as a Christian basilica in the 5th century.

Ancient maritime province of southwestern Asia Minor (now part of Turkey). A mountainous region, it was bounded by Ionia and Lydia on the north, the Aegean Sea on the south, and Lydia on the east.

The Carians were originally a distinct nationality and maintained their identity in the interior against the Greeks who settled in the coastal regions, but were afterwards subdued by the Persians. The country was conquered by Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, and later became part of the Roman province of Asia.