The House of Kybele and the last pagans of Aphrodisias: Recent excavation, discoveries, and research

The lecture will give a brief overview of other highlights from fieldwork at the site in the last couple of years, before focusing on the House of Kybele and its striking assemblages.

Veneration of the ancient gods continued in the Greek East long after Constantine converted to Christianity. The intensity and long duration of this phenomenon have been demonstrated with surprising archaeological detail at the House of Kybele in Aphrodisias. Recent excavation (2024–25) has exposed an elaborate underground hall, in a private part of the house, equipped with surrounding tunnels, pagan cult paraphernalia, and a number of small marble cult figures of Kybele and other gods – iconic, aniconic, and of high quality. Much of the material is puzzling. The research is part of a new focus at Aphrodisias on the city’s housing and urban living.

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