Monumentum Ancyranum, Ankara Overview
Note before visiting: the Temple of Augustus has been closed to interior access since 2016 for structural preservation, so this is currently an exterior-viewing stop only, best combined with the nearby Haci Bayram Mosque and Column of Julian rather than visited on its own. Also known as the Monumentum Ancyranum, its walls carry the 'Deeds of the Divine Augustus' (Res Gestae Divi Augusti), the closest surviving copy of the first Roman Emperor's own account of his reign, since the original in Rome no longer exists.
The Greek and Latin inscriptions preserved on the walls of the temple that describe Augustus’ achievements are the primary surviving source of the text as the original in Rome had disappeared. It was closed in 2016 for an indefinite period to carry out preservation work and thorough renovation. The temple, also on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage, was built between 25 B-20 BC after the Roman Empire captured Central Anatolia.
