Afrodisias Treasures
The powerful first impression of the drama and splendour of Aphrodisias, the white marble city, has fascinated and become a lasting bond for many photographers: Cecil Beaton, Jonathan S. Blair, David L. Brill, Fritz von der Shulenburg and many others.
For contributing photographer, Mesut Ilgım, Aphrodisias holds a special meaning.

Kenan Erim was a young classic art and archaeology student at Princeton University in USA.

It was the beginning of a love affair and brilliant career for Professor Erim as Director of the Aphrodisias Excavations.

Mesut Ilgım is an honorary member of the Geyre Vakfı Foundation and was a close friend of the late Professor Erim. His specialisation in archaeological photography began when he first visited Aphrodisias during the summer seasons and fell in love with the site more than forty years ago. Mesut Ilgım returns every year to photograph new finds or simply to enjoy the haunting beauty of the antique site of Aphrodisias.

The late Professor Kenan T. Erim was widely known as the excavator of Aphrodisias. His discoveries brought to light the evidence suggesting the existence of an Aphrodisian school of sculpture; his finds showed beyond doubt the remarkable skills, the fine quality and quantity of the Aphrodisian sculptors.
"Aphrodisias is unique not only as a treasure of archaeological finds, but also as a place
where those willing to establish a dialogue with the past may commune like the humanists and artists of the great cities of the Italian Renaissance with the beauty and harmony of the ancient world.

Sevgi Gönül