TEHRAN—A team of archaeologists is still hoping to unearth the ancient Laodicea Temple despite several unsuccessful attempts, the latest of which ended recently in the city of Nahavand, west-central Iran.

It was the seventh archaeological season headed by archaeologist Mohsen Khanjan aimed to find the ruins of the Seleucid temple in Nahavand’s Dokhaharan neighborhood.

If the needed budget is provided for the eighth season, we will continue digging other trial trenches in search of the temple, Khanjan said.

The team previously uncovered some capital column heads, their associated shafts and bases as well as striking pieces of engraved pottery estimated to date back to the Seleucid era.

Archaeologists believe that the ancient Greek temple is buried beneath many residential units built by the locals over the years.

According to Khanjan, the ruined Laodicea Temple is one of the treasured sites in Nahavand and it bears relics that date from the time of the Seleucid Empire.

In 1943, archaeologists discovered an 85x36 centimeter ancient inscription of 30 lines written in Greek calling on the people of Nahavand to obey the laws of the government. The inscription indicated the existence of the Laodicea Temple, which had been built by the Seleucid king who ruled Asia Minor, Antiochus III the Great (223-187 BC), for his wife Queen Laodicea.

Two of the inscriptions, as well as four bronze statuettes unearthed at the site, are on display in the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran. And, column capitals and bases are currently being used as decorations in Nahavand’s Hajian Bazaar and several other parts of the city.

The Seleucid Empire reigned from 312 BC to 63 BC; Seleucus I Nicator founded it following the division of the Macedonian Empire, vastly expanded by Alexander the Great. Seleucus received Babylonia (321 BC) and from there expanded his dominions to include much of Alexander's near-eastern territories. At the height of its power, the Empire included central Anatolia, Persia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and what is now Kuwait, Afghanistan, and parts of Pakistan and Turkmenistan.

AFM