When Turks learn that what is scattered around them are ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine masterpieces, they do not try to understand it but only learn that these are just stones that tourists like.
Because of this, their contempt for these "stones" reaches, and sometimes exceeds, the limit of disrespect.
After the conversion of the iconic Hagia Sophia Cathedral into a mosque, whose gate and marble are used as hangers and shelves for shoes, the next episode comes from Side in Asia Minor.
A bar called "Apollo" opened on a private property next to the Temple of Athena in the ancient city of Side. Those who opened the bar, which used to be a restaurant, used the historic ruins at the excavation site as a gateway to the nightclub.
According to the newspaper Hürriyet, the gate of the excavation site of the temple, which dates back to the middle of the 2nd century AD. and was built in the name of the goddess Athena, and the surroundings of the temple were reorganised as the entrance gate of the nightclub, which was put into operation under the name "Apollo", in an adjacent private property.
The wooden railings that surrounded the entrance of the temple and were placed to protect the artifacts were completely removed the day before from the inauguration.
The head of Culture and Tourism of the province of Antalya filed a lawsuit against those responsible.
"Some attempts have been made to open this gate in the past, but we prevented it. In fact, the director of the excavation personally instructed us to comply with the measures, said the Tourism chief.
"The day the business opened, but unfortunately, they reopened the door later in the evening. We are taking all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again in the future," he added.
Pseudo-Scylax, Strabo and Arrian record that Side was founded by Greek settlers from Cyme in Aeolis, a region of western Anatolia. This most likely occurred in the 7th century BC. Its tutelary deity was Athena, whose head adorned its coinage.
READ MORE: Turkey: Vandalism, garbage and dirt in Hagia Sophia.
