Hierapolis

Hierapolis

Türkiye · Denizli

Ancient cityExcavation ongoingUNESCO · 1988
Approximate period200 BCE — 1,400 CEHellenistic–Middle Ages See on the map ↓

In brief

The city above the Pamukkale travertines developed around its thermal springs in antiquity. The Italian archaeological mission has conducted excavation and conservation work in the city since 1957.

What was found?

  • 1Theatre stage reliefs

    The reliefs decorating the stage building include mythological scenes involving Apollon, Artemis and Dionysos. Inscriptions bearing council decisions concerning the theatre also document the building's connection with the city administration.

  • 2Bath buildings

    These are the remains of thermal facilities with large pools and bathing areas. They show how hot springs were used in urban life.

  • 3Necropolis

    This is the burial area surrounding the city. It provides a tangible source for examining the burial tradition of Hierapolis.

  • 4Martyrium of Saint Filip

    This is a religious monument built in memory of Saint Filip. It documents the city's transformation into an important religious center during its Christian period.

What does it point to?

In Hierapolis, hot water connected everyday life, production and religious practices. The baths and sacred buildings indicate a multifaceted urban life that developed around the water sources.

What did it teach us?

  1. Shows that thermal waters were used for wool processing as well as bathing.
  2. The theatre's decorations and inscriptions document the coming together of mythological narratives and public administration in the same building.
  3. Allows the city's transition from a Greco-Roman religious center to a Christian center to be traced through architectural remains.

Images

Hierapolis HJ Johnson
Harry John Johnson (1826–1884) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Necropolis of Hierapolis 01
Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century AD under Hadrian on the ruins of an earlier th
Carole Raddato · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish periods
First modern dig
1957
Team / historical
Grazia Semeraro / Italian Archaeological Mission, University of Salento
Coordinates
37.9239°, 29.1233°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. iris.polito.it
  3. Denizli İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü — Pamukkale Arkeoloji Müzesi

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