Tripolis on the Meander
Tripolis
Türkiye · Denizli
In brief
Tripolis, near the Yenicekent neighborhood of Buldan, is an ancient city on the Meander River. Excavations uncover public buildings and houses, documenting life in the city during the Roman period and Late Antiquity.
What was found?
- 1Statue of Antonius Philagrios
The head fragment was later added to the torso found with its inscription. The inscription shows that the statue, dating to the 4th century AD, depicts the senior public administrator Antonius Philagrios.
- 2Agora Baths
An underfloor heating system was uncovered in the building, which contains hot, warm, and sweating rooms. According to researchers, the building was probably originally a basilica and was later converted into baths.
- 3House with the Fish Pool
A large residence containing frescoed rooms, workshops, and water installations was uncovered. According to researchers, fish and aquatic shellfish were raised in the pool from which it takes its name.
- 4Colonnaded Street
The surface of the east–west street, paved with large travertine blocks, was uncovered. Its intersection with Hierapolis Street demonstrates the city's planned street layout.
What does it point to?
The statue, baths, and large residences show public life alongside the everyday organisation of wealthy households. According to researchers, the House with the Fish Pool reveals how the water resources provided by the Büyük Menderes were reflected in urban life and production.
What did it teach us?
- The identity of a public administrator was established by evaluating the statue fragments and inscription together.
- According to researchers, the conversion of a public building into baths documented changes in function within the city.
- The presence of large residential complexes in the city centre was also revealed.
- Street remains enabled the city's grid plan to be traced in tangible form.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
In 2024, the head of the marble statue of Antonius Philagrios was found and matched with the body uncovered in 2018.
Record
- Culture
- Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine
- Team / historical
- Bahadır Duman / Pamukkale University
- Coordinates
- 38.0500°, 28.9500°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Hierapolis 21 km
- Laodicea on the Lycus 28 km
- Blaundus 41 km
- Aphrodisias 43 km
- Nysa on the Maeander 72 km
- Sardis 92 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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Arkeoloji Dergisi ↗
All excavation sites (385)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük
