Most of the ruins of Pamukkale Hierapolis Ancient City, standing in all its glory right next to Pamukkale Travertines, are from this period. Together with the uniquely beautiful travertines, these ruins are on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
We are sure that Pamukkale will fascinate you at first sight. Two thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Pergamon could not resist this attraction and built the city of Hierapolis next to the travertines. During this period, Hierapolis served as a thermal health center and its sources believed to be healing were visited by people from different parts of Anatolia seeking health and beauty for thousands of years.
Today, thermal pools continue to be visited in search of beauty and health. You can enter the waters where the people of the ancient world used to swim thousands of years ago and watch the magnificent view of the travertines. However, this natural beauty, which took thousands of years to form, is quite sensitive. Therefore, only certain parts of it can be walked around and its waters can be entered. Those who want to stay longer in Pamukkale and benefit from its healing waters can both stay in the thermal facilities located near the ancient city and travertines and enjoy massage, thermal waters and mud baths.
The ancient city of Hierapolis has managed to reach the present day by being very well preserved. The Roman Bath, which we can definitely say that it was visited very often when it was a thermal center, is used as an archeology museum today. Here you can see the statues and other ruins unearthed in the ancient city excavations in Hierapolis and its surroundings. Buildings such as the ancient theatre, temples, monumental fountains, tombs, agora and gymnasium are in such a good condition that you feel like you are in the city of 2,000 years ago. In particular, the stories told about Ploutonium, which was believed to be the entrance to hell in the Roman Period, will attract your attention.
Hierapolis is also a holy settlement in terms of Christianity. The most important reason for this sanctity is that Phillippus, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus, was killed here and his grave is here. Martyrium, which was built by palace architects in the 5th century and where the saint's tomb is located, is one of the sacred structures of Christianity. Other important Christian structures are the 6th century cathedral, which includes the baptismal vessel and the bishop's liturgy, and the Direkli Church, which dates to the 7th century. Many smaller churches are also scattered throughout the city. All these structures prove that Hierapolis was an important religious center during the Byzantine Period.
Where is Hierapolis Ancient City?
The ancient city of Hierapolis, located 17 kilometers north of Denizli, is called "Holy City" in the archaeological literature, due to the presence of many temples and other religious structures known in the city. It is debated in which old geographical region the city is located.
With its geographical location, Hierapolis is among the various historical regions surrounding it. The ancient geographers Strabo and Ptolemaios claimed that Hierapolis was a Phrygian city with its proximity to the cities of Laodikeia and Tripolis, which border the Caria region. There is no information about the name of the city before the Hellenistic Period in ancient sources. It is known because of the cult of the Mother Goddess that there was a life in the city before it was called Hierapolis. Although the information about the establishment of the city is limited; King of Pergamum II. By Eumenes II. YY. It is known that it was founded in the beginning of the year and took the name Hierapolis because of Hiera, the queen of the Amazons, the wife of Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamum.
Hierapolis maintained its original texture by adhering to Hellenistic urbanization principles until the great earthquake in the reign of Roman Emperor Nero (60 AD). The city, which is located on the earthquake belt, suffered great damage from the Nero period earthquake and was completely renovated. After these earthquakes, the city lost all its Hellenistic character and took the appearance of a typical Roman city.
Hierapolis became a very important center during the Byzantine period after the Roman period. This importance, MS IV. Being the center of Christianity (metropolis) since the century AD, in 80 years, Hz. It is due to the death of Saint Philip, one of the apostles of Jesus, here. Hierapolis, XII. Towards the end of the century, it passed into the hands of the Turks.
