The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis, or "Holy City", associated with the name of the holy apostle Philip, are located about 17 kilometres from the provincial Turkish town of Denizli. They are located on a mountainous elevation of 350 metres. The first structures were built here in the second millennium BC. In 190 B.C., King Eumenes II of Pergamum. Eumenes II built a new city here. Sixty years later, Hierapolis became part of the Roman Empire. part of the Roman Empire, and at the beginning of our era it was badly destroyed by an earthquake. In the 1960s of the first century, the city was rebuilt again and became known as a holiday resort. Later, Hierapolis came under Byzantine rule, then under the rule of the Turkish sultan. There were quite a few earthquakes earthquakes, and in 1534 one of them almost completely destroyed the town. The place was forgotten until the end of the nineteenth century, when the first excavations began. the first excavations. Now the ruins of ancient Hierapolis are located on the territory of the modern Turkish resort of Pamuk. modern Turkish resort of Pamukkale and are very popular among tourists. Here You can learn about ancient history and see the architectural masterpieces of those times.
One of the most significant sights of Hierapolis is considered to be the ancient Theatre, located on the hillside. The building was the third largest after the Ephesus and Aspendos theatres. Its construction began in the first half of the 2nd century and by the third century the structure had been considerably enlarged. The building is made of solid stones and the total height of its steps is about one hundred metres. The fifty rows, divided by aisles into seven sectors, are seats for the audience. The amphitheatre is divided into two tiers and on either side of it are arched aisles. Among the seats, exactly in the centre, is the Emperor's box. The stage of the theatre is more than three metres high metres and is decorated with magnificent mouldings depicting Artemis, Apollo, Dionysus. At the back of the theatre are original bas-reliefs and three rows of columns, the space between which is occupied by sculptures. The bas-reliefs depict revered gods and mythological heroes and vary in style because they were made by by skilful craftsmen of different eras. When completed, the theatre could seat about 10,000 people. Pamukkale hosts the annual July International Music Festival, which is used to organise the festival. music festival in Pamukkale every year in July, for which the ancient theatre is used. However, now its 46 rows can accommodate only about seven thousand spectators.
The Temple of Apollo was erected in Hierapolis in the third century BC. It was the largest sanctuary in the polis, but unfortunately, all that's left of it now only a wide, multi-step staircase leading to the foot of the temple, and a platform in front of the structure, which is surrounded by a protective wall. According to legend, the temple was destroyed by an earthquake that occurred at the time of the crucifixion of the holy Apostle Philip.
On the south side of this ancient building is a place that is considered to be the the abode of Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, the lord of life and death. It is a small, almost imperceptible crack in the ground, which is enclosed enclosed by a stone case. It's believed that the pungent and intense vapours and gases vapours and gases escaping from it are so poisonous that birds and small animals are killed. from them. It's a feature of this cleft that was used by priests in ancient times to convince people that they were communicating with the gods. When the faithful came to seek the priest would ask the god Apollo to kill a bird to prove of his power and released the bird into the cave. The bird, poisoned by carbon dioxide. would die, confirming the priests' connection to the deity. The entrance to Pluto's grotto Pluto's grotto was open, but after a terrible tragedy involving German tourists. tourists, the entrance was sealed off with an iron grille. The travellers suffocated in sacred niche and it is now inaccessible to the public.
Among the monuments of Hierapolis belonging to the Roman era, the Arch of Domitian must necessarily be mentioned. is the Arch of Domitian. This majestic gateway represents the entrance to the ancient city and was erected by Domitian. ancient city and was erected in the first century by Julius Frontinus, the proconsul of the of the Anatolian province. Passing through it, the traveller immediately enters the spacious centre street, the width of which is equal to the width of the main street. central street, which was about 14 metres wide. The street crossed the entire city and ended at the southern Roman gate, beyond which began the road to Laodicea. the road to Laodicea. It is known that in ancient times the gate was two-storeyed. Nowadays one can admire the good preservation of the ground floor of one of the two circular towers, which were built of large stones and connected with each other by three high arches.
As soon as the traveller passes through the gate of Frontino, on the left he sees a small Byzantine church built from previously used materials. On the floor of the of the church a marble altar was found and the likeness of an icon made on a piece of marble slab. It is assumed that the church was dedicated to the Virgin Hodegetria, the protector of travellers. Hodegetria. In front of the entrance to the church there used to be a rectangular canopy, and under it there was a plate with the image of Hagia Sophia. a plate depicting Apollo, the patron god of Hierapolis. Hierapolis.
The length of the main street of the city, dividing it into two halves, is approx. is about a kilometre long. On either side of it were built galleries and important public buildings. The slabs in the central part of the main street still cover a a canal lined with narrow limestone slabs. This is the city's sewerage system. It's known that in front of the city gates. in front of the city gates. So the only way into the city was to wash thoroughly.
The temple-martyrdom of St Philip was built in Hierapolis in the 4th century. It is believed that the church was built on the site of the apostle's death. The temple had an octagonal shape and had a diameter of 20 metres. The church had a central room in which, according to legend. where the tomb of St Philip is said to have been, but it has not been found. it has not been found to date. The dome of this room was made of wood and covered with lead, while the rest of the roof was of wood. The base of the structure was in the shape of a double cross. The temple had a beautiful chapel and a terrace with several rooms, of which only the ruins of the walls remain. The city of Hierapolis was repeatedly hit by earthquakes, the last of which almost almost completely destroyed the temple-martyrdom. Nevertheless, it can still be explored, using the wide staircase outside. In Pamukkale, the feast of St Philip's feast is held every November. After the assassination of St Philip. became known as the Holy City, and St Philip's Church is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Christians.
Hierapolis is home to one of the largest necropolises in Asia Minor from the eras of Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian era, which approaches the walls of the city from all sides. the walls of the city. Even in ancient times, the thermal springs flowed to Hierapolis, which is famous for its thermal springs. famous for its thermal springs, huge numbers of sick people flocked to Hierapolis, hoping for a cure. for healing. Many of them returned home after their illnesses were over, while others, and others, dying, stayed here forever. Which explains the sheer size of the local Necropolis. In addition, the dead of Hierapolis were buried according to their traditions. traditions, so the cemetery is characterised by an extraordinary variety of grave markers. monuments and tombstones, including sarcophagi, typical Lycian graves, family crypts, etc. The necropolis is two kilometres long and is divided into two parts. is divided into two parts: southern and northern. The necropolis contains very impressive funerary structures, with strong foundations of stone blocks, arched arched ceilings and the remains of columns. Some of the tombs here are very modest, made of stone, the graves of commoners. of commoners. Although there are some that are striking in their size, shape and and the originality of the decoration. The oldest Greek tombs are in the form of round mounds. round barrows, which were common in Anatolia in the second and first centuries BC. centuries BC. There are here a variety of sarcophagi, marble or limestone, with flat or gabled lids, with or without interesting decorations, placed on stone foundations. on stone foundations or buried in the ground. There are also family vaults, designed for several sarcophagi. Of the 1,200 burials. about 300 have epitaphs giving the name of the deceased, his occupation, and the deeds he performed. and mentioning the deeds for which he was famous.
The most famous burial in the northern necropolis is that of Titus Flavius, often called the tomb of the traveller. It is located to the right of the main city gate. The tomb is a rectangular crypt set on a a small pedestal. Its narrow doorway is flanked by a thin stone border, and the Doric frieze with rosette decoration crowns the tomb. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD in the eastern part of the necropolis began to appear house-shaped burials on special foundations. on special foundations. They are conventionally called "Hero's Grave" and they occupy a large area of the cemetery. Some of them have a window-shaped niche in the wall.
One of the best places to end a trip around Hierapolis is the small Museum. It's housed in one of the largest Roman Baths, built at the beginning of the second century BC. century BC. What remains today are the massive walls and the arched spans. In front of the entrance to the baths is a small but cosy courtyard. On two it is surrounded on two sides by quadrangular parlours, to which rooms with swimming pools were once added. rooms with swimming pools. Adjoining the baths was a palestra with two large halls in the north and south. large halls in the northern and southern parts, intended for the practice of gymnastic exercises. for gymnastic exercises. Archaeological excavations at this site have not yet been completed, so the exact boundaries of the site are not yet known. Archaeological excavations at this site have not yet been completed, so the exact boundaries of the entire complex of baths with the palaestra have not yet been established. the exact boundaries of the entire palaestra complex. The museum has been located here since 1984.
The museum's exposition includes many interesting art objects. Collections include jewellery, coins, architectural fragments and sarcophagi, but the main exhibits are sculptures and bas-reliefs. There are also exhibits of artifacts from the excavations of ancient cities such as Hierapolis, Colosia, Laodicea, Tripolis. The exhibits date from various periods, from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman Empire. Some of the museum's exhibits are located directly in the courtyard. The outdoor exhibition contains mainly works made of stone and marble.
