Back in ancient times, the territory of the modern town of Pamukalle was famous for its unusually healing thermal springs. Even then they attracted here thousands of people who stayed in the ancient town of Laodikia, located next to the slope. The settlement was founded in the second century BC, and in 190 AD another city, Hierapolis, was built in its place, which was repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt again. The wealthy inhabitants of Laodicea built a watercourse system for the hot water from the springs, diverting it to private pools and thermae, thus damaging part of the lower terraces. The city was not only a major cult centre of its time, but also one of the most famous balneological resorts, visited by the rulers of the peoples inhabiting the territory of modern Turkey.
Laodicea was built on a small plateau sandwiched between two river valleys and the always snowy Akdag ranges, whose height reaches 2571 metres. The location was convenient to follow two important trade routes through the mountains, which was the reason for the city's prosperity. Laodicea became famous for its black wool, from which black clothes and carpets were made. The city was also the centre of a medical school and the production of collyrium, a famous healing ointment for the eyes. The settlement was a fortress, but it had one very vulnerable point - water was supplied to the inhabitants from the springs through an underground aqueduct over ten kilometres long. This was very dangerous for the besieged city.
In the first century BC the city was under the control of the Roman Empire, after the collapse of which it fell under the Byzantine Empire. During the era of the spread of Christianity, one of the "Seven Churches" was founded here Anatolia, mentioned in the Apocalypse and in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. In 1097 Laodicea was invaded by the Turks and as a result of continuous wars between the Byzantine Empire and the Turks it was destroyed. The city ceased to exist after several earthquakes, and its inhabitants founded a new one nearby - Denizli.
The ruins of the ancient city of Laodikia are located 13 kilometres from Pamukkale, not far from the road to Denizli, and are one of the brightest historical sights of Turkey. Now here you can see a half-destroyed nymphaeum, a rather badly damaged stadium built in the first century, a complex of thermae, gymnasiums, the foundations of the Ionic temple and two theatres - large and small. Turkish archaeologists have excavated a central street, residential quarters, two amphitheatres and a Christian basilica. Employees of Denizli University have been conducting archaeological excavations at the ruins of the ancient city and the famous Laodicea Church since 2005. Laodicea has never been seriously explored before.
