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Located 20 kilometers from the
town of Denizli, Pamukkale is
one of the most interesting
places in the world, justly
famous not only for the
entrancing beauty of its unique
geological formations but also
for its historical remains. The
calcium oxide-rich waters
flowing down the southern slope
of Çaldag located north of the
ruins have, over the millennia,
built up deposits of white
travertine on the plateau thus
fully justifying both the site's
ancient name of Hierapolis-Holy
City-and its modern one of
Pamukkale-Cotton Castle. -Let us
now take a tour of this supernal
spot.
Near the road is the Temple of
Apollo, the principal deity of
the city. While the foundations
of this temple go back to late
Hellenistic times, the
present remains of the upper
structure are from the 3rd
century A.D. Next to it is a
cave (called the Plutonion) from
which poisonous gases emerge.
(According to Strabo, an ox
thrust into this cave would keel
over and die. He himself
experimented with doves.) The
temple measures 20 by 15 meters
and sat on a platform that was
2.5 meters high. Before the
temple is a monumental fountain.
Built during the late 3rd
century A.D., the walls of this
rectangular fountain are very
well preserved. There was also a
pool located before the fountain
and the structure was richly
adorned with statues and
columns. The water for this
fountain was brought here by
aqueducts, remains of which may
be seen in the vicinity of
Güzelpinar and between Pamukkale
and Karahayit.
East of the present museum is a
Christian basilica consisting of
a nave and two aisles. It dates
from the 6th century A.D.
Walking along the route of the
Plateia (which now passes
through the modern swimming pool
and motel) reminds us that this
main street dividing the ancient
city was once decorated with
colonnades, porticos, and
important buildings located on
either side. The street runs
directly toward the city walls
passing through a gateway built
in Byzantine times atop
an earlier fountain. On the way
is a basilical structure with
two aisles and a nave whose
eastern end terminates in an
apse. The city walls were built
in 396 A.D. and were reinforced
by twenty-eight towers. Passing
through Byzantine gate we come
to a rather well preserved
section of the Plateia. This
part was built during the reign
of Domitian (81-96 A.D.) and
terminates with the Arch of
Domitian. This monumental
gateway was actually erected by
Julius Frontinus, who was
proconsul of the Roman
province of Asia (middle western
Anatolia) in 82 and 83 A.D., and
dedicated to the emperor. The
gate has two round towers and
three portals. Excavations are
now in progress to reveal the
remains of shops and houses that
once lined both sides of this
street.
Northeast of the street between
the Byzantine and
Domitian gates was the agora of
ancient Hierapolis. The traces
of the city's original theater
may be seen above. As we follow
the road in the direction of the
necropolis we pass by the
imposing walls of a building
originally erected as baths
around the end of the 2nd
century A.D. It was converted to
a church in the 5th century. The
huge necropolis of Hierapolis
spreads out on either side of
the road for a distance of two
kilometers. It contains tumuli,
sarcophagi, and house-shaped
tombs that range in date from
the late Hellenistic
period to early Christian times.
It is one of the most extensive
and best preserved ancient
cemeteries in Anatolia and a
stroll through it leaves a deep
and mystical impression upon the
visitor, particularly on a
moonlit night. The road proceeds
on to the hot springs of
Karahayit located 4 kilometers
away. |
