Hierapolis
Hellenistic city famed for hot springs, wool, and Epictetus.
Hierapolis, whose Ancient Greek name means "Holy City," was a Hellenistic Greek settlement in the Phrygian region of southwestern Anatolia, now part of Turkey. It was established in the 3rd century BC atop an earlier Phrygian religious site dedicated to the mother goddess Cybele. The city gained renown for its thermal springs, its superior wool textiles and dyes, and for being the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. Today, its sprawling ruins lie next to the modern town of Pamukkale, and UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1988.
- Excavation director (current)
- Grazia Semeraro (MAIER; Italian mission began in 1957 under Paolo Verzone)
Lore & Background
In 133 BC, Hierapolis became part of the Roman province of Asia. Major earthquakes in AD 17 and AD 60 destroyed the city, but it was rebuilt with imperial support, attaining its present form. The theatre was built in the 1st century AD and later renovated for Hadrian's visit in 129, and Caracalla granted the title of neocoros in 215. The city grew to an estimated 20,000–30,000 inhabitants and became a prominent center for arts, philosophy, and trade. The Christian apostle Philip spent his last years here and was allegedly crucified in AD 80; his martyrium was built on the spot. During the 4th century, Christians filled the Plutonium with stones, signaling the dominance of Christianity.
Reader's Guide
Hierapolis holds significance as a major Hellenistic and Roman city that blended Phrygian, Greek, and Roman cultures. Its hot springs made it a healing center, and its wool and dye industries brought wealth. The city is notable for the earliest known depiction of a crank and rod mechanism on the tomb of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, and for the Tomb of Philip the Apostle. The site's extensive necropolis, Roman baths, theatre, and Plutonium provide rich archaeological evidence. Excavations by the Italian Archaeological Mission of Hierapolis of Phrygia (MAIER) since 1957 have uncovered Iron Age settlement structures and continued restoration. The city's legacy endures as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key location for understanding ancient urbanism, religion, and technology.
Did You Know?
- The earliest known depiction of a crank and rod mechanism is found on the tomb of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos in Hierapolis.
- Hierapolis was the birthplace of the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who was born a slave in 50 AD.
- The city's Plutonium was a cave emitting toxic gases, believed to be a gateway to the underworld, and only eunuch priests of Cybele could enter without being asphyxiated.
- Iron Age settlement structures, including Phrygian-era remains, have been uncovered in Hierapolis; earlier excavations had already revealed Iron Age remains.
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