Pamukkale district

Hierapolis ancient city in Pamukkale district

Perched above the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa and Phrygian cult center before evolving into a major Greco-Roman city. This list covers the site's most significant monuments, including the remarkably preserved Roman theatre, the sprawling Northern Necropolis with over 1,200 tombs, and the mysterious Plutonium. Visitors can explore the ruins of the Apollo Temple, the octagonal Martyrion of Saint Philip, and the monumental Frontinus Gate, which marks the city's ancient northern entrance.

Hierapolis Ancient City — Map

Dariusofthedark / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Hierapolis

Hierapolis was originally a Phrygian cult centre of the Anatolian mother goddess of Cybele and later a Greek city.

Sepide Darvish Heidary / CC-BY-SA

B

Hierapolis Roman Theatre

A well-preserved 2nd-century AD structure built during the reigns of Hadrian and Septimius Severus. It features an ornate stage building decorated with mythological reliefs and once accommodated approximately 15,000 spectators.

Christian Weigt / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Apollo Temple

The city's primary religious site, dedicated to its patron deity. The current ruins date mostly from the 3rd century AD and were constructed over a geological fault line emitting carbon dioxide.

Sepide Darvish Heidary / CC-BY-SA

D

Saint Philipzu Martyrion

An octagonal 5th-century pilgrimage complex built on the hill where the Apostle Philip was purportedly martyred. The site includes the saint's tomb and remains of a large church.

Rjdeadly / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Laodicea on the Lycus

Laodicea on the Lycus was a rich ancient Greek city in Asia Minor, now Turkey, on the river Lycus.

F

Frontinus Gate (Gate of Domitian)

A monumental triple-arched entrance built in the 1st century AD by Proconsul Julius Frontinus. It served as the northern gateway to the city’s main colonnaded thoroughfare.

G

Northern Necropolis of Hierapolis

One of the largest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia, containing over 1,200 tombs. The site features a diverse range of funerary architecture, including sarcophagi, house-type tombs, and circular tumuli.

H

Monumental nymphaeum

A 4th-century public fountain located near the Apollo Temple. The U-shaped structure originally featured a facade of columns and niches housing decorative statues.

I

Old Plutonium

The original sacred site dedicated to the god of the underworld. It is centered around a cave that naturally emits toxic carbon dioxide, used by ancient priests for ritual sacrifices.

J

Sanctuary of Hades

A religious precinct dedicated to the god of the underworld, located near the Apollo Temple. It is part of the sacred complex associated with the city's thermal springs.

K

Pluto's Gate

The Ploutonion at Hierapolis or Pluto's Gate was a ploutonion in the ancient city of Hierapolis near Pamukkale in modern Turkey's Denizli…

L

South Byzantine Gate

A 4th-century entrance built as part of the city's defensive fortifications. The gate was constructed using repurposed stones and architectural fragments from earlier Roman buildings.

M

House with the Ionic Columns

A Roman-era aristocratic villa characterized by its peristyle courtyard featuring Ionic columns. The house is situated along the city's main street.

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