Excavations reveal 2nd century fountain in ancient city of Tripolis in western Turkey

Archaeologists have unearthed a monumental fountain estimated to be from the 2nd century AD during excavations in the ancient city of Tripolis on the Meander in western Turkey's Denizli province.

Credit: IHA

The fountain was discovered under the scope of the excavations which were initially launched in Buldan district in 2012 with the cooperation of Pamukkale University (PAU) and the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Archaeologists said that the well-preserved U-shaped fountain is 32 metres long and 7 metres wide, and is located at the center of the ancient city.

The fountain was adorned with statues of important rulers of the time and their wives as well as various gods and goddesses worshiped in the city in line with the religious beliefs of that period.

Credit: IHA

Credit: IHA

Associate Professor Bahadir Duman from the Archaeology Department of PAU said that the fountain displays important features of ancient cities in Anatolia during the Roman period.

Duman noted that the fountain had undergone an important restoration in 4th century AD which greatly contributes to reaching rarely-known information about the transition from the Roman period to Byzantine architecture.

Situated about 40 kilometers north of the Denizli city, Tripolis on the Meander was was an ancient city on the borders of Phrygia, Caria and Lydia, on the northern bank of the upper course of the Maeander, and on the road leading from Sardes by Philadelphia to Laodikeia ad Lycum.

An important commercial and agriculture centre the city was also called Neapolis, Apollonia, and Antoniopolis.

The ruins of the sity mostly date from the Roman and Byzantine periods and include a theatre, baths, city walls, and a necropolis. An ancient church, dating back 1,500 years, has been unearthed in 2013.

Source: Daily Sabah [August 26, 2019]