p017. Once you've trekked up the main 'cotton-castle' ponds - only a nimble 15min stroll (north) to this reno-ed theatre. Built 129 A.D. to celebrate Hadrians visit (awesome, huh !)
Pony-up a few more decades (from 129AD):
Hierapolis morphed into one of Rome's most prominent Golden-Age hubs (arts, trade, philosophy). It's Thermal Springs popular (since 2nd C) for medicinal rehabilitation.
Today, still able to swim in the last surviving Baths.
Looping thru... successive earthquakes (and rebuilds) ; Phillip the apostles alleged Crucification + invasions by Persians an Seljuk...the city was eventually abandoned.
Restoration:
Commenced with a German abt 1887. An impressive hoard of his collective Turkish loot - now housed in the fab Pergamon Museum. Berlin. Ongoing - help has continued courtesy of the Italians and Brits.
Suggest printing a mud-map, before leaving home. It's an extensive site, number of ruins being rehabilitated. The Necropolis one of Turkeys best preserved (Hellenic to Christian eras).
Thankfully they've demolished 20th C hotels which hugged the calcium cliff-face, and marred this epic location.
Worth Google-ing Hierapolis's ancient history, before jumping on a jet plane. Makes the site 'snap, crackle and pop' (bring it 'alive') during yr visit.
p017. Once you've trekked up the main 'cotton-castle' ponds - only a nimble 15min stroll (north) to this reno-ed theatre. Built 129 A.D. to celebrate Hadrians visit (awesome, huh !)
Pony-up a few more decades (from 129AD):
Hierapolis morphed into one of Rome's most prominent Golden-Age hubs (arts, trade, philosophy). It's Thermal Springs popular (since 2nd C) for medicinal rehabilitation.
Today, still able to swim in the last surviving Baths.
Looping thru... successive earthquakes (and rebuilds) ; Phillip the apostles alleged Crucification + invasions by Persians an Seljuk...the city was eventually abandoned.
Restoration:
Commenced with a German abt 1887. An impressive hoard of his collective Turkish loot - now housed in the fab Pergamon Museum. Berlin. Ongoing - help has continued courtesy of the Italians and Brits.
Suggest printing a mud-map, before leaving home. It's an extensive site, number of ruins being rehabilitated. The Necropolis one of Turkeys best preserved (Hellenic to Christian eras).
Thankfully they've demolished 20th C hotels which hugged the calcium cliff-face, and marred this epic location.
Worth Google-ing Hierapolis's ancient history, before jumping on a jet plane. Makes the site 'snap, crackle and pop' (bring it 'alive') during yr visit.