Pamukkale Trip Review

PAMUKKALE (Hierapolis)
 The entrance to the Travertines & Hierapolis is literally a 2 minute walk away from the hotel through town.  Entrance cost is currently 20 lira per person and this ticket is valid for the Travetines and the ruins of Hierapolis.  The site is open 24 hours and it is possible to go whenever you like, however the lights at night are not good for photography.  Bathing in the Travertines is now restricted but there are man-made pools where you can sit and enjoy the views.  The Antique Pool is filled with original columns and is quite a nice way to spend a day.  The cost is 18 lira per person and it is open from 8am-8pm.  Previously you could use your ticket in any 24hour period however this has now changed and is valid only for the day of purchase.

Information about Hierapolis is limited. It is known that the king of Pergamum, Eumenes II, founded the city in 190 BC. It was named Hierapolis after the Amazon's Queen Hiera, the wife of Telephos, the founder of Pergamum. (Pergamum is also called Pergamon or Pergamos). Hierapolis was completely destroyed by the earthquake in 60 A.D. during the time of Roman Emperor Nero. During the reconstruction after the earthquake, the city lost its Hellenistic Style and became a typical Roman City. Right after the Roman period started, Hierapolis became an important center because of its commercial and religious position. In 80 A.D. St. Philip came to Hierapolis and was murdered by the Jewish inhabitants. Hierapolis was conquered by the Turks at the end of the 12th century A.D.
 Apollon Temple:The temple is situated in a religious cave, which is called Plutonium. The oldest religious center of the local people is the place where Apollon met the mother goddess, Kybele. The poisonous gas of that cave did not affect the priest of Kybele. The temple's foundation is dated in the late Hellenistic Period, but the rest of the temple is dated in the 3rd century A.D. There are large steps at the Temple's entrance.
 Theater: It's a great, well-preserved Greek style building, which is situated on a hillside. It is 91 meters high. The theater's construction was started in 62 A.D. after the earthquake of 60 AD in the Flavius era. However, it was not completed in the Hadrian era. It was finally completed in the Severus Era in 206 A.D. The cavea is separated into 7 parts by 8 steps, and there are 50 seats. The Diozoma (a kind of passage) is in the middle of the cavea with a vomitorium with 2 vaults.There are 10 columns in front of the kingdom box and orchestra, which are 3.66 meters high. The front door of the scene has 5 gates and 6 niches. The niches are behind the columns which are decorated with oyster shells and among the columns adorned with statues. Many statues were found during the excavations. There are marble embossments on the wall which is behind the scene.
St. Philip's Martyrium: It's an octagonal building which is 20 m x 20 m. The Martyrium was built at the end of the 4th century and early 5th century in honor of St. Philip who was murdered here. 

Churches: There is a cathedral dated in the 6th or 7th century A.D., a columnar church, and two more churches. Moreover, the main hall of the Great Bath was transformed into a church. There are also small prayer rooms on the north part of the city.

Necropolis: Except for the travertine area on the west, the other sides of the city are necropolis areas. They may especially be seen on the roads which go to Laodicea - Colossae on the south and to Tripolis - Sardis on the north. Limestone and marble were used to build the cemeteries. The north Necropolis spans the time from the Late Hellenistic era to the early Christian era with sarcophagi, house-type cemeteries, tumulus-type cemeteries, and monuments
 TRIPOLIS: It is situated about 40 km north of Denizli, east of Buldan and Yenicekent Towns, at the foot of a hill which is between Buyuk Menderes River and Yenicekent Town. Tripolis was one of the frontier centers of commerce and agriculture in the Lydia Region which supplied transportation between Karia, Phrygia and Tripolis. It was one of the richest cities of the region because of its strategic location. It is believed to have been founded by citizens of Pergamum. The best extant monuments date from the 1st - 3rd centuries A.D. According to Plinius, another name of the city was Apollonia. There are names of the goddess Leto, Letoia Phthia Games and the Menderes River on their coins. The city suffered many earthquakes and wars during the course of history. Tripolis is mentioned in the list of participants at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. This shows Tripolis was an important religious city during that time period.