Hierapolis
was named after Hiera, the wife of Telephos, founder of Pergamum
in mythology.
As
you approach the site of Pamukkale / Hierapolis from Denizli,
(only 20 km) a long white smudge along the hills to Pamukkale
- hot springs and spetacular scenery the north suggests
a landslide or open cast mine. Getting closer, this resolves
into the edge of a plateau, more than 100m higher than
the level of the river valley and absolutely smothered
in white travertine terraces.
Pamukkale
is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in Turkey.
Dozens of coaches daily make the long excursion, (three
hours drive from Bodrum), Marmaris or Kusadasi. Stay over-night
if you can to enjoy its tranquillity early in the morning
or in the evening.
The
big attraction is a vast white cliff side with scallop-shaped
basins of water and frozen waterfalls. It looks as if
it's made out of snow or cloud or balls of cotton. The
Turks have dubbed this geological fairyland Pamukkale
(cottoncastle), from pamuk for cotton and kale for castle.
Hierapolis
has such extensive ruins which is suggested: the city
walls, the octagonal Martyrium of St. Philip, the 2nd
century theater, Temple of Apollo, basilica, then the
necropolis which covers 2 km˛. and contains some of the
best examples of tomb styles; it is one of the best-preserved
ancient cemeteries in all of Anatolia.
The
East Bath now is an archaeology museum housing many of the
remains from Hierapolis. Dating back to the Calcholithic age,
this was the site of a settlement of the earliest communities,
and changed hands continuously, becoming the center of various
civilizations in different time periods. The ancient city
of Laodikeia is close here, within the borders of Denizli,
with its ruins awaiting for
the sightseers. In addition to Triopolis which was known
as the center of bishops, while Christianity spread. Hierapolis
is another Ancient City, being a real historical treasure,
while it also offers a real wonder of nature in its vicinity.
Named, as »Pamukkale« today, this place is astonishingly
beautiful, and unique in the world with its white travertine
offering marvelous scenery.
In
the Antiquity, Eumenes 11, King of Pergamum, who rebuilt Hierapolis
after its destruction by an earthquake, used to like bathing
in the healing waters of the springs there, in a manner that
planted the seed of the following concept in the soils of
the Aegean lands that has survived up until now: The power
lives in great splendor. Between the first and fourth centuries,
Hierapolis was a city popular with its spas in the Roman Empire.
Many queens had beauty baths in the red colored healing thermal
waters of the Roman baths with soaps scented with bay leaves
and, refreshed, they presented themselves to the Caesars with
stalks of grapes.
Between
the fifth and twelfth centuries, Hierapolis was a center
of religion for the Byzantines. The white frozen masses
of travertine formed by warm waters up to 35 degrees that
gush from the springs. Soon they were circled with churches
and cemeteries. Missioners came to baptize themselves
and their deads in the holy waters of sanctified springs.
The
hot springs have been used since Roman times for their therapeutic
powers. Both the thermal center with its motels and thermal
pools, and the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis, are
situated on the plateau.
