Turkey - Pamukkale

From the port city of Kusadasi and its constant waves of cruise ships,  

and their passengers that we have to battle our way with at the tourist spots, we drove east to Pamukkale, in the Denzili region.  This is the home of the famous gleaming white calcium terraced pools.

Pamukkale was formed when warm, calcium rich mineral water cascaded over the cliff edge, cooling and depositing in the process.  The calcium built natural shelves and pools on the cliffs are known as travertines.  

By the travertines is the ruined spa town of Hierapolis, which was a cure centre founded around 190BC by the Romans.  The Romans were aware of the curative powers of mineral springs and created communal baths.

It is rumoured that Cleopatra used these baths and the pool, that is currently under restoration, is called the Cleopatra pool (sorry no pic).

We did get a pic of the Basilica Bath complex located on the north side, out of the city gates.   Bath buildings generally are located at the outskirts of the city as an important sign of sensitivity of ancient Anatolian people about the cleaning and protecting against epidemics.  It dates back to the 3rd century AD but in the 6th century AD an apse was added to the central part and it was turned into a church. 

Out of all the ancient cities we have visited, with each one sporting their impressive theatres, Hierapolis' one is definitely the most impressive in its entirety.  It was erected in the 3rd century AD during the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus and has had many restorations over the years with the latest one being 2009-13.  

This is the back of the theatre where the entertainment would have entered.

The Northern Necropolis was the area devoted to the burials of the Hierapolis inhabitants and there are over 2000 tombs like this one spread out over the land.

The Frontinus Gate is the monumental entrance to the Roman city

and leads onto the large plateia, 14m wide, which crosses the whole settlement,

exiting a gate at the other side, which connects with other key areas.

Like the other ancient cities, in the 7th century an earthquake caused the collapse of many of the buildings and ultimate abandonment of the city.  Archaeologists and historians have done very well to restore what they have and keep this amazing history alive.