Aizanoi Ancient City is an ancient settlement located within the boundaries of the Çavdarhisar district of Kütahya province, and its historical origins date back to the 3rd millennium BC. As the main settlement of the Aizanitis people, who were affiliated with Phrygia, Aizanoi experienced significant development during the Roman period and particularly completed its urbanization process in the 2nd century AD. The city stood out with its commerce, agriculture, and religious structures, and became one of the important cities of the Roman Empire.
The city hosts one of the best-preserved Zeus Temples of the ancient world. In addition, the theater and stadium complex in Aizanoi is considered the only example in the world where these two structures have been built together. Moreover, the structure known as the Macellum, which is considered one of the oldest trading markets in the world, is also located here. In 2012, Aizanoi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, and archaeological excavations continue to this day.
Aizanoi Ancient City Zeus Temple (Photo: T.C. Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı, Kalkınma Galerisi)
History
The historical origins of Aizanoi Ancient City date back to the 3rd millennium BC. The first traces of settlement were detected through archaeological excavations conducted around the Zeus Temple. In antiquity, this region, which remained within the borders of Phrygia, became the main settlement of the Aizanitis people. The city's name is derived from the mythological hero Azan. According to legend, Azan was born from the union of the Water Nymph Erato and King Arkas, and he was considered the ancestor of the Aizanoi people.
During the Hellenistic Period, the region changed hands between the kingdoms of Pergamon and Bithynia. According to Strabo, Aizanoi was among the cities of Phrygia Epiktetos. In the 3rd century BC, the city came under the dominance of the Kingdom of Pergamon, and in the early 2nd century BC, it was seized by the Kingdom of Bithynia. However, after the Apameia Peace in 183 BC, it was returned to the Kingdom of Pergamon, and in 133 BC, it was included in the Roman Province of Asia through the will of Pergamon.
With the advent of Roman rule, Aizanoi developed rapidly and experienced its most brilliant period, especially in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The city flourished through agriculture and trade, becoming an important trading center thanks to grain cultivation, as well as wine and wool production. The Zeus Temple, built in the 2nd century AD, became a significant indicator of Aizanoi’s religious and political identity. Constructed with a pseudodipteros plan, the temple was among the best-preserved Zeus temples in Anatolia.
From the 3rd century AD onwards, Aizanoi continued to maintain its importance as one of the major cities in Asia Minor under Roman rule. Its status as a bishopric center indicates that even during the Early Byzantine Period, Aizanoi still held an influential position both religiously and administratively. However, from the 7th century onwards, the city began to lose its former significance due to wars and economic decline.
In the Byzantine period, as Aizanoi began its decline, it entered a new phase after the Seljuk Turks conquered Anatolia following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. A Turkish tribe known as the Çavdar Tatars settled in the region in the 13th century and used the area around the Zeus Temple as a defensive center. During this period, scenes of battles, horsemen, and figures playing musical instruments were carved into the walls of the temple.
During the Ottoman Empire, Aizanoi was largely abandoned, and the city began to be known as Çavdarhisar. Although there were small village settlements in the area, the ancient remains were largely neglected.
An old engraving related to Aizanoi Ancient City (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Aizanoi was rediscovered by European travelers in 1824 and was examined in detail between 1830 and 1840. The excavations initiated in 1926 by the German Archaeological Institute, led by M. Schede and D. Krencker, brought to light many of the city's important structures. Comprehensive excavations began in 1970 with the permission of the Republic of Turkey, with intensive studies particularly focused on structures such as the Zeus Temple, the theater-stadium complex, and the Macellum.
In 2012, Aizanoi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and remains significant in terms of world cultural heritage with its yet-to-be-discovered structures and architecture.
Architecture
Aizanoi Ancient City is one of the important examples of Roman period city planning. In the city, there are structures with different functions such as a temple, theater, stadium, marketplace, baths, bridges, water structures, and necropolises. Archaeological excavations have revealed the development, purposes, and architectural features of these structures throughout history.
Zeus Temple
The Zeus Temple was discovered by European travelers in the 19th century. The temple was built in the early 2nd century AD and completed during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The materials used in the construction of the building were brought from the marble quarries around the city. Serving as the main sacred area of the city, the temple was a factor that strengthened Aizanoi’s position in the Roman world.
The Zeus Temple was designed in the Ionic order and with a pseudodipteros plan. The dimensions of the temple were set at 53 x 35 meters, and it was surrounded by an arrangement of 8 x 15 columns. The columns were constructed from marble blocks brought from the stone quarries around Aizanoi. The temple was built on a wide podium. Reliefs are present in the eastern and western pronaos; the western pronaos features a bust of the Goddess Cybele, and the eastern pronaos contains a bust of Zeus.
Beneath the original structure, an area supported by vaults was discovered. It is thought that this section was dedicated to the Phrygian goddess Meter Steunene and was used as a sacred area even before the Roman period. In this rock-carved space, there is a stone throne and altar pits. Inscriptions record decisions made during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian regarding the usage rights of the lands above the Zeus Temple.
The Theater-Stadium Complex
The theater-stadium complex located in Aizanoi Ancient City features an original architectural design from the Roman Period. Construction began in the mid-2nd century AD and was completed by the mid-3rd century AD. This complex, unparalleled in the ancient world, is remarkable for its integrated design of both a theater and a stadium. The theater section was used for performing arts and musical performances, while the stadium hosted sporting events and gladiator combats.
Theater (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Architecturally, the theater is designed in a semicircular plan with a capacity of 20,000 people. The seating is divided into three main sections in accordance with the cavea arrangement seen in Roman theaters. The stage building (scaenae frons) is adorned with marble reliefs and columned decorations.
The stadium was designed with a capacity for 13,500 people and features a sprawling oval plan. The seating was constructed from stone blocks, and the entrance gates were supported by arched structures. One side of the stage building opens to the theater, while the other opens to the stadium, ensuring the integration of both sections.
Stadium (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Excavations have revealed that a benefactor named M. Apuleius Eurykles made significant contributions to the construction of the theater-stadium complex. Although some parts of the structure have deteriorated over time, a large portion has survived to the present day. Archaeological excavations conducted since the 1980s have uncovered marble reliefs on the theater stage, inscriptions on the seating, and reliefs depicting gladiator combats in the stadium area. Ongoing work today is focused on the conservation and restoration of the structure.
Macellum (Trade Exchange)
The Macellum located in Aizanoi Ancient City holds an important position among the commercial structures of the Roman Period. Built in the second half of the 2nd century AD, it was used as a marketplace where food and valuable goods were sold. In the walls of the structure, there are inscriptions of the Price Edict issued by Roman Emperor Diocletian in AD 301. Since these inscriptions provide information about the economic order of the period, the Macellum is considered one of the oldest trading markets in the world.
Architecturally, the building has a circular plan and was constructed with stone and marble blocks. An open courtyard is located at its center, surrounded by colonnaded galleries. It has been determined that meat, grain, olive oil, wine, and valuable goods were sold in the marketplace. The decisions taken by Emperor Diocletian regarding price controls were aimed at combating inflation. The price list determined in accordance with these decisions was inscribed on the walls of the Macellum.
Excavations carried out since the 1970s have uncovered a large portion of the Macellum. The well-preserved inscriptions and architectural elements of the structure provide important information about the trade system of the Roman Period. Ongoing restoration work today aims to preserve the building for the future.
Macellum, Exchange Building (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Columned Streets and Agora
The columned streets and the agora found in Aizanoi Ancient City played an important role in the commercial and social life of the city. Built during the Roman Period, these areas formed the main transportation axes of the city and became centers of public activities. The agora was designed as a spacious square, surrounded by colonnaded galleries. The city’s residents shopped, held official meetings, and participated in social activities in this area.
The columned streets provided connections to the agora and other public buildings. Large stone blocks were used on the street pavements, with walkways lined on both sides by rows of columns. The colonnaded galleries were regarded among the prominent structures supported by the city’s elites, and various shops operated in this area. Archaeological excavations have uncovered remnants of shop fronts and inscriptions related to commercial transactions along the streets.
Excavations conducted today have revealed a large portion of the columned streets and the agora structure, and restoration work has been initiated in some sections. These areas, which provide important information about the urban planning of Aizanoi, contribute to the understanding of the urban fabric of a Roman Period city.
Columned Street (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Baths and Water Structures
In Aizanoi Ancient City, baths and water structures were built during the Roman Period to meet the city's social and hygiene needs. A large bath complex was constructed in the second half of the 3rd century AD, and its floor mosaics have been preserved to this day. The bath consists of sections such as the frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room), and caldarium (hot room). In the Early Christian Period, some parts of the bath began to be used as a bishopric center.
Various water structures were also built to meet the city's water needs. Using Roman engineering techniques, aqueducts, fountains, and canal systems carried water to different parts of the city. Dams and stone channels constructed over the Penkalas (Kocaçay) River ensured the regular flow of water. A large portion of these water structures has survived to the present day, and some sections have been uncovered through excavations. Archaeological studies indicate that these structures held an important place in urban life during the Roman Period.
Bath Mosaic (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Bridges
There are five bridges built during the Roman Period on the Penkalas (Kocaçay) River, which divides Aizanoi Ancient City in two. These bridges connected different parts of the city, ensuring the continuity of commercial and social life. To this day, only two of them have survived intact. The main bridge, dated to AD 157, stands out with its stone arch construction and is still in use.
During excavations, inscriptions and reliefs were found on some of the bridges. One of these inscriptions belongs to the main bridge, which was inaugurated in AD 157. This inscription indicates that the construction of the bridge was supported by M. Apuleius Eurykles. Built using the advanced techniques of Roman engineering, these structures were constructed with large ashlar stone blocks, and their durability has allowed them to exist for centuries.
Bridge (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
Necropolises (Cemetery Areas)
In Aizanoi Ancient City, necropolises spread across different areas provide significant data for understanding the burial traditions and social structure of the city during the Roman Period. In the necropolises, stone sarcophagus-type tombs, coffins, and tomb steles with inscriptions can be found. The tombstones uncovered during excavations contain information about the professions and social statuses of the deceased.
Some of the tombs have featured reliefs and decorations. Mythological scenes and depictions of the deceased are present on the coffins. The layout of the necropolises demonstrates that burial areas during the Roman Period were arranged according to specific rules. Inscriptions and tombstones found during excavations offer clues regarding the belief system of the Aizanoi people.
Amazon Sarcophagus
The Amazon Sarcophagus found in Aizanoi Ancient City is among the important funerary monuments from the Roman Period. On the surface of the sarcophagus, there are reliefs depicting the warrior Amazon women from Greek mythology. As the Amazons were defined as a warrior society, battle scenes, mounted warriors, and figures carrying shields are carved on the sarcophagus. The details in the reliefs indicate that an advanced technique in sculpture was used during that period.
It is believed that the Amazon Sarcophagus belonged to a person of high status. The battle scenes present in the decorations suggest that the deceased was associated with heroism and strength. Various inscriptions were found on the sarcophagus during archaeological excavations. These findings provide important information about the burial traditions and artistic perceptions in Aizanoi during the Roman Period.
Amazon Sarcophagus (Photo: T.C. Kütahya Governorship)
