Blaundos Ancient City

Blaundos Ancient City, located 40 kilometers from the provincial center, on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by deep valleys, belongs to the district of Ulubey and is situated northeast of the village of Sülümenli. This natural defensive feature has resulted in the city’s entrance being accessible only through a single towered gate on the northern side. The ancient city is situated in the region of Lydia, very close to the border of Phrygia.

Blaundos Ancient City (Culture Portal)

History

Blaundos was founded in the 3rd century BC by settlers from Macedonia following the campaigns of Alexander the Great in Anatolia. The city’s name derives from the local population referring to themselves as “Macedonian Blaundos.” After its foundation, the city came successively under the rule of the Kingdom of Pergamon and the Roman Empire, maintaining its strategic and military importance throughout these periods. After coming under Roman control in 189 BC, Blaundos became a significant settlement during the Roman era and later, during the Byzantine period, it was attached to the Episcopate of Sebaste, assuming a religious center role.

Archaeological Remains and Structures

The remains preserved from the city are rich and varied. The main structures in the city include:

• Theatre: Located on the southern slope of the city, outside the city walls, the stage area is completely destroyed, but part of the seating rows still remain standing.
• Stadium: This structure, featuring seating tiers on only one side, is one of the rare sports venues in Blaundos.
• Temples: In the city center stands a temple built in the Ionic order, and another temple believed to have been dedicated to the Roman Emperor Claudius. Outside the city, remains of a second Ionic temple have been identified.
• Aqueducts: Of the approximately 14 aqueducts thought to have existed, only one has survived to the present day. These structures were likely built for water transportation.
• City Walls and Entrance Gate: The northern city walls, dating to the Hellenistic period, feature a distinctive arched entrance gate.
• Administrative Buildings and Mint: These formed the economic and administrative centers of the city.
• Tomb Structures (Necropolises): The tombs are divided into two main areas: tumulus tombs in the north and rock-cut tombs in the eastern valley. These tombs typically feature vaulted chambers with niches and fixed sarcophagi, and their interior surfaces are decorated with colorful (red, blue, green) animal and plant motifs.

Blaundos Ancient City (Culture Portal)

Excavation Projects

Since 2018, regular archaeological excavations have been conducted in the ancient city through a collaboration between the Uşak Museum and the Department of Archaeology at Uşak University. These efforts aim to uncover the city’s historical fabric and enhance the region’s cultural tourism potential.

Archaeological Significance and Conservation Status

Blaundos Ancient City is officially registered as a first-degree archaeological site and holds great importance from both archaeological and architectural perspectives. It preserves clear traces of the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, particularly through its natural geographical defenses, urban planning, structural diversity, and well-preserved tomb complexes.

Discovery and Inscriptions

The name of the ancient city was definitively identified in 1845 by the researcher William Hamilton, who discovered an inscription in the region bearing the text “Blaundeon Makedonon” (Macedonians of Blaundos). This inscription provides important clues regarding the city’s Macedonian origins and its founding process.