Hierapolis

Hierapolis

Map of Denizli Province within Turkey

BLP: In Hierapolis Col. 4:13 we visit the Martyrium of the Apostle Philip where tradition says he was martyred during the persecutions ordered by Domitian. We visit the Gate of Domitian, the Arcadian Way, the 2nd century AD Theater, the Nymphaion, the Temple of Apollo, the Plutonium and Necropolis.

Why are the Pamukkale pools so healthy?

The thermal water is rich in minerals like sulfur and silica, known to have positive effects on skin health. Sulfur can help cleanse the skin and fight off conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. turquoise warm water

waysoftheworldblog.com:

Places to explore while visiting Hierapolis:
Hieropolis Theater
Antique Pool (Cleopatra’s Pool)
The Main Street & Gate of Domitian
The Necropolis
Apollo’s Temple
Devil’s Gate (Plutonian)

Martyrium of the Apostle Philip

Biblical Archaeology Society:

The excavation at Hierapolis is one f the most significant sites in Christian Turkey. They found the tomb of the martyred apostle Philip. He was crucified.

Wikipedia:

Following the resurrection of Jesus, Philip and his sister Mariamne together with Bartholomew preached in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria.

Gate of Domitian

Ritmeyer Archaeological Design:

The Gate of Domitian, a triple gate flanked by two round towers, is the main northern entryway to the ancient city of Hierapolis. It was erected in 83 AD. Domitian’s name was erased after his death in 96 AD because of his cruelty.

The Arcadian Way

This street is situated between the Harbour Baths and the Ephesus Great Theatre. Entering from the port, traders and sailors would first arrive in this street. So it was designed gorgeous with marble slabs and colonnades. The street was 530 meters long and 11 meters wide, and on both sides of the street there were shops and galleries, and gates in the form of monumental arches. There were four higher columns with the statues of four apostles on the top. It was one of the three lighted streets at that time along with Rome and Antioch. 50 streetlights lit up its colonnades.

2nd century AD Theatre

Whitman College:

Hierapolis Theatre History - The theatre was built in the snd century AD under the Roman Emperor Hadrian during a period of extensive rebuilding following a devastating earthquake in 60 AD. It was later renovated under Septimus Severus (193-211AD.

UNESCO:

Recurrent earthquakes brought disaster, and Hierapolis was finally abandoned after an Ad 1334 tremor.

The Nymphaion

Wikipedia:

The Nymphaeum is located inside the sacred area in front of the Apollo temple. It dates from the 2nd century AD. It was a shrine of the nymphs, a monumental fountain distributing water to the houses of the city via an ingenious network of pipes. The Nymphaeum was repaired in the 5th century during the Byzantine era.

The Temple of Apollo

Located on the main street between the theater and a sacred pool, this forty-by-sixty-foot temple was dedicated to the supposed god of light, Apollo. The entrance faces west and was approached by a broad flight of stairs.

The Plutonium

The Plutonion at Hierapolis or Pluto’s Gate was a plutonion in the ancient city of Hierapolis near Pamukkale in modern Turkey’s Denizli Province. Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld. “Gate to Hell.”

Necropolis

The tombs in the extensive necropolis of ancient Hierapolis, or city of the dead are known for their exquisite architecture and preserved state. The tombs are located just outside the ancient city walls and are spread over an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers. The tombs in the necropolis range in date from the Hellenistic period to the early Christian era.

Title image credit

More to come...

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