Pamukkale, (Turkish pronunciation:[pa'muk̚kale]) meaning "cotton castle" inTurkish, is a natural site inDenizli Province in southwesternTurkey. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral left by the flowing ofthermal spring water.[1][2] It is located in Turkey's InnerAegean region, in theRiver Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.
The ancient Greek city ofHierapolis was built on top of thetravertine formation which is in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town ofDenizli, 20 km away. This area has been drawing visitors to its thermal springs since the time ofclassical antiquity.[1] The Turkish name refers to the surface of the shimmering, snow-white limestone, shaped over millennia by calcite-rich springs.[2] Dripping slowly down the mountainside, mineral-rich waters collect in and cascade down the mineral terraces, into pools below.
Panoramic view of travertine terraces at PamukkalePamukkale sinter terraces
Pamukkale's terraces are made oftravertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by mineral water from the hot springs.[1] In this area, there are 17hot springs with temperatures ranging from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 metres (1,050 ft) to the head of the travertine terraces and depositscalcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70 metres (200 to 230 ft) long covering an expanse of 24 metres (79 ft) to 30 metres (98 ft). When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface,carbon dioxide de-gasses from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a softgel which eventually crystallizes into travertine.
White Terraces (natural travertine formations and hot pools) in Pamukkale
There are only a few historical facts known about the origin of the city. No traces of the presence ofHittites orPersians have been found. ThePhrygians built a temple, probably in the first half of the 7th century BC. This temple, originally used by the citizens of the nearby town ofLaodicea, would later form the centre ofHierapolis.
Colonnaded street in Laodicea on the Lycus.Archaeological site of Hierapolis in Pamukkale, Turkey. The photo shows the Frontinus (or Domitian) Gate at Frontinus Street.Pools inside the archeological site
Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the 2nd century BC within the sphere of theSeleucid Empire.Antiochus the Great sent 2,000Jewish families toLydia andPhrygia fromBabylon andMesopotamia, later joined by more fromJudea. The Jewish congregation grew in Hierapolis and has been estimated as high as 50,000 in 62 BC.[3] Hierapolis became a healing centre wheredoctors used the thermal springs as a treatment for their patients. The city began minting bronze coins in the 2nd century BC. These coins give the nameHieropolis. It remains unclear whether this name referred to the original temple (ἱερόν,hieron) or honouredHiera, the wife ofTelephus, son ofHeracles and the Mysian princessAuge. This name eventually changed into Hierapolis ("holy city").[4] In 133 BC, whenAttalus III died, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Hierapolis thus became part of the Roman province ofAsia. In AD 17, during the rule of EmperorTiberius, amajor earthquake destroyed the city.
Through the influence of the Christian ApostlePaul, a church was founded here while he was atEphesus.[5] The Christian ApostlePhilip spent the last years of his life here.[6] The town's Martyrium was alleged to have been built upon the spot where Philip wascrucified in AD 80. His daughters were also said to have acted as prophetesses in the region.[7][8] During the 4th century, the Christians filledPluto's Gate (aploutonion) with stones, suggesting that Christianity had become the dominant religion and had begun displacing other faiths in the area. Originally a see of Phrygia Pacatiana,[9] theByzantine EmperorJustinian raised thebishop of Hierapolis to the rank of metropolitan in 531. The Roman baths were transformed to a Christian basilica. During the Byzantine period, the city continued to flourish and also remained an important centre for Christianity.
The museum contains historical artifacts from Hierapolis, as well as those from Laodiceia,Colossae,Tripolis,Attuda and other towns of the Lycos (Çürüksu) valley. The museum also has a section devoted to artifacts found atBeycesultan Hüyük that includes examples of Bronze Age craft. Artifacts from theCaria,Pisidia and Lydia regions are also on display. The museum's exhibition space consists of three halls[clarification needed] of the vaulted Hierapolis Bath buildings and the open-air areas in the eastern side which are known to have been used as the library and gymnasium. The artifacts in open exhibition space are mostly marble and stone.
Pamukkale is recognized as aWorld Heritage Site together with Hierapolis. Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988.[2] It is atourist attraction because of this status and its natural beauty.
^abcScheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980).Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 286.ISBN978-0-89577-087-5.
^RAMSAY, Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia (Oxford, 1895–1897)
^Bunn, Rex; Nolden, Sascha (2017-06-07). "Forensic cartography with Hochstetter's 1859 Pink and White Terraces survey: Te Otukapuarangi and Te Tarata".Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.48:39–56.doi:10.1080/03036758.2017.1329748.ISSN0303-6758.S2CID134907436.
