April 27 – Drive to Pamukkale, Aphrodisias and Laodikia

Another half day drive with a couple of big stops along the way.  We saw some marble quarries along the way…

and drove through an area called Çine, with a reservoir…

and interesting geological formations.

As usual we occasionally saw some countryside that warranted trying for a photo.  

The first stop was Aphrodisias, dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite.  The town was badly damaged during an earthquake in the 7^th century and gradually fell into decline.  A small village was eventually built on the site.  It was “rediscovered” by Europeans in the archaeologists in 18^th century.  There have been ongoing, extensive excavations since the early 20^th century.

Main features are the large theater,

tombs,

the Temple of the Emperors (the Sebasteion),

two agoras (only the south agora is excavated),

Hadrianic Baths,

the Council House,

and the Stadium.  Is one of the largest known at 890 feet long and 200 feet wide and could seat about 30,000 spectators.  It is one of the best-preserved structures of it’s kind in the world.

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More Aphrodisias
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There is also a very good museum here.  One hall featured the reliefs found on the Sebasteion.  These likely didn’t end up in the British Museum only because they weren’t found until the 20^th century.

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More Aphrodisias Museum
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There a gate called the Tetraphylon, with 16 pillars. 

Nearby was the gravesite of  Kenin Erim, an New York University Professor who spent much of his life’s work devoted to the site.

Next stop was Laodikeia.  

This site is associated with one of the Seven Churches of Revelations.  There is little remaining of the church.

It is unusual in that there are two theaters located here.  One is mainly covered with grass…

the second has been excavated and had some restoration done.

The site has a lot of the usual structures and ruins associated with Greek and Roman ancient cities.  This is the main street.

There were a lot of poppies growing in the ruins.  

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More Laodikia
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Our final stop was in Pamakkule to see the Cotton Castel.  We will be visiting this tomorrow but we could see it in the distance from Pamakkule...

and we stopped at the base on the way to our hotel.