Pamukkale

Geology

Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by mineral water from the hot springs. In this area, there are 17 hot springs with temperatures ranging from 35 C to 100 C. The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 m to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to long covering an expanse of 24 m to 30 m. 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 soft gel which eventually crystallizes into travertine.

File:Pamukkale_32.jpg|Travertine terrace formations File:Pamukkale_2_4_Commons.jpg|Travertine terraces at a hot spring at Pamukkale File:TR Pamukkale White Terraces asv2020-02 img16.jpg|White Terraces (natural travertine formations and hot pools) in Pamukkale

History

There are only a few historical facts known about the origin of the city. No traces of the presence of Hittites or Persians have been found.

Iron Age

Phrygian period

The Phrygians built a temple, probably in the first half of the 7th century BC. This temple, originally used by the citizens of the nearby town of Laodicea, would later form the centre of Hierapolis.

Classical Age

Hellenistic period

Hierapolis was founded as a thermal spa early in the 2nd century BC within the sphere of the Seleucid Empire. Antiochus the Great sent 2,000 Jewish families to Lydia and Phrygia from Babylon and Mesopotamia, later joined by more from Judea. The Jewish congregation grew in Hierapolis and has been estimated as high as 50,000 in 62 BC. Hierapolis became a healing centre where doctors 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 name Hieropolis. It remains unclear whether this name referred to the original temple (ἱερόν, hieron) or honoured Hiera, the wife of Telephus, son of Heracles and the Mysian princess Auge. This name eventually changed into Hierapolis ("holy city").

Roman period

In 133 BC, when Attalus III died, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Hierapolis thus became part of the Roman province of Asia. In AD 17, during the rule of Emperor Tiberius, a major earthquake destroyed the city.

Through the influence of the Christian Apostle Paul, a church was founded here while he was at Ephesus. The Christian Apostle Philip spent the last years of his life here. The town's Martyrium was alleged to have been built upon the spot where Philip was crucified in AD 80. His daughters were also said to have acted as prophetesses in the region. During the 4th century, the Christians filled Pluto's Gate (a ploutonion) 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, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian raised the bishop 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.

Museum

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 at Beycesultan Hüyük that includes examples of Bronze Age craft. Artifacts from the Caria, Pisidia and Lydia regions are also on display. The museum's exhibition space consists of three halls 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.

Tourism and conservation

Pamukkale is one of the most visited natural sites in Turkey, attracting more than two million visitors annually. Tourists can bathe in designated thermal pools, including the famous Cleopatra’s Pool, where ancient marble columns lie submerged. To protect the delicate travertine terraces, UNESCO and local authorities regulate the water flow and periodically close certain sections, allowing the formations to regenerate naturally. These efforts aim to preserve Pamukkale’s unique landscape for future generations while supporting the local economy through sustainable tourism.

World Heritage Site

Pamukkale is recognized as a World Heritage Site together with Hierapolis. Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988.{{cite web |access-date=2007-06-23

Sister cities

The city of Pamukkale has two sister cities:

• Hungary Eger, Hungary
• United States Las Vegas, United States

Similar places

These locations are also well known for their travertine formations:

• Badab-e Surt in Iran
• Mammoth Hot Springs in the United States
• Pink and White Terraces in New Zealand
• Hierve el Agua in Mexico
• Bagni San Filippo in Siena, Italy
• Baishuitai in China
• Tatev in Armenia
• Terme di Saturnia in Italy
• Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area in Sichuan, China
• Kaklik Cave in Denizli, Turkey

Notes

References

1. (1980). "Natural Wonders of the World". Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
2. Padfield.com. "[http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/laodicea.pdf Jewish Congregation in Hierapolis]".
3. Miller, Kevin M.. (July 1985). "Apollo Lairbenos". Numen.
4. {{bibleverse. Colossians. 4:13.
5. Papias. [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/papias.html Early Christian Writings] {{webarchive. link. (2015-09-24 .)
6. "NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library".
7. "NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library".
8. RAMSAY, Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia (Oxford, 1895–1897)
9. "Pamukkale Official Tourism Site".
10. (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.
11. (December 2016). "Te Tarata and Te Otukapuarangi: Reverse engineering Hochstetter's Lake Rotomahana Survey to map the Pink and White Terrace locations". Journal of New Zealand Studies.
12. Hasnain I, Iqra A. "Hierve el Agua {{!}} A flowing Cascade".