Aphrodisias Ancient City Added to PAU's Excavations

The launch meeting organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at the Ancient City of Aphrodisias in Karacasu, Aydın started with opening speeches. After the speeches, the promotional video titled "Legacy to the Future: Aphrodisias" was shown. The program was followed by the addresses of the Minister of Culture and Tourism M. Nuri Ersoy and then the closing of the program.

Minister Ersoy: "The people of Aphrodisias introduced themselves to the Roman world with their mastery in the art of sculpture, and we will introduce their heritage to the whole world with the conservation works we will carry out."

Speaking at the Aphrodisias Ancient City Promotion Meeting, Minister Ersoy said: "The people of Aphrodisias introduced themselves to the Roman world with their mastery in the art of sculpture, and we will introduce their heritage to the whole world with the protection works we will carry out." Stating that coordinators consisting of Turkish scientists were assigned to ancient cities with foreign excavation heads, Ersoy shared the information that Prof. Dr. Bahadır Duman, who is also the Head of Tripolis Ancient City Excavation, was assigned for Aphrodisias. Minister Ersoy continued his speech as follows: "In Aphrodisias, in addition to the city park and the pool, we are starting conservation work on the Tetrapilon, one of the most magnificent structures, and excavation and restoration work on the Tetrastoon. In ancient times, the basilica in Aphrodisias was the largest indoor building in the city. 

With a new project focusing on the façade of the building, we completed the work to raise the massive entrance columns in 2023 and exhibited Diocletian's 'ceiling price edict' on the façade of the building. Now, with the new project we are preparing, we will excavate the remaining part of the building, complete the conservation of the mosaics and raise the columns to their feet, making the building easier for visitors to perceive. We will excavate the gymnasium, which was excavated about 120 years ago and remained under the ground again in the intervening time, and we will reveal the structure again and create an alternative to the visitor route." Emphasizing that they will also open the bath rooms to visitors within the scope of the project, Ersoy stated that they will reveal another new structure in Aphrodisias with the excavations to be carried out in the Agora and make the city walls visible."

Rector Kutluhan: "The effectiveness and competence of Pamukkale University in the excavations of our region is evident."

Prof. Dr. Bahadır Duman, Deputy Director of the Institute of Archaeology of PAU and Head of the Excavation of the Ancient City of Tripolis, was appointed as Aphrodisias Excavation Coordinator; Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kutluhan, who conveyed his thoughts on the Launch Meeting of the Excavation of the Ancient City of Aphrodisias, stated the following: "Aphrodisias Excavation coordinatorship will be handed over to Bahadır Hoca today and it will be launched today. Pamukkale University's strong adventure in the field of archaeology continues in Aydın. As you know, Prof. Dr. Bilal Söğüt is working in Muğla Strotonikeia, Prof. Dr. Celal Şimşek is working in Denizli Laodikeia and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Taşkıran is working in Antalya Sillyon. The effectiveness and competence of Pamukkale University in the excavations of our region is obvious. I firmly believe that Aphrodisias will be offered to the service of humanity with faster excavations with its new coordinator. I wish Bahadır Hoca success in advance."