Hierapolis near the modern-day town of Pamukkale is an ancient Phrygian city in Turkey’s south-west. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Pamukkale is located in the valley of River Menderes in the inner Aegean region of Turkey. This region experiences a temperate climate for most part of the year. Pamukkale is also well-known for the carbonate minerals left by the waters of thermal springs.
It is believed that the Greco-Roman town of Hierapolis was established by Eumenes II of Pergamon in 190 BC. It became a sacred city with the main festival being Letoia. This festival was named after Goddess Leto who is considered as the Great Mother of the Gods by the locals.
One of the main attractions of ancient Hierapolis was the thermal spa established at the end of the 2nd century BC. This was done by the kings of Pergamon.
Remains of various Greek monuments including temples and baths have been found in the archaeological sites of Hierapolis. It also had an intricate canal system to bring thermal water to the villages and fields. This system even took water up to 70 km north-west to Alasehir and to the valley of the Menderes River in the west.
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