#hierapolis

[bilgeyim]

Bayram hengâmesinden sonra kız kıza takılmak ve saatlerce kitap okumak...

[wedgeantill]

ANCIENT CITIES OF TURKEY by Mehmet Koray Kose

[ashotasfireandasdeepastheocean1]

Beauty of Nature ♡ on the fields of Hierapolis

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[sandros-travel-blog]

Cleopatra’s Pool, Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Turkey

[screaminghigh-posts]

[kyndaris]

Hot Airing over Antiquity

Despite our chances of soaring over the Cappadocia region in hot-air balloons being dashed by the poor weather, we still had one last opportunity in Pamukkale. It might not have caverns and deep gullies, but it was still impressive to hover over the ‘Cotton Castle’ in all its limestone glory. And also take in the ancient city of Hierapolis via air.

Nothing screams adventure more than looking upon an ancient amphitheatre from above. Or, you know, running the risk of dropping your phone and losing all evidence of your overseas trip. But, I hear you, dear reader, say, it’s all about the experience, right?

Wrong! Here in the internet age, if there are no pictures, it’s doubtful it even happened. And even WITH photographic proof, editing software makes it easy to question EVERYTHING. Coupled with the fact that I hate taking pictures of myself? Why, it could be easily claimed that I stole all my photos from Google.

I didn’t, of course (what kind of travel blogger would do that), but it’s something easy that detractors can claim. Not that I have any detractors. My little corner on the internet is rarely frequented and when it is, it’s mostly by people I already know in real life. Which is exactly how I like it!

Regardless, the trip up in the air was quite smooth. We were up in the air and I didn’t even feel a thing. Best of all, we didn’t crash land. Nor did we become a ball of flame that hurtled to the ground in a fiery explosion. I might not have liked being bombarded by fossil fuel natural gas every time the pilot fired up...well, the fire...but I am thankful for getting an opportunity to take to the skies and look down at all the unworthy ants crawling down beneath me.

Delusions of grandeur, thy name is Kyndaris!

Once we landed, we packed hurriedly into the minivan and headed straight back to our hotel. And it was here that I bid a silent farewell to my Malaysian ballooning companions. I might not have gotten any of their names but I did overhear most of their conversations as they called family and friends while riding up in the balloon. And while I was very tempted to make my known in at least half of their calls, I resisted the urge.

So kind of me! So magnanimous!

All right. I think that’s enough self-aggrandising from me. Back to detailing my actual exploits while on holiday.

After returning to hotel, I went back to the room that I shared with Popo and readied to luggage to bring down to the coach. Then it as off to actually explore Hierapolis by foot. Or, more technically, as a chauffeur for Popo and her friend as I drove around on a modified moped.

The name, Hierapolis, is Greek in nature and according to the information board that I took at the site, means ‘Sacred City.’ It was presumably founded by one of the successors of Alexander the Great. In 188BC, it was passed into the hands of the Kings of Pergamon before becoming one of the wealthiest cities during Roman times. At the sight, there was plenty to see including a ruined temple of Apollo and a statue dedicated to Pluto, or Hades. I only recognised him because of the three-headed guardian to the Underworld, Cerberus, that stood at his side.

The city also featured many iconic Roman buildings including baths, gymnasium and theatre. I certainly knew that my 17-18 year old self would have been leaping for joy if I’d visited then, giving my interest in Ancient History and, in particular, the Flavian period of the Emperors.

Young children might be able to tell me in excruciating detail about their favourite dinosaurs. I will respond with my own rant upon my supposed subject of expertise - the Julio-Claudian emperors and the Flavian dynasty, which followed after Nero and the Year of Four Emperors.

History aside, it ought to be known that despite being the Sacred City of antiquity, Hierapolis was abandoned following an earthquake in about 616 AD that left only a few crumbling buildings in its aftermath. Despite this, there are signs of Seljuk presence in the ruins. Which would indicate that people had still frequented the site up until 400 years after the devastating quake.

But because of that, the city was almost pastoral in appearance with swaths of green covering the ruins. What made Hierapolis so special for us, though, was the ‘Cotton Castle’ that the city was built atop on. Layered all in white, the city was favoured with warm thermal waters that bubbled to the surface and which were rich in minerals. Over the years, it had covered the cliff tops in a layer of white limestone. And even in this modern age, those thermal waters continue to gurgle, which Popo got to enjoy by dipping her toes in.

There was also a swimming pool with sunken columns at the city that visitors could pay to enter.

Talk about taking advantage of what mother nature has given you! I however, simply enjoyed admiring the scenes of Europeans floating in the warm waters before inspecting the adjacent museum where displays of old pottery and statues could be seen. There were even carved reliefs depicting the coronation of Septimius Severus, a Roman Emperor, by the Goddess Nike and one that saw Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine and Debaurchery, partying hard with nymphs, centaurs, satyrs, the cherubic Eros and Pan.

After drinking in our fill of the city, we had a quick lunch in what felt like a communal cafeteria that stunk of oil before heading back on the road. This time we were headed westward to the Aegean Sea! Kusadasi, here we come!

[heavenskiriot]

Pamukkale II | Türkiye 

Tumblr | Instagram | Society6

[little-eccedentesiast]

[phootoom]

Plutonium (Gate to Hell) in Hierapolis (Pamukkale) Known as Pluto's Gate. . .. … Ploutonion in Greek, Plutonium in Latin. The cave was celebrated as the portal to the underworld in Greco-Roman mythology and tradition. . .. … #Denizli #Turkey #Türkiye #Pamukkale #Hierapolis #Plutonion #Ploutonion #Plutosgate #plutonium #gatetohell #archeology #architecture #ancient #cehennemkapısı #cehennemkapisi #instaweb #instadaily #instagood #statigram #webstagram #likeforlikes #like4follow #mtakshots (Hierapolis Pamukkale) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck5kC8PNg8z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[obbas]

Hierapolis

[bilgeyim]

Köpke teyzesiyimm onu tüm gün gezdirdim ve bezdirdim

[buraksansal]

The northern gate of #Hierapolis was built during the reign of #Domitian in the 1st century AD. This monumental gateway was actually erected by Julius Frontinus, who was proconsul of the #Roman province of Asia in 82 and 83 AD, and dedicated to the emperor. The #gate has two round towers and three portals.  More information on AllAboutTurkey.com (Hierapolis Pamukkale) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChJvdDjLyea/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ukdamo]

Today’s Flickr photo with the most hits: the Roman Baths Museum at Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Turkey

[ucanus]

Antalya Exclusive Daily Pamukkale & Hierapolis Tour - U CAN TRAVEL

[the-memphista]

Hierapolis, Turkey

[preacherpollard]

Lukewarm Christians

Carl Pollard This past week we had some miserable cold days here in Kentucky. In fact, with windchill just the other night I saw negative 10 on the thermometer! There is such a huge contrast between summer and winter. The world goes from green to brown. Trees go from grown out to bare. And the temperature goes from hot to cold. Those are two very different things, hot and cold. But if you mix…