Hierapolis (Phrygia)
| ἹΙεράπολις | |
The main thoroughfare of Hierapolis
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 Shown within Turkey
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| Location | Pamukkale, Denizli Province, Turkey |
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| Region | Phrygia |
| Coordinates | 37°55′30″N 29°07′33″E / 37.92500°N 29.12583°ECoordinates: 37°55′30″N 29°07′33″E / 37.92500°N 29.12583°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | early 2nd century BC |
| Abandoned | 14th century (final occasion) |
| Periods | Roman Republican to High Medieval |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1887, 1957–2008 |
| Archaeologists | Carl Humann, Paolo Verzone |
| Official name | Hierapolis-Pamukkale |
| Type | Mixed |
| Criteria | iii, iv, vii |
| Designated | 1988 (12th session) |
| Reference no. | 485 |
| UNESCO Region | Europe and North America |
Hierapolis (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπολις, lit. "Holy City") was an ancient city located on hot springs in classical Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC, with many patrons retiring or dying there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, most famously that of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, which bears a relief depicting the earliest known example of a crank and rod mechanism.
The great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together. There are deep niches in the inner section, including the bath, library, and gymnasium.
Hierapolis is located in the Büyük Menderes (the classical Meander) valley adjacent to the modern Turkish cities of Pamukkale and Denizli. It is located in Turkey's inner Aegean region, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.
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. The Phrygians built a temple, probably in the first half of the 3rd century BC. This temple, originally used by the citizens of the nearby town of Laodicea, would later form the centre of Hierapolis.
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