Giant pool from ancient city comes to light

The ancient city of Aphrodisias, located in the western province of Aydın's Karacasu district, is home to a giant pool reflecting the magnificence of Roman-era cities that is set to be completely excavated by 2017. 

Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the city has drawn attention for its well-preserved monumental structures. 

Excavations in the city first started in 1904 by foreign archaeologists and were headed by Professor Kenan Erim between 1961 and 1990. Since Erim's death, Oxford University professor Roland R.R. Smith has been heading the works in Aphrodisias.

The pool, one of the most important architectural elements in the ancient city, is the first one to be unearthed together with a surrounding park and reveals important data about social life in Roman cities 2,100 years ago. 

Smith said Aphrodisias was one of most important archaeological discoveries in the world and that many artifacts had been unearthed during excavations so far. 

He said the pool was partially excavated for the first time in 1980 by Erim and that works had been continuing for the last five years to unearth it completely.

Excavations on the pool are nearing completion, Smith said, noting that the structure dates back to the first century B.C. and was giant when compared to the size of the city. 

"This is a 1.70-meter-long, 30-meter-wide and 1-meter-deep decorative pool. It was made big enough to show the power of the city. Actually, Aphrodisias was not that a big city; its population was low, but works were made to turn it into a metropolis. Roman-era cities were competing against each other in architectural sense. This is why this giant pool was made," the scholar said. 

Reflecting life of the era

The...