Hierapolis: Where Myth and History Are Nourished by Thermal Waters
UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Pamukkale since 1988
Nestled in the Aegean hinterland, a short drive from Denizli, lies the ruins of Hierapolis, a city that once flourished as an ancient spa and healing center. Established around the 2nd century BCE by Eumenes II, the Attalid king founding the city of Pergamon, Hierapolis is believed to be named in honor of Hiera, an Amazon warrior queen whose heroic death during the Trojan War inspired mythical tales that still resonate today. Alternatively, some trace the name’s origins to the words hiera, meaning "holy," and polis, meaning "city," suggesting that Hierapolis was seen as a sacred site from its earliest days.
Today, the ruins of Hierapolis reveal a city still largely intact, its temples and ancient theater beautifully restored and dramatically lit at night. The Roman bath of yesteryear now houses the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, where relics of the city's vibrant past are on full display.