Aizanoi

It is not bad, but we saw much more better antik centers in Turkey.nThe entry fee 2020 was low, but there was no working toilet / bathroom, just a scarry building out of the area.nBut they are making new gate, probably with toilets.nThe theatre Is not in the same area. There Is also hamam with some mosaic, but it was impossible to find it. There are no signs. We didn't find also signs to the theatre. But it loked that they are trying to rebuild the theatre now, because it was very destroyed.nnThe area is bad described - around and inside too.

Amazing place with a hidden floor under the ground. Definitely worth visiting if you’re around Kütahya

While the known history of Aizonai Ancient City at Kutahya Cavdarhisar District in inscribed on the Temporary List of World Heritage, UNESCO in 2012 dates back to 3 thousand years BC with ongoing excavations and the last coin found in the city in which the influence of culture Amazons and Phyrgians is especially felt belongs to 3-4th Century. On the other hand, the female figure on a horse and helmet on the coin (known as “epikteteis”) of Hellenistic Period dated to 2nd Century B.C. connotes the Amazons.nnThe city has been put under the reign of Roman Empire in 133 BC and experienced its most splendid period between 50-250 A.D. especially with its religious – economical identity. The city contains esthetic samples of structures of a developed city with its unique combined theater – stadion complex of a capacity of about 15.000 persons, streets and agoras confined by columns, dam structures, water ways, heroon, odeon and gates.nnAizonai Ancient City is a privileged (honor, investment priority, tax exemption, right of asylum, etc.) city which local principals granted “Neokoros” (temple guarding city) city status and which advantage they used well before Rome. Aizonai Neokoros which is contemporary of ancient cities like Ephesus, Pergamon, Side continued the same religious – economical influence in the early Byzantion Period by the title of episcopate center. After 7th Century, the magnificent city gradually lost its importance.nnFollowing 1071, equestrian Cavdar Tartars accompanying Seljuk Turks who started to conquer Anatolia possessed the city and used the deserted plain of the temple as a defense base. These last settlers who were very good horsemen and who give the city their name also drew their nomadic, equestrian , archer and instrument playing culture on the yet standing architectural blocks of the temple.nnAncient Temple: Aizonai Zeus (Jupiter) / Cybele Temple of double cella at Cavdarhisar Plateau which has a rare architectural form with its plan sample is one of the most paramount and extraordinary ancient temples still surviving in the world. The temple forms an integrity with its peristyles and agora structure older than these peristyles. Specific superstructure of the temple having a height of 9.30 m and central to city planning salutes the visitors even today with this superstructure rising over monolithic gigantic columns. There exists a Zeus relief on the front face and Cybele relief on the rear face of the gigantic acroter. Despite the recent interpretations there couldn’t be two cults in one temple, this extraordinary situation of deification has still a weight and validity.nnOn the other hand, Meter Steunene – Mother Goddess sanctuary to the south west of Aizonai supports too the basis of belief and philosophy of the region dating back to the Phyrgians with its rock throne on the rock cave processed in a circular plan, sacrifice pits for bulls offered to the temenos, and deep rock cave collapsed through earthquakes.nnAizonai Macellum: The producing and commercial structure of the city which has an agricultural potential attracts attention. Dated to the second half of 2nd Century A.D. the round structure, along the coast of river, called Macellum was an organized market place open in any day of the week where meat products, especially fresh and processed carp, goose meat, poultry, bakery products, grains, olive oil, garum sauce, and supplied expensive and luxury products such as rare vegetables and fruits were sold.

Really awesome. Crypt at the temple has fantastic natural light.

Worth visiting.