Music chamber found in ancient city of Isos

HATAY - Cihan News Agency

The battle between the Macedonian king Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius is thought to have taken place took place near Isos.

A music chamber has been discovered in a 5,000 year-old ancient city in the eastern province of Hatay’s Erzin neighborhood. It is thought that the chamber, which dates back to the Roman era and which was built with rare “odeon” architecture, was once used for treatment.

Excavations have been continuing for eight years in the ancient city of Isos (Epiphane), which was a significant settlement in 545 B.C. The battle between the Macedonian king Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius took place in this region.

Isos is mentioned in history books as a trade city and was a multicultural city where the Roman, Byzantine, late Hittite, Persian and Ottoman empires all settled.

A 20-person excavation team, headed by the Hatay Museum archaeologist Ömer Çelik, unearthed some parts of a Roman road in the ancient city this year, revealing that shops at the time were reached through the northeast of the road. Excavations in this area revealed Odean architecture, as well as the music chamber that was discovered. Officials think sick people were treated in this chamber.

In addition, excavations in a hill unearthed an amphitheater from the Roman era. The seats of the ancient theater have been so far revealed and currently works are focusing on the theater stage.