Archeologists unearth ancient memorial tomb in Aizanoi

KÜTAHYA

Archeologists have unearthed remains of the memorial tomb of Azan, founder of the ancient city of Aizanoi in western Turkey 

Located in the western province of Kütahya’s Çavdarhisar district, Aizanoi is believed to have taken its name from Azan.

Excavations since 2011 have unearthed many historical links inside and around the ancient city, said Zerrin Erdinç, deputy head of the excavation team, in an interview with the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Archaeologists maintain that the area, added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012, has revealed settlements dating as far back as 3000 B.C. “During our previous researches, we predicted that there could be a tomb here. We were carrying out excavations around agoras or ancient city centers. We have found traces of a monumental tomb,” said Erdinç.

She said the excavations were expanded when steps and blocks usually kept around tombs were found. Mostly the tomb of a founder of a city is placed in agoras.

“The location and nature of the tomb that we call ‘heroon’, makes us believe that it belongs to Azan, the founder of the city,” she said. A “heroon” is a tomb or a temple in an agora, surrounded by galleries.

Erdinç, who is also an academic at Dumlupınar University in Kütahya, said that excavators also uncovered a route from Aizanoi’s agora or city center leading to the Temple of Zeus.

“After passing through the agora, there is a route that leads to the Temple of Zeus through a colossal gate,” she said.

The Temple of Zeus was the first of the magnificent structures built in Aizanoi’s city center on the west bank of the Penkalas river (now known as Kocaçay).

Erdinc said that excavations in the agora, started for the first time this year, led to the discovery of important ancient historical links.

She said the area will attract more tourists once excavations are complete.

Located some 57 kilometers away from the city center, the ancient city of Aizanoi had attained a place as a religious center under the Roman Empire in 133 B.C. But, it lost its importance during the early Byzantine period.
The flat area around the Temple of Zeus was transformed into a fortress in the medieval period and was used as a base by the Cavdar Tatars in the 13th century. It was discovered by European travelers in 1824.

Excavations were carried out by the German Archaeological Institute between 1970 and 2011, unearthing structures, including the Temple of Zeus, a 20,000-person capacity theater, 13,500-person capacity stadium and two baths.