People exchange products in Roman Bazaar at ancient city

KÜTAHYA - Anatolia News Agency

Farmers, wearing oman style clothing, behaved like the ancient sellers. AA photo

In a “Roman bazaar” recently set up in the ancient city of Aizanoi, people bartered their products as in ancient ages. Those who brought three eggs were able to take a watermelon.

Pamukkale University member Assistant Professor Elif Özer is heading the excavations in Aizanoi, located in the Çavdarhisar district, 57 kilometers away from the Aegean province of Kütahya. The bazaar was set up on June 22 in order to promote the region and the excavations.

Farmers in the region, who were wearing clothes in the Roman style, behaved like the sellers of that period in the bazaar. They exchanged their products like barnyard fowls, as well as cereals, beets, potatoes produced in the region.

Çavdarhisar Mayor Halil Başer said Aizanoi was home to structures like the world’s best-preserved temple, the Zeus Temple, the world’s first stock exchange building, stadium, theater, bath and street with columns. He said they were working hard to promote the ancient city. “We set up the Roman Bazaar as part of these works. We hope that interest in the city will increase thanks to these efforts.”

The ancient city of Aizanoi is one of the significant places bearing the legacy of Anatolian history. It is regarded as Turkey’s second Ephesus, a popular ancient tourist spot in İzmir’s Selçuk district.

The second excavation works season started on May 17, and will continue throughout the rest of the year. The doors of the ancient city, which dates back to 3,000 BC, will be opened to visitors once the excavation works have been completed.