Thermal Sacred Pool

Pamukkale is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The City of Hierapolis was established within the site of Pamukkale ("Cotton-Palace", in Turkish) probably circa 197–159 BC, and was named after Hiera, wife of Telephos, the founder of Pergamon. Circa 133 BC, the city was annexed to the Roman Empire. Circa 17 AD, Hierapolis was destroyed by an earthquake. The city was rebuilt circa 60 AD and enjoyed prosperity during the 2nd-3rd centuries AD and in Byzantine times it became the seat of a diocese. During the Roman Imperial period, Hierapolis was a health center, due to its thermal hot springs. Thousands of people attended in those days the natural pools which were more than fifteen. The thermal pool is located in the middle of the ruins of the Roman city of Hierapolis. The Antique Pool's current shape was shaped by an earthquake which occurred circa 17 AD. Architectural relics from that period can clearly be seen submerged under the pool's water. Remains of the main street, broken parts of colonnades and other debris from the surrounding structures, collapsed and sank into the pool, most likely due to the aforementioned earthquake, where they remained to this day.