The Roman Baths of Ankara

Because they were built on a mound that conceals even older remnants of a human settlement from the Phrygian period. The ruins of the Roman baths in Ankara are elevated around 2.5 meters above street level. The archaeological site includes the baths and the entire building complex, consisting of a colonnaded roadway, a Palastra (a location for physical exercises), and other yet-to-be-identified structures. In this article, we have gone deep exploring the Roman Baths of Ankara.

Historical Background

The Roman Baths are located on Çankırı Caddesi, on the West Side of the Street, about 400 meters from Ulus, between Ulus and Yıldrım Beyazıt squares. They are located on a 2.5-meter-high platform above street level.

Baths were reported to exist in ancient Ankara, according to historical records. The first bath relics were discovered during a construction project in 1931. The Palaestra (sports area) and bath complex are the two components of the Large Bath. Bath is about 140,00 x 180,00 m in size, with a Palastra on the north-east corner of 95,00 x 95,00 m. Large Bath is thought to have been built during the reign of Emperor Caracalla.

Visit the Open-Air Museum

Ankara Roman Bath Site, which measures around 65.000 m2, has been transformed into an Open-Air Museum thanks to renovations completed between 1997 and 2001.

More than 1000 different artifacts have been presented on this site, divided into broad themes such as "Steles, Inscriptions, and Architectural Fragments." Steles may be found on the south and west sides of Palastra; on the north side, inscribed blocks, portamentos, and water pipe items; on the east side, altars and other architectural remains; and in the middle, a coffin and lion statue can be found. The majority of the steles on display date from the Roman and Byzantine periods.