Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Tralleis in western Türkiye have uncovered a 2,000-year-old Roman-era pool within the Hamam Gymnasium complex. The discovery follows the recent unearthing of a well-preserved floor mosaic depicting the mythological sea creature hippocampus, shedding new light on the site’s history as an ancient center of science and education.
Unearthing a 2,000-Year-Old Pool in the Frigidarium
Excavations in the ancient city of Tralleis, located in southwestern Türkiye’s Aydin province, have revealed a massive ancient pool measuring approximately 37 meters long and 12 meters wide. The structure was discovered inside the frigidarium—the cold room—of the Hamam Gymnasium complex as part of the country’s Legacy for the Future project at the site.
The pool features a capacity to hold around 300 people and is believed to have served young individuals receiving training at the gymnasium. Frigidariums in Roman baths typically occupied the northern end of the complex, functioning as the second-to-last stage of bathing designed to close pores, invigorate the body, and tighten skin before bathers covered themselves in oil.
The fieldwork is led by Professor Dr. Murat Cekilmez of Aydin Adnan Menderes University, in collaboration with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry and the Turkish Cultural Heritage and Museums general-directorate. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery in a public post on social media.
Hidden Hippocampus Mosaic Discovered Beneath Later Structures
Weeks prior to the pool announcement, excavations directed by Cekilmez in the northern section of the bath-gymnasium complex uncovered a nearly 2,000-year-old hall featuring a well-preserved floor mosaic depicting a hippocampus, a mythical sea creature associated with the deity Poseidon.
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The discovery came as a surprise to researchers who initially believed the area contained only a Byzantine-era workshop. As digging progressed, the team realized an intact Roman floor lay directly beneath the later architecture.
“During the excavations, we found a mosaic depicting a hippocampus, the sacred animal associated with Poseidon. This indicates that the hall was actively used during the Roman Imperial period.”
The artwork provides fresh information regarding Roman mythology and daily life in the ancient settlement. Researchers working on the site plan to continue conservation work before eventually opening the newly revealed sections to visitors.
Tralleis as an Ancient Center of Science and Learning
Beyond its architectural features, the bath-gymnasium complex functioned as an important educational institution. Cekilmez noted that the structure housed spaces dedicated to schooling, pointing to the high value placed on physical and intellectual development in antiquity.
“We also believe this was a centre of science because the structure contains spaces related to schooling. Physical education was also highly valued here. The gymnasium we see today trained many scholars, including doctors and engineers. Tralleis was known in antiquity as a place that produced writers and scientists, and our excavations are bringing this heritage back to light.”
Historically, Tralleis changed hands numerous times. According to ancient accounts by the Greek geographer Strabo, the city was founded by Argives and Trallians before falling to the Persians and later surrendering to Alexander the Great in 334 BCE. Control shifted through Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Pergamon, and Rome, followed by Christianization and a late 11th-century reconquest by the Byzantine Empire. One of the city’s most prominent historical figures was Anthemius of Tralleis, who served as the architect of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
Preserving Roman Heritage Across the Region
The ongoing finds in western Türkiye align with broader archaeological interest in Roman bath architecture and mosaic preservation across the Mediterranean. Excavations at sites such as the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily have similarly highlighted how cold rooms and gymnasiums utilized elaborate floor decoration to define aristocratic and civic spaces, with recurring motifs such as thong sandals and mythological figures appearing in baths across the ancient world.
At Tralleis, the combination of pool structures, educational facilities, and intact mosaic flooring offers a comprehensive look at provincial Roman urban life. As restoration efforts proceed under the Ministry’s initiative, researchers aim to open the newly uncovered section to visitors in the future.
