Türkiye’s timeless treasures restored with ‘Heritage for the Future’ project

Türkiye’s ancient cities are undergoing a remarkable transformation as part of the “Heritage for the Future Project.” Among these revitalized historical gems are Stratonikeia and Teos, two ancient cities that offer a rich tapestry of history from different eras.

With extensive restoration efforts underway, these sites are being brought back to life, allowing visitors to experience their grandeur and cultural significance.

Stratonikeia’s 2,200-year-old council hall regains its former glory

In the heart of Mugla’s Yatagan district, the ancient city of Stratonikeia, known as the “city of gladiators,” is witnessing a remarkable revival. As part of the “Heritage for the Future Project,” extensive restoration efforts are breathing new life into the city’s 2,200-year-old council hall, aiming to restore its former splendor.

Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List, Stratonikeia is one of the world’s largest marble cities, bearing traces of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Beylik, Ottoman, and Republican eras.

A legacy etched in stone

Professor Bilal Sogut, head of the Stratonikeia and Lagina Excavation Team, highlighted the continuous excavation and restoration efforts carried out year-round. According to Sogut, the restoration project is crucial as the council hall holds inscriptions from different historical periods, including a calendar created by the ancient philosopher Menippos and a comprehensive list of goods and services along with their ceiling prices from the Roman period.

“The council hall is significant not only as a political structure but also as a historical archive featuring inscriptions from both the ancient and Ottoman periods,” said Sogut.

The team has completed the steps in the infrastructure sections and fully restored an 8.85-meter-long column. The restoration also reinstated the original grandeur of the two entrance gates to the hall, providing visitors with a glimpse of its past magnificence.

Bringing history to life for visitors

One of the key goals of the project is to enable visitors to experience the site as it was in antiquity. “Visitors will now be able to sit on the original seating rows where ancient council members once gathered and appreciate the structure’s scale,” Sogut noted.

In addition to restoration, excavation efforts have unearthed crucial architectural elements. The southern section of the council hall has revealed portico arrangements, early walls, and Hellenistic-era constructions.

Sogut emphasized the hall’s role as evidence of Stratonikeia’s status as a city-state in antiquity, with inscriptions in Latin, Greek, and Ottoman Turkish preserved on its walls.

Teos: Reviving the city of ancient artists

Further north in Izmir’s Seferihisar district, the ancient city of Teos is also undergoing a transformation. Home to the renowned Dionysos Temple, Teos was a major cultural hub for poets, actors, and musicians in antiquity. Under the “Heritage for the Future Project,” restoration efforts are bringing back the grandeur of this historic site.

The rebirth of Dionysos Temple

Excavation leader Professor Musa Kadioglu of Ankara University’s Department of Archaeology shared insights into the ongoing restoration. The team is focused on reassembling the towering columns that once surrounded the temple, a masterpiece attributed to the Hellenistic-era architect Hermogenes.

“This is the largest Dionysos Temple in Turkiye, and we aim to enhance its visibility and appeal by partially restoring its iconic columns,” Kadioglu stated.

Currently, 10 of the temple’s 26 columns are being reassembled to offer visitors a three-dimensional perspective of its original design.

An artistic legacy spanning millennia

Dating back to 1,000 B.C., Teos was one of the 12 Ionian cities and a thriving port. Archaeological findings, including ceramics, suggest continuous habitation for over 3,000 years.

The city was also home to the Dionysos Artists’ Guild, an ancient association of performers and playwrights. A notable inscription discovered in Teos details how a benefactor named Timogenes was honored for funding theatrical productions.

The mystery of Teos’ black marble

Teos is also famed for its unique black marble, which gained prominence in the Roman era. In the 1st century B.C., Roman General Lucullus discovered marble quarries in what is now the Karagol region, exporting the prized stone to Rome. Known as “Lucullus marble” or “Africano marble,” its distinctive dark hue adorned structures in over 450 ancient cities.

As excavation and restoration efforts continue, Teos is experiencing a surge in visitors. According to Kadioglu, the number of tourists has steadily increased, with 70,000 people visiting the site in 2024 alone.

The restoration of the Temple of Dionysos, along with the excavation of the Temple of Goddess Roma and Augustus, is expected to further elevate Teos’ cultural and touristic significance.

With ongoing projects at Stratonikeia and Teos, Turkiye is preserving its rich archaeological heritage while enhancing the historical experience for visitors.

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