The road to the Stadium of Laodicea

In a previous blog (see: Laodicea, an update on the works in progress), I have listed the many buildings and features of Laodicea that are awaiting excavations.

The site is being labeled as being the largest in Anatolia after Ephesos. Additional archaeological digs have exposed the sacred agora as wells as a church and one of the two theaters.

[Picture from Hurriyet Daily News]

The latest excavations are carried out in and around the Stadium. This huge construction was built in 79 AD and measured 285m x 70m. It could seat as many as 25,000 to 30,000 people. According to the recently found inscriptions, this Stadium hosted Olympic-scale events and the customary Roman gladiator fights in which men fought against each other and against wild animals.

As always, the Stadium was situated outside the city walls and presently the street linking it to the center of Laodicea has been cleared. Old pavements, especially roads, are always an exciting feature. Modern visitors will now be allowed to walk over such a precious testimony of the past.

Closer study of the area around the Stadium has revealed the presence of a huge Bath Complex covering some 12,000 m2. Nearby, the remains of an Assembly Hall and a state guest house have been found.

It seems that in time, Laodicea will be one of the many favorite travel destinations Turkey has to offer.