This year's archaeological excavations have ended in the ancient city of Aizanoi, which is also known as Turkey's second Ephesus, in western Turkey.
Professor Ralf Von den Hoff, head of the excavation team from Germany's Freiburg University, told the A.A that his 23-member team including Turkish and German archaeologists, carried out excavations in the ancient city from August 16 to September 27.
Aizanoi is located in Cavdarhisar town, some 50 kilometers from the western province of Kutahya.
The ancient city, dating back to 3000 B.C., experienced its golden age in the second and third centuries A.D. and became the center of episcopacy in the Byzantine era.
The city is home to the temple built for Zeus which is the best-preserved temple in all of Anatolia. There is also a 20,000-seat theater and a 13,500-seat stadium adjacent to the large theater.
There are two Turkish-style baths, one of them decorated with mosaics, plus a gymnasium, five bridges on Kocacay river which are still used today, an old dam, a trading building, avenues with columns on both sides, necropolis (cemetery) areas and the sacred cave of goddess Meter Steunene.
Source: World Bulletin [September 28, 2010]