A new archaeological investigation led by Osman Doğanay identifies the 2nd-century Roman Pool at Bahçeli, Turkey, as an Asklepios healing sanctuary rather than solely a water source. Key evidence includes a dedicatory altar decorated with serpents and multiple sculptural fragments bearing serpent motifs. The marble pool measures about 213 by 74 feet and sits near ancient Tyana. Continued excavations aim to uncover additional offerings and related sanctuary features.
Roman Pool at Bahçeli Identified as Ancient Asklepios Healing Sanctuary
A new archaeological investigation led by Osman Doğanay identifies the 2nd-century Roman Pool at Bahçeli, Turkey, as an Asklepios healing sanctuary rather than solely a water source. Key evidence includes a dedicatory altar decorated with serpents and multiple sculptural fragments bearing serpent motifs. The marble pool measures about 213 by 74 feet and sits near ancient Tyana. Continued excavations aim to uncover additional offerings and related sanctuary features.
04:18 AM, 11/16/2025Culture
Roman Pool at Bahçeli Identified as Ancient Asklepios Healing Sanctuary
A newly announced archaeological discovery has resolved long-standing questions about the purpose of the Roman Pool at Bahçeli in central Turkey. A years-long project led by Professor Osman Doğanay of Aksaray University, carried out by a joint venture between Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the organization Through the Heritage for the Future, conducted the first major excavation at the site in nearly a century.
The installation dates to the 2nd century A.D., when the region was under the rule of Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Measuring roughly 213 feet by 74 feet and constructed from marble blocks, the pool lies close to the ancient city of Tyana, a regional Roman center.
Evidence for a Healing Sanctuary
Doğanay and his team uncovered a dedicatory altar decorated with serpents and numerous sculptural fragments bearing serpent motifs scattered across the complex. In the Greco-Roman world, snakes were closely associated with Asklepios (Asclepius), the god of healing and medicine, and with themes of regeneration and renewal. These discoveries support the interpretation that the Roman Pool served not only as a water supply but also as a ritual healing site—an asclepieion where pilgrims sought cures and left votive offerings.
"The most significant discovery was a dedicatory altar depicting serpents—the main symbols of Asklepios," Doğanay said. "We can now say with certainty that the Roman Pool was a place where water was not only used for supply but also for healing rituals. This changes how we understand the urban and religious life of Roman Cappadocia."
Archaeologists note that similar healing sanctuaries existed around Tyana and across the Mediterranean, where visitors commonly left tokens and offerings in hopes of recovery. Doğanay's team plans further excavation to locate additional artifacts and to better understand the site's ritual layout and role within regional pilgrimage networks.
This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Nov 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section.