Anatolia has hosted many civilizations in its multifaceted past. The ancient city of Aizonai, located in the central Aegean region, dates back 5,000 years and boasts traces of the Phrygian, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods.

Aizonai was discovered by European travelers in 1826 and was inspected and described the next decade. Excavations by the German Archeology Institute began in 1926.

According to current excavation team member Klaus Rheidt, the most recent artifacts unearthed date back to the first century. The name of the city is believed to have been derived from the mythological hero Azan, the son of Zeus’ daughter Erato and the Arcadian King Arkas. It is also possible that Aizonai received its name from the Aizanitis, related to the Phyrgians, who once made Aizonai their main settlement. Aizonai is one of 12 settlements in Kutahya and was called Çavdarhisar during the time of the Seljuks. One might think chowder is produced in the city because of its name but in fact was so called after the Çavdar Tartars, who used the city as their base during the Seljuk period in the 13th century.

Çavdarhisar is situated atop a plateau divided by the Koça Stream, which is crossed by five Roman bridges. Only two are still in use today.

Home of the father of the gods

Located on the outskirts of the city is a famous Roman structure, the Zeus temple. The temple is built on the high plateau and was constructed in honor of Zeus, the father of the gods. Numerous excavations are being conducted in the vicinity of the temple. While there are traces of the Hellenistic period, the temple is Anatolia’s best-preserved temple and was a center of episcopacy for the Byzantines. Its stone walls and 46 columns have survived to the present day. Built on a 1,855-square-meter platform, the Zeus temple has a vaulted sub-structure with a long iron staircase that leads to a well. There are inscriptions on the temple that praise kings and list feats that have been accomplished. There are decorative stones, lion’s heads, horse images, war scenes and inscriptions on the walls. In front of the temple is another temple dedicated to Kybele.

Next to the temple is a mosque, and in front of the mosque is a stone used for stock. The round building, known as the macellum, was known as the stock exchange building in the third century, where prices were set and food was sold. According to research, Emperor Diocletian built the building to tackle inflation in A.D. 301. Cereal agriculture, wine and wool production were the main sources of income during the governance of the Roman Empire. The prices of products sold at the market were inscribed on the stones: A strong slave brought 30,000 dinars or two donkeys. One horse was worth three slaves. Next to the stock building is a 450-meter-long columned path that leads to the center of the city. Another feature of the ancient city is the Turkish bath complex, built in large courtyards and richly decorated. One bath has a mosaic floor, and there are swimming pools in front of the baths. Ancient reservoirs and water channels still carry water to the city.{josquote}Most homes have decorative walls and gardens. Excavations are conducted carefully because an important part of the city lies underground.{/josquote} Experts say the stadium and theater complex in the city is incomparable. One can enter the theater through the stadium’s large and elegant doors. Since the stadium’s seating is in a slightly polygonal shape, the building widens in the middle, allowing the audience to see the stage from any angle. One should also see the cemetery with sculptures of dead women with mirrors on their heads along with baskets and wool, and sculptures of dead men with spiders on their heads accompanied by lions and eagles. The gates of the graveyard represent the passing from this world to the next. Meter Steune cave is also a must-see.

City needs promotion

There is a tourism festival every year in Kutahya, but the region is still not well known, perhaps because not many foreigners take part in the event. Mayor Ismail Tanriverdi said new projects would be launched to promote the city in the next few years. Aizonai is situated in the Cavdarhisar district of Kutahya, 57 kilometers from the city center. There are buses to the city center every hour. One can also reach the district from the Izmir-Usak highway. Tourist groups that come to the ancient city usually stay for about an hour mainly because there is little else but ruins left in the city. The Kutahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkey Travel Agencies group have launched work to construct a hotel that is expected to open on Sept. 3. More tours to the district and more places for accommodation need to be built.

RAMAZAN SARI KÜTAHYA