Archaeologists recently discovered a shopping complex in Aspendos, the city that was the main commercial center of the Roman Age. Excavation results found, in the complex there are offices and storage facilities that have been around 2,000 years.
The complex also gives a lot of insight into products that are stored and sold in an ancient theater in Aspendos. A number of coins were found in stores that stood in the Hellenistic and Roman times.
the Aspendos coins printed in the 5th Century, had a slingshot image on one side, while on the other side was a picture of a horse. The emergence of these animals in the currency, can be associated with the breeding of horses in Aspendos at that time.
"We think that this product is in the shops and some of the buildings are used as offices.The fact that the unique building was found next to the agora (open space for meetings and trade) in the city center, supports this idea (the building is a shopping center)," said Veli Köse from the Archeology Department of CHacattepe Universitu who also leads excavations in Antalya.
A number of products found in the excavation include small glasses, perfume bottles, candles, bronze belts, bone hair clips, buttons, and rings.
Although the shops of the Roman Age were the focus of excavations by the archaeologists, they also began to develop their research around the site.
"The existence of a two-storey shop and a complex in an ancient city, symbolizes that this place is an important commercial center and we know it from prasati.Aspendos is known for a city rich in wheat and horse farming," Köse said.
Aspendos was founded in the 10th century BC. Archaeologists suspect that Aspendos was the most important city in Pamphylia and reached its golden period in Roman times.
Legend tells that the famous Greek astrologer, Mopsos, was the founder of the city. But there is a debate about it.
Aspendos was under Persian rule in the 6th century BC. But Alexander the Great took over in the 4th century BC.
In Roman times, Aspendos became an important port city. However, Aspendos fame dims in the Byzantine Period because of the imperial convergence.
Aspendos became one of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO since 2015.
Aspendos Ancient Theater is the most famous building in the city, where it can hold up to 7,000 people. The theater in Antalya, Turkey, became one of the most visited historical sites.
One of the features that makes the theater famous is the incredible acoustic system. In fact, the slightest sound coming from the center of the orchestra can be clearly heard down to the top seat.
In addition to the theater, the ruins of a small temple, council building, and Roman aqueduct can also be found on the Aspendos archeological site.