An important discovery is being made at the ancient city of Sagalassos, located in the Ağlasun district of Burdur, which dates back to 3000 BC and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The odeon uncovered during the excavations around the 1892-year-old fountain dedicated to Roman Emperor Hadrian will be one of the three largest odeons in Turkey when completed.
Excavation Deputy Director and Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Archaeology Department Lecturer Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Düzgün Tarkan emphasized the importance of the structure, stating: "In ancient cities, each structure holds its own value. The odeon in Sagalassos is a multi-purpose structure where, in addition to musical performances, council meetings were also held. When uncovered together with the fountain and the square paved with small stone blocks, one of the most vibrant points of the city will be brought to light."
Noting that the odeon was found approximately 4 meters underground, Tarkan stated that some of the seating rows were dismantled during the Byzantine period, but thanks to existing examples, restoration can be carried out quickly.
With a capacity of approximately 2,500 people, the Sagalassos Odeon is capable of hosting events even in adverse weather conditions such as rain and storms due to its enclosed structure. Reminding that there is also a large theater with a capacity of 9-10 thousand people in the city, Tarkan stated that based on this data, it is estimated that the population of Sagalassos in ancient times was around 35-40 thousand.
Emphasizing that Sagalassos was one of the leading cities of the Pisidia Region and the center of the imperial cult in the 2nd century, Tarkan said that thousands of people flocked to the city during festival periods. He also noted that a small statue was recently unearthed during the excavations and stated that the artifact will be shared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The Sagalassos Odeon holds the distinction of being Turkey's third-largest odeon after the examples in Ephesus and Kibyra. When the ongoing works are completed, new traces of both the architectural and social life of the ancient city will be revealed.
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Tarkan said, "Thanks to the excavation and restoration works we are conducting, the rich heritage of Sagalassos will be passed on to both the scientific world and future generations."
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