Archaeologist unearth a lavish Roman villa with a rare fish pond and frescoes in ancient Tripolis, Turkey
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Reported by Archaeology News:
Archaeologists have unearthed a stunningly well-preserved Roman villa in the city of Tripolis near Denizli in western Turkey. The discovery includes rich frescoes and a rare decorative fish pond, hinting at the luxurious lifestyles of the city’s elite nearly 1,600 years ago.
Led by Professor Bahadır Duman from Pamukkale University’s Archaeology Department, the excavation has been ongoing for 13 years as part of the “Heritage for the Future” project by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Tripolis, situated near the Büyük Menderes River, is considered one of the best-preserved ancient cities of western Anatolia.
The newly unearthed villa is about 1,500 square meters in size and contains four rooms, two large halls, a cistern, two fountains, a 20-meter-long colonnaded gallery, and a 40-square-meter marble fish pond. According to Duman, this building is larger than regular residential houses, and the ornaments on the walls make it distinct.
The walls of the villa are entirely adorned with frescoes in yellow, blue, red, and brown. The frescoes are botanical and architectural in theme and provide insight into Roman art traditions. Nevertheless, it is the fish pond that truly sets this discovery apart.
Archaeologists believe that the pond was used to raise fish that were served fresh at gatherings, a rare feature in Roman Anatolia.
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