Roman Pool as Asclepius’ Healing Sanctuary – History

Artifacts related to the cult of Asclepius have been unearthed from the Roman cistern of Bacheli in south-central Türkiye. The pool was built in the 2nd century AD and was previously considered a reservoir and was part of the drinking water system of the ancient city of Tiana. Excavations this year have uncovered evidence that it was also a center for healing and religious beliefs.

according to [excavation leader Professor Osman Doganay of Aksaray University’s Archaeology Department]One of the most important finds is an altar dedicated to Asclepius, who was considered the god of medicine and healing in ancient times. The altar was decorated with a snake motif – a symbol of rejuvenation and healing in ancient medical cults – and was found along with other sculptural fragments bearing snake images.

These findings, together with architectural remains found on the east side of the pool, indicate the existence of a sanctuary or temple complex dedicated to Asclepius. Doganay describes the site as “a place where healing rituals involving holy water were once performed,” marking it as a healing destination in the ancient world.

Tyanna predates Rome. The first mention of it appears in Hittite documents from the 17th century BC. After the collapse of the empire, Tyana became the capital of the Luwian Neo-Hittite polity at the turn of the 1st century BC and remained a powerful city-state even after being annexed by the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 8th century BC and again by the Persian Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BC. It is the second most important city in Cappadocia and is considered the most Hellenistic of them all. Cappadocia was taken over by the Roman emperor Tiberius in the first century, and Tyana’s Hellenic culture rose in status under the empire. It even became the capital of the Roman Second Province of Cappadocia when Emperor Valens split Cappadocia in two in the fourth century.

The pool was built during the reigns of Emperors Trajan (r. 98-117 AD) and Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD), but the temple complex was a later addition. Greek inscriptions found in excavation records in 2025 indicate that the pool was commissioned by or dedicated to Marcus Aurelius or his son Commodus. Both names are mentioned in inscriptions, and these references allow archaeologists to narrow down the timeframe for construction. The sanctuary was built between 177 and 180 AD

The site was excavated in 2025 for the first time in 80 years. They will continue next year, focusing on the area around the pool. Archaeologists hope to discover more artifacts related to the cult of Asclepius and the religious aspects of health spas. Such pools were common in antiquity, and visitors often left offerings for better health, such as the stunning fairyland of bronze statues found at the Baths of San Casciano in Tuscany.