Location & Entry: Yeniköy, Sevgi Yolu Sk., 35860 Torbalı/İzmir. In the village of Yeniköy, 5km southwest of the city of Torbalı, 34km north of Ephesus, 130km southeast of Çeşme.– Open daily 08:00-17:30 (31 Oct- 1 Apr) 08:00-19:00 (1 Apr – 31 Oct) – Ticket price approx. €TBC.
An Ionian city, Metropolis (the city of the mother goddess) was established on the hill and slopes between the present day Yeniköy and Özbey neighbourhoods in the Torbalı District of İzmir. At an altitude of 142 metres, the Acropolis dominates the Torbalı Plain. Its strategical location relates to the geographical structure of Torbalı Plain at the western end of the Küçük Menderes (Kaystros) Basin between Bozdağlar (Tmolos) and Aydın Mountains (Messogis). The fertile agricultural lands are in the middle of the trade route connecting two important metropolises, the southern neighbour Ephesus and its northern neighbour Smyrna.
The latest Archaeological works on the ancient site began in 1989 and have been ongoing for over 30 years under the direction of Recep Meriç and Serdar Aybek. More than 11,000 historical artefacts consisting of ceramics, coins, glass, architectural pieces, figures, sculptures, metal, bone, and ivory artefacts. The artefacts are exhibited at the İzmir Archaeology Museum, the İzmir History & Art Museum and the Selçuk Ephesus Museum.
Brief History of Metropolis
Finds in and around Metropolis date settlements from the late Neolithic Age to the Middle Ages. Materials from excavations in 2004 at the Dedecik-Heybelitepe mound 2km south of the city indicate settlement in the late Neolithic-early Chalcolithic Age (5500-3200 B.C.) as well as early Bronze Age (3300-1200 B.C.) and one of the earliest settlements in the region. At Bademgediği Tepe, 7km north of Metropolis, excavations on the hill revealed a fortified settlement from the late Bronze Age with pottery corresponding to the 14th century B.C. Kingdom of Arzawa, and it might have been the Hittite city of Puranda.
The Greek geographer Strabo (64/63 B.C. – 24 A.D.) did not specify precisely the location of the city but wrote that there was a settlement between Smyrna-Ephesus, 120 stadions (120 x 150-210 metres) from Ephesus. The Greek mathematician Ptolemy (circa 100-170 A.D.) described Metropolis’s location as a city on the Ionian-Lydia border. The city was founded at the foot of the ancient Mount Gallesion (today as Mount Alaman). The region’s importance increased from the end of the 7th century B.C., as it controlled the main Ephesus-Smyrna road. Enclosed by a formidable wall, the Acropolis was built in the 3rd century B.C. and was enhanced in the 2nd century B.C. with the support of the Kingdom of Pergamon. With Roman domination in Anatolia, Metropolis continued to grow during the reign of emperors Augustus (63 B.C. – 14 A.D. Emperor 27 B.C. – 14 A.D.) and Tiberius (42 B.C. – 37 A.D. Emperor 14 B.C. – 37 A.D.) though was severely damaged in the earthquake of 17 A.D. There is evidence of repair and rearrangement of the city in the aftermath of the earthquake.
By the 2nd century A.D., Metropolis had a planned city identity with its sanctuary areas, public buildings, civil residences, and ordered streets despite being a city on the slope. A large bath and palaestra (ancient Greek wrestling school) complex was built in Metropolis during the time of Antoninus Pius (86 – 161 A.D. Emperor 138 – 161 A.D.), indicating the city’s importance at that time. The 3rd century A.D. was a problematic time for cities in the region, with severe earthquakes and Gothic raids.
Construction activities continued between the 4th and 6th century A.D., but with smaller budgets and repair, renovation, and function changes to existing buildings were more prevalent. Nevertheless, the quantity of coins that date to this time suggests that economic prosperity in the city remained strong. The gradual bolstering of the Turkish territories in Anatolia made it crucial for the Byzantines to focus on building defence structures. The Byzantine Castle, built in Metropolis, whose strategic location was being challenged, was considerably strengthened during the 13th. Century A.D. The existence of a castle called Kızılhisar (red fort), in proximity to Torbalı, is mentioned in Ottoman sources. While this Byzantine castle continued briefly into the Ottoman Period, after the dominance was secured in the region, the settlement moved to Torbalı.
Hellenistic Theatre
Built on a natural hillside during the late Hellenistic period, the 8,000-10,000 capacity theatre experienced reconstructions during the Roman period, including adding a marble floor and enlargement of the stage building. The theatre, fashioned from marble, consists of segments for the orchestra, stage building, seating, and noble seats in the front row. These seats were reserved for clergy and emperors, are some of the best examples of Hellenistic marble work, and are backed by reliefs of Zeus’s lightning beam and Ares with a shield. The staircase edges are decorated with lion’s feet with varying patterns. The theatre hosted the city’s social, cultural, and artistic activities but lost its function in the 4th century A.D. Restored between 2000 and 2001, it can now seat approximately 4,000.
Acropolis
Enclosed by a formidable wall, the Acropolis covers an area of 16,000 square metres and was built in the 3rd century B.C. The eastern gate on the walls of the Acropolis opens to the settlement, defining the lower city laid out on the eastern slopes of the hill, while the entrance to the west provides access to the necropolis area.
The Peristillium House
The house was unearthed on the southern slope of the ancient theatre during excavations to explore the connection between the theatre and the city centre. It has a peristyle-style courtyard (columns supporting a porch roof surrounding the yard) and provides an understanding of civilian life during the Roman period. The central courtyard is large and covered with marble slabs, with four rows of columns surrounding it on each side. The vibrant wall plasters and rich findings in the spaces encompassing the courtyard indicate that the building belonged to a wealthy citizen.
Bouleuterion – Senate House
The bouleuterion, the assembly house for the council of citizens, was built in the 2nd century B.C. It was square-shaped and had a capacity of 350 people.
Stoa
Stoas were multifunctional buildings for religious ceremonies, political and philosophical meetings, and commercial & cultural events. The Metropolis stoa was built in the 2nd century B.C. and was supported by two rows of Doric columns. The names of the affluent individuals who financed the construction of the building are inscribed on the columns at the front.
Upper Baths and Gymnasium
In antiquity, gymnasiums were public structures that provided physical and intellectual education to young people. According to a 2nd-century B.C. epigraph during the period of Augustus, the Metropolis gymnasium was administered by a woman named Alexandra Morton.
Lower Bath-Palaestra
The Lower Bath-Palaestra was a Roman Imperial Period bath building with a marble-clad interior facade. Specially designed stepped pools are located on the sides of the central hall.
Cisterns
During excavations in 2020, four water cisterns were discovered under 7 metres of soil inside the walls of the Acropolis that were built during the late Roman and early Byzantine periods. The cisterns built side-by-side are thought to have been built to provide water to the Acropolis in the event of a siege. It is estimated that the cisterns had a collective water capacity of 600 tons and could supply water to the settlement on the lower slopes of the Acropolis, including the upper bathhouse structure. The cisterns, approximately three floors tall, are the best-preserved monuments in Metropolis. Numerous food remains, animal bones, and ceramic pieces have also been discovered in and around the cisterns, and glazed ceramic pieces adorned with plant and animal figures make up most of the remains. It is believed the cisterns were converted into garbage dumps during the 12th and 13th centuries.
Social Media
Ministry of Culture & Tourism – Metropolis Archaeological Site English Website – Includes link to brochure
Turkish Museums – İzmir Metropolis Archaeological Site English Website
İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture & Tourism – Metropolis (Torbalı) English Website