Aizanoi Ancient City

Aizanoi lies in the Çavdarhisar district, 58 kilometres from the centre of Kütahya. Like Ephesus, Sagalassos and Pergamon, it is one of the most important historic sites in Türkiye, and it impressed me from the moment I first saw it. The ancient city is spread over a large area. Its most remarkable feature is that it had the world’s first commodity exchange. The Temple of Zeus, still standing within the site, may be one of the best-preserved temples on earth.

Besides the Temple of Zeus, the important remains still standing include the first exchange building, the ruins of the stadium, the necropolises, the colonnaded street, a tunnel and the bridges, two of the four having been through a very poor restoration. The Temple of Zeus was the city’s most sacred place, and the odeon in front of it catches every visitor’s eye with all its grandeur. Well preserved as the temple is, the statue of Cybele, the ancient world’s goddess of fertility, to its south has kept its beauty just as well.

On the Trail of History in Aizanoi

Aizanoi was the main settlement of the Aizanitai, who lived in ancient Phrygia. It later came under the rule of Pergamon and then Rome. In the Roman period the region became well known for its grain, wool and wine. The exchange building was one of the structures that interested me most: it is the oldest commodity exchange in the world. The walls of the macellum still carry the price lists of all the goods sold in the imperial markets. Isn’t that remarkable? Centuries ago, you can see price lists drawn up to fight inflation.

Source: http://gezgininayakizleri.com