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Metropolis, meaning Mother Goddess, was founded
around 725 B.C. and lived its sparkling time during the
Hellenistic Period. The city developed in the beginning of the
3rd century B.C. The city was surrounded by magnificent defence
walls, the temple of Ares, various monumental buildings such as
stoa and the theatre were established on the acropolis.
During the Roman Period, the city retained its importance but
Romans preferred to settle in the plain rather than on the
slopes. The city was expended during the Byzantium time. But in
the late Byzantium period wars and instability led to a
reduction in the size of the city. Later on, Metropolis was
inhabited by Turks.
Stoa:
The stoa which is established in the 3rd century B.C. is 70x10.5
metres and divided into two aisles by a row of 19 columns. The
structure is open in front with walls and on the two sides.
The stoa was constructed on a slope and destroyed in the
earthquake that devastated Western Anatolia in 17 A.D. and was
never reconstructed.
Acropolis:
The acropolis, upper city, was founded on a hill height of 145
metres. The entrance gate of the acropolis lies on the eastern
side, originally Hellenistic period. The city of Metropolis
consisted of the buildings and monuments built on the acropolis
and in terraced rows. The temple of Ares was located with in the
acropolis. During the Roman Period, there was no settlement
within the defence walls of the acropolis, the city having
spread down the slopes to the level ground below. Because of the
wars and bad economic conditions, the acropolis was densely
inhabited. The site continued to be throughout the Byzantine
period.
Excavations have been carried on by prof. Recep Meriç from Dokuz
Eylül University since 1989 by the supports of Ministry of
culture, Municipality of Torbalı ad Philsa. |
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The Theatre:
The theatre was established in the late Hellenistic period. It was
constructed against the slope of a hill, possessing a very beautiful
view overlooking the plain as it is seen in each Hellenistic. In
4-14 A.D. the three round altars adorned with garlands and ram, bull
and stag heads were added in honour of the Roman emperor Augustus.
The seats of the theatre for royal family and distinguished people
are the beautiful examples of the Hellenistic sculpture. The stage
building , the orchestra and cavea were uncovered during the
excavations. The auditorium ( cavea ) was divided in two by a
corridor and the lower part was divided by flights of the steps in
to seven sections, known as kerkis, each of which consisted of
eleven rows of seats.
The theatre was not in use after 4th century A.D and utilised as a
refuse dump for the near by glass workshop. |
