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Ancient Civilization in
Denizli |
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Throughout history, many settlements have been
established along the road which links the Aegean world with the east.
Three of these were Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colossea. The sites of
very lively economic and cultural activity, they also produces and
exported high quality wool. CA. 60 AD St.Paul wrote "the epistle to
the Colossians", the 12th book of the new testament, to the church at
Colossae and Laodicea, condemning the heretical workship of angels and
stressing the doctrine of the mystical body of Christ. Hierapolis
appears to have been founded by Eumoros II, the king of Pergamum, in
the 3rd century BC. The city was named after Hiera, who was the wife
of Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamum. Hiera can also mean
"sacred" or "holly", and the city flourished during the second and
third centuries as a site of important religious activity, adorned
with many temples, Hierapolis also became an important center of metal
and stoneworking, as it possessed rich seams of rare marble, and was
also famous for its flowers and woolen products, such as carpets. |
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This golden age continued in the
Byzantine era, during the reign of the emperor Constantine the
religious life of the city underwent an important change, as the still
partially Jewish city became an Episcopal see. The population of
40.000 in the 6th century declined slowly until the city was abandoned
in the turbulent 12th century. After the advent of Islam, the region
changed hands several times between Christian Byzantium and the Moslem
Seljuk Turks, and was on the crusaders' route. Later on the region
became a province of the Ottoman Empire. |
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Today the travertine terraces of Hierapolis formed by the limestone
waters are called Pamukkale, "Cotton Castle", and are, with the
ancient ruins, a major tourist attraction. As well as having a great
historical heritage, Denizli today is one of the most lively and
dynamic industrial centers in Türkiye. The efforts of Denizli's active
entrepreneurs and hard working population have created an industrial
region, serving domestic and international markets with finished
products. |
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