Hierapolis was founded in the early 2nd century BC by Eumenes II, the King of Pergamon. The primary reason for establishing the city in this geography was the hot springs gushing from underground and the Plutonium (Gate of Hell), which was believed to open to Hades, the god of the underworld. The dense carbon dioxide gas, seeping from the depths of the earth and accumulating on the ground because it is heavier than air, caused living creatures approaching the area in ancient times to suffocate instantly. This eerie natural phenomenon was interpreted in that period as the "breath of Hades"; this mysterious region, where fear and respect merged, was chosen as both a religious and strategic base by the Kingdom of Pergamon and was named Hierapolis, meaning "Sacred City" in Greek.
With the Romans taking over the region, the destiny of the city changed. That primitive fear of Hades from early times transformed into an empire wide thermal health and luxury center during the Roman period. While preserving this sacred area, the Romans equipped it with monumental baths, temples, theaters, and magnificent streets, turning it into one of the largest health and administrative bases of the ancient world.
Having been destroyed many times throughout history because it is located in a first-degree earthquake zone, the city enriched its architectural fabric even further by being rebuilt, especially after the major earthquake in 60 AD. In the Byzantine era, it turned into a key pilgrimage point for Christianity; the belief that Saint Philip was martyred here cemented this sanctity. Having come under Turkish rule during the Seljuk and Beyliks periods, the settlement gradually fell into silence and remained buried underground.
Today, the main reason it takes place on the UNESCO World Heritage List with both cultural and natural criteria is its uninterrupted and multi layered living history. Hierapolis is the common heritage of human history and nature.
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