Asclepius

Decades of archaeological silence surrounding the Roman Pool in Bahçeli, Turkey have ended with revelations that fundamentally reshape our understanding of this ancient structure. What historians long considered merely a functional water supply system for the ancient city of Tyana has emerged as something far more sacred—a healing sanctuary dedicated to Asklepios, the Greco-Roman god of medicine. The discovery, announced in November 2025, comes after excavations resumed under Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism through the Heritage for the Future project. Professor Osman Doğanay from Aksaray University leads the research team investigating this 2nd-century AD structure, originally built during the reigns of Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian. The findings mark the first comprehensive excavation at the site in nearly 80