According to ArkeoNews, the structure was built during a flourishing period of Roman expansion when thermal baths served not merely as places for hygiene, but as centers of healing and social interaction. Unlike conventional Roman baths found across the empire, this complex was specifically designed to harness the therapeutic properties of naturally occurring mineral-rich springs.
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A Discovery Fifteen Years in the Making
Prof. Dr. Çevik first identified the site during initial surveys when excavations at Myra began in 2009. However, the ancient structure lay trapped beneath modern industrial facilities. Rather than compromise the excavation's integrity, Çevik made the difficult decision to wait until authorities could properly relocate the industrial zone. "This structure has been on our radar since we began excavations in 2009," Çevik explained. "However, I made it clear that we would not start digging until the nearby industrial zone was completely removed. I waited 15 years for that moment."
That patience paid off in 2025 when local authorities cleared the area as part of Turkey's "Heritage for the Future" initiative, a comprehensive program led by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The excavation immediately revealed unique challenges. As workers removed layers of soil, thermal water began rising from multiple points, flooding the site daily. This phenomenon continues today, requiring archaeologists to pump water out each morning before excavating, only to find the site refilled by nightfall.
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The thermal structure found in the ancient city of Myra. (IHA)
Neither Bath Nor Fountain: A Unique Architectural Type
For decades, scholarly literature had classified this structure as a nymphaion, a monumental fountain common throughout the Roman world. However, as excavation revealed the building's complete plan, it became clear this classification was fundamentally incorrect. "When the full plan emerged, we realized this was neither a Roman bath nor a classical nymphaion," Çevik stated. "It is a completely original type of Roman thermal structure, designed directly around a healing water source. There is nothing like it in this region."
The complex includes an intricate network of cisterns, water channels, arches, and interconnected chambers that functioned together as an integrated healing center. The thermal water maintains a constant temperature of 16.5°C year-round, offering relief during Demre's scorching summers when temperatures exceed 40°C. More significantly, the water contains high concentrations of minerals including magnesium, iron, sulfur, and phosphorus—elements long recognized for their therapeutic properties.
Excavation and preservation efforts have been problematic due to flooding. (IHA)
Excavating Beneath the Waters
To address flooding challenges, the excavation team constructed a 2.5-meter-high protective barrier wall surrounding the structure. This prevents surface water from flowing in while protecting ancient mudbrick walls from erosion. "We pump water out every day, excavate, and by night the area fills up again," Çevik described. "In the morning, we start over."
The famous Lycian rock-cut tombs at Myra, carved into cliffsides near the thermal complex. (Carole Raddato/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Despite these difficulties, archaeologists have successfully revealed two distinct pools, one large and one small. Evidence indicates both were once lined with polished marble, portions of which remain in place today. The presence of vaulted ceilings, decorative arches, and carefully engineered water channels demonstrates sophisticated Roman engineering.
From Ancient Healing Center to Archaeological Park
The thermal complex holds particular significance because it represents the ancient origins of traditions continuing in Demre today. The "Burguç" springs, fed by the same underground aquifer that supplied the Roman facility, remain popular with locals who believe in their curative powers. "People in Demre still visit the Burguç pools for health benefits," Çevik noted. "This structure is the original source of those waters. The same mineral-rich thermal spring was valued in Roman times, just as it is today."
Currently, the site poses safety risks due to varying water depths and unstable ground. The excavation area remains fenced, and Çevik has emphasized that public safety must take precedence. "This area is dangerous in its current state," he warned. "Any future public use will depend entirely on careful planning and official approval."
Plans are underway to transform the thermal complex into the centerpiece of a larger archaeological park. Once excavations are completed, the facility will be integrated with other major sites including Myra Ancient City, Andriake Harbor, and the Lycia Civilizations Museum. The project includes proposed viewing platforms and observation terraces allowing visitors to experience the site safely.
Excavations are scheduled to continue throughout 2026, with researchers already identifying additional Roman water-related structures nearby, including what appears to be a conventional bathhouse. These findings suggest ancient Myra served as a major center for thermal medicine during the Roman period. As Prof. Dr. Çevik emphasized, "We are not just uncovering a building—we are rediscovering an ancient tradition of health, water, and architecture that has survived beneath the surface for nearly two millennia."
Top image: The thermal structure found in the ancient city of Myra. Source: IHA
By Gary Manners
References
Çevik, N. 2025. Unique 1,850-Year-Old Roman Thermal Structure Unearthed in Antalya's Ancient City of Myra. Available at: https://arkeonews.net/unique-1850-year-old-roman-thermal-structure-unearthed-in-antalyas-ancient-city-of-myra/
Gianfaldoni, S. et al. 2017. History of the Baths and Thermal Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5535692/
