Agora

The Agora of Hierapolis in Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey is an ancient marketplace that dates back to the 2nd century AD. Built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the Agora was the commercial centre of the city and was surrounded by beautifully crafted marble porticoes with shops and offices. The Agora was a vast open courtyard with a central courtyard and two large colonnades running along the sides. The Agora also contained several statues of gods and goddesses, including Artemis and Apollo, as well as inscriptions dedicated to Hadrian and other emperors. The Agora was an important part of the commercial and cultural life of Hierapolis, and is now an important archaeological site and tourist destination.