Nysa Ancient City: 1,600-year-old Roman bath discovered

Archaeologists are excavating a 1,600-year-old Late Roman bath at the Nysa Ancient City in the Sultanhisar district of Aydın, Turkey. The structure, dating back to the 4th century AD, is being uncovered as part of the ‘Heritage for the Future’ project.

Led by Professor Serdar Hakan Öztaner of Ankara University, the excavation team is currently working on the southern and western facades of the bath to determine its full dimensions and its relationship to the city plan, specifically its connection to ‘Street 8’.

The bath is uniquely positioned on the road route leading to Nysa from the ancient cities of Ephesus and Tralleis. According to Professor Öztaner, the facility likely served as a cleansing area for visitors before they entered the city. Nysa, known as a ‘two-sided city’ due to its location on a valley, also houses one of Anatolia’s best-preserved libraries, a 10,000-capacity theater, a stadium, and several Roman bridges.