Excavation Unveils Grand Byzantine Bathhouse in Ancient Lycian City

Recently, archaeologists stumbled upon the remains of a significant luxury bath complex linked to early bishops in what is now the ancient city of Olympus, located in Turkey’s Antalya province. This revelation was reported by Anadolu Agency.

The bathhouse spans approximately 2,150 square feet and is believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century AD, coinciding with its attachment to the bishop’s private residence.

Professor Gökçen Kurtulš Öztashkun from Pamukkale University highlighted the discovery, indicating that the site also included Byzantine churches adorned with pebble mosaics, ancient burial sites, and residential structures.

Oztashkin remarked that the baths formed a “quite large and elaborate complex.” Typically, baths associated with private homes are much smaller, so this find is particularly striking.

“We identified the heating system, including the furnace area and heating elements in the walls, which mark this as a rare example from its era,” Oztashkin added, noting that the baths served more than just personal comforts.

During the 5th and 6th centuries, Byzantine bishops held dual roles as both spiritual and civic leaders. “They oversaw the wealth of the city while providing guidance,” Oztashkin further explained. “This bath was not merely for the bishop’s private use.”

Even though the baths were part of the bishop’s home, they were accessible to the public at designated times and under certain conditions. Oztashkin mentioned, “It featured a door that opened to both the street and the residence. The bishop allowed public access on specific days as part of a health initiative.”

This remarkable find follows another significant archaeological discovery at Olympus made just months earlier. Excavators unveiled a 5th-century Christian church containing inscriptions that hadn’t been seen in over a millennium.

With each new layer of discovery, the site enriches our understanding of how early Christian leaders lived and served their communities.