Sagalassos

Sagalassos in Pisidia is a well-studied mountain city of Asia Minor, important for urban archaeology, pottery production, fountains, baths, houses, inscriptions and late antique change. It shows a Roman city not on the coast but in a complex inland landscape.

Archaeological complex

The city became especially prominent in Hellenistic and Roman times, using regional connections and local resources. Upper and lower agoras, nymphaea, baths, theatre, streets and residential areas allow the study of how urban form adapted to terrain and water.

Sagalassos lies in a mountain landscape, and that setting shapes the site: agora, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential zones must be read together with relief, water and roads. Excavation photographs show how urban architecture was adapted to terraces.

Sagalassos lies in a mountain landscape, and that setting shapes the site: agora, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential zones must be read together with relief, water and roads. Excavation photographs show how urban architecture was adapted to terraces.

Sagalassos lies in a mountain landscape, and that setting shapes the site: agora, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential zones must be read together with relief, water and roads. Excavation photographs show how urban architecture was adapted to terraces.

Finds and material setting

Sagalassos is famous for red-slip pottery production, but the evidence is broader: statues, coins, inscriptions, architectural elements, food remains, workshops and domestic finds. For reconstructing urban consumption, the ability to trace pottery production, distribution and use within the region is especially important.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• upper and lower agoras, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential terraces;
• ceramic production, architectural decoration, coins and inscriptions;
• water system and mountain landscape;
• Late Antique destruction, repair and contraction.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• upper and lower agoras, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential terraces;
• ceramic production, architectural decoration, coins and inscriptions;
• water system and mountain landscape;
• Late Antique destruction, repair and contraction.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• upper and lower agoras, nymphaeum, theatre, baths and residential terraces;
• ceramic production, architectural decoration, coins and inscriptions;
• water system and mountain landscape;
• Late Antique destruction, repair and contraction.

Interpretation and limits

Sagalassos should not be reduced to beautiful fountains and statues. Its strength lies in the combination of urban archaeology, natural environment and laboratory research. The article should therefore keep buildings, pottery, water, countryside and late changes together.

Related topics

• Roman Archaeological Sources
• Roman Empire
• Thermae
• Theatre
• Everyday utensils
• Roman streets

Literature

• Marc Waelkens et al. Sagalassos excavation reports.
• Jeroen Poblome. Sagalassos Red Slip Ware studies.
• Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project: official publications.