--- title: Metropolis Ancient City slug: metropolis-ancient-city-0f8f4 url: /detay/metropolis-ancient-city-0f8f4 type: article language: English entity: primary: Metropolis Ancient City type: article disambiguation: Explore Metropolis Ancient City in Turkey! Discover Hellenistic & Roman ruins, a stunning theater, & more. categories: - name: Architecture slug: mimari url: /kategori/mimari - name: Travel And Tourism slug: seyahat-ve-turizm url: /kategori/seyahat-ve-turizm - name: Archeology slug: arkeoloji url: /kategori/arkeoloji tags: - Hellenistic Period - Roman Period - Archaeology - metropolis - izmir author: Meltem Saraç created_at: 2025-06-29T17:17:30.923216+03:00 updated_at: 2025-06-30T11:45:57.184853+03:00 --- # Metropolis Ancient City ## KURE Information Cards ![Ek Açıklama 2025-06-29 155312.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/06/29/Cvp6aO2nldog1SuukXZw1sRUDyVFgtm6.jpg) *Metropolis Archaeological Site* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Foundation(Text) | 3rd century BCE | | Deity İt was Named After | Meter Gallesia (Mother Goddess) | | Historical Period(s) | Hellenistic Roman Byzantine | | Location | Torbalı İzmir Türkiye | | Opened to Visitors | 2014 | | Excavation Start | 1989 | ## Article Content The ancient city of **Metropolis**, located in the district of Torbalı in [İzmir Province](/en/detay/izmir-province-13d91/llms.txt), Türkiye, lies between the villages of Yeniköy and Özbey. It is a significant archaeological site that was continuously inhabited from prehistoric times to the Byzantine period. The city derives its name from “**Meter Gallesia**,” meaning “Mother Goddess,” and was established on the slopes of **Mount Gallesion**. Traces of settlement date back to the **Neolithic Period**, and [Metropolis](/en/detay/metropolis-oren-yeri-8269b/llms.txt) became an important cultural, religious, and political center, especially during the **Hellenistic** and **Roman** periods. Archaeological excavations began in **1989**, and in **2014**, the site was officially designated as an open-air museum and opened to visitors. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2026/02/11/metropolis-ancient-city-0f8f4-Metropolis%20%c3%96renyeri%20%20%20(1).jpg) *Metropolis  Ancient City (Türkiye Kültür Portalı)* ### **History** Metropolis was founded in the 3rd century BCE during the Seleucid Kingdom by followers of Lysimachus. The city was named in honor of its protective deity, the **Mother Goddess Gallesia**. A statue of this goddess, from whom the city takes its name, was discovered during excavations at the **Uyuzdere** area. Settlement in the region of Metropolis dates back to the **Neolithic Period**, as evidenced by nearby sites such as **Tepeköy**, **Dedecik**, and **Kuşçuburun**. The city was first identified in the **17th century** by European travelers **J. Spon** and **G. Wheler**, and later in the **19th century** through epigraphic and topographic studies by İzmir-based researcher **A. Fontier**. Metropolis flourished during the **Hellenistic Period** and expanded from the hills into the plains in the **Roman era**. It became a **bishopric center** in the **Byzantine period** and eventually came under the rule of the **Aydınoğulları Beylik** in the **14th century**. After this era, Metropolis was abandoned, and the settlement shifted to modern-day **Torbalı**. ### **Urban Structures** The ancient city of Metropolis stands out with its rich urban fabric, featuring **public, religious, and private buildings** from different periods. These structures provide valuable insights into the city’s **social, political, and cultural life** during the **Hellenistic**, **Roman**, and **Byzantine** eras. Notable examples of monumental architecture include a **theater**, **bouleuterion** (council house), **stoa** (colonnaded walkway), **gymnasium**, **baths**, and a **peristyle house**, all reflecting both **functionality and aesthetic refinement**. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2026/02/11/metropolis-ancient-city-0f8f4-Metropolis%20%c3%96renyeri%20%20%20(5).jpg) *Metropolis  Ancient City (Türkiye Kültür Portalı)* ### **The Theater** Built into a natural slope, the **theater** of Metropolis was originally constructed during the **Hellenistic Period** and later expanded in the **Roman era**, when its **stage building was enlarged** and the floor was paved with **marble**. With a seating capacity of approximately **8,000 to 10,000 people**, the theater includes key components such as the **orchestra**, **stage building**, **seating tiers**, and **elite seats** reserved for dignitaries. Behind these special seats, there are reliefs depicting **Zeus's thunderbolt** and **Ares with a shield**, reflecting the influence of mythology and state symbolism. The theater exemplifies the elegance of **Hellenistic marble craftsmanship** and gradually fell out of use after the **4th century CE**. ![Image](https://cdn.kureansiklopedi.com/media/uploads/2026/02/11/metropolis-ancient-city-0f8f4-Metropolis%20%c3%96renyeri%20%20%20(4).jpg) *Metropolis  Ancient City (Türkiye Kültür Portalı)* ### **Peristyle House** Discovered on the southern slope of the theater, the **peristyle house** belonged to a wealthy resident of Metropolis during the **Roman period**. This residence features multiple rooms arranged around a spacious courtyard paved with **marble slabs**. The house stands out for its **colorful wall plasters** and rich array of **archaeological finds**, reflecting both the affluence and aesthetic taste of its owner. ### **Acropolis** The **acropolis** of Metropolis covers an area of approximately **16,000 m²** and commands a dominant view over the **Torbalı Plain**. Evidence indicates that the site was inhabited as early as **3000 BCE**. During the **Hellenistic period**, the Acropolis was fortified with **strong defensive walls**. ### **Bouleuterion (Council Building)** The **Bouleuterion of Metropolis**, constructed in the **2nd century BCE**, had a seating capacity of **350 people** and served as a key **administrative building** where decisions about city governance were made by the council. ### **Stoa** Dating to the **2nd century BCE**, the **Doric-style stoa** was supported by two rows of columns. In addition to **religious ceremonies**, it hosted **philosophical gatherings** and **commercial activities**. Inscriptions on the stoa’s columns bear the names of its benefactors, making it an early example of **sponsorship in public architecture**. ### **Excavations** Excavations at Metropolis began in **1989** under the leadership of **Prof. Dr. Recep Meriç**, in collaboration with the **Ephesus Museum**, starting with the **Uyuzdere Mother Goddess Cult Cave**. Since **2006**, excavations have been led by **Prof. Dr. Serdar Aybek**. These efforts have revealed numerous structures and artifacts from the **Hellenistic**, **Roman**, and **Byzantine** periods. In **2014**, the site was officially designated as an **archaeological park** and opened to visitors. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, “Metropolis Archaeological Site,” Türkiye Culture Portal, accessed June 29, 2025, https://kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/izmir/gezilecekyer/metropolis-orenyeri. 2. T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. “Metropolis Örenyeri.” Müze.gov. Erişim 29 Haziran 2025. https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?SectionId=IME01&DistId=MRK. 3. T.C. İzmir Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, “Metropolis Excavation / Torbalı,” Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, accessed June 29, 2025, https://izmir.ktb.gov.tr/TR-77173/metropolis-kazisi--torbali.html.