‘Olympic-scale’ swimming pool unearthed in ancient city after 2,000 years

A "Olympic-scale" swimming pool dating back two millennia has been excavated at an ancient dig site in western Turkey.

The rectangular basin uncovered among the ruins of Tralleis spans 37 metres in length, 12 metres in width, and 1.5 metres in depth, with a capacity for roughly 300 swimmers.

The pool forms part of an extensive bath-gymnasium complex covering approximately 40,000 square metres.

Excavation of the structure began during the previous dig season, with archaeologists now able to study its full layout and water systems following removal of remaining sediment.

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Positioned near the centre of the bathing complex, the structure is believed to have served as a cold-water pool where visitors could swim or refresh themselves after experiencing the heated chambers typical of Roman baths.

Professor Murat Çekilmez, of Aydın Adnan Menderes University, led the dig at the site, which sits close to the modern city of Aydın.

He described the pool's proportions as "Olympic" by ancient standards, with exceptional size and likely use for organised athletic training.

The pool appears to have served both everyday visitors seeking relaxation and young people undertaking physical education at the adjacent gymnasium, where citizens received athletic, intellectual and social instruction.

Spring water would have reached the pool through an elaborate supply network stretching roughly 56 kilometres from mountains to the north of the city.

Drainage channels discovered during excavation allowed the basin to be emptied swiftly whenever the water became contaminated, enabling staff to clean and replenish it without allowing stagnant conditions to develop in such a heavily used facility.

The pool remained open to the sky rather than being roofed over, making it well suited for cooling off during the intense heat of western Anatolian summers.

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Researchers said the combination of long-distance water transport and efficient drainage shows the considerable engineering investment required to maintain a public amenity serving hundreds at once.

Tralleis occupies a plateau overlooking the Büyük Menderes Valley, with ancient traditions linking its origins to Thracian and Argive settlers.

Alexander the Great seized the city in 334 BCE, after which it passed through various successor kingdoms before flourishing under Roman rule.

An earthquake struck in 26 BCE, damaging the bath-gymnasium complex, which was subsequently rebuilt with support from Emperor Augustus.

The contribution was acknowledged when the city temporarily adopted the name Caesarea.

The excavation project operates under Turkey's Heritage for the Future programme, with the excavation team intending to fill the ancient pool with water once conservation efforts are complete.

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