2,000 Years Old Roman Gladiator Arena Unearthed In Turkey

Roman gladiator events so often show up in movies, legends that it’s sometimes hard to believe that these brutal programs once actually happened in real life. Researchers, archaeologists and even many of us are always fascinated with their lifestyle, weapons, advanced arenas and marvelous archaeological structures.

In the same quest, while digging in the southern province of Adana’s Dilekkaya village a group of archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-Year-Old Roman Gladiator Arena, along with the 74 feet long and 35 feet high magnificent 3^rd century triumphal arc, which was built in memory of the Roman Empire's victory over the Persians and a battle field, was recently unearthed in Turkey.

An arch of the ancient ruins uncovered in city of Anavarza also known as Anazarbus.

With a budget of a million Turkish Liras, the group of archaeologists has spent the nearly 14 months on these excavations. According to the reports this ancient city was the largest settlement in Anatolia with beautifully constructed aqueducts, churches, tombs, a theater, castle and the arch.

In Farsi the word “Anavarza,” which means “invincible”, was once home to another historically magnificent and unique architectural marvel: the biggest double road of its time.

The Castle of Anavarza as shown below is another example of their architectural brilliance.

Researchers said that constructions like the aforementioned buildings and engineering marvels in the city of Anavarza were designed and built to last. This is very evident from the fact that after nearly 2000 years of collecting dust and water these constructions have managed to standing firm for millennia.

According to another report the triumphal arch had three arches, although two have were still standing. Experts have deployed laser scanners to create a three dimensional image of the remnants to assess which blocks of stone would go where, in order to get a clear knowledge of the original state of the arches as well as restore to the maximum possible extent.

Although it is known from various researches that there were earlier settlements in these locations, but works in these ancient cities show that these were established by Emperor Augustus in 19 B.C.

The 111 feet wide and 8860 feet long historically significant double road system, is world’s first and oldest modernized street known to mankind. The most amazing part of the street plan is both sides of them were decorated with pillars, each of equal height, 5 feet.

To the utter surprise of the historians, Anavarza was not just home to brutal gladiators, but also legendary pharmacists, stunning and advanced architectural wonders. That`s not the end of its richness. The city also had a very strong academic foundation with significant poets and academicians.

According to the team of researchers working on this project the church that they recently unearthed was built in the fifth century and shockingly it was constructed on the foundations of an even older Roman temple. Looking into the pages of history, they said it might have been built for the legendary saint Dioscorides, also known as “the father of pharmacies.”

Anavarza covers nearly 132,250 square feet. Researchers feel that the recent remarkable findings on the field of history and architecture could potentially boost tourism in these places as the city has ample of a treasure trove of history to offer its visitors.