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Reading on Ancient Health Center Allianoi

Allianoi is in Pasha Ilicasi region, close to Bergama – Ivrindi Highway, Izmir, Turkey. In the 2nd century BC, orator and medicinal writer Aelius Aristides of Mysia wrote a book called Hieroi Logoi (Sacred Words) and mentioned that when he was traveling from Hadrianoterai to Bergama, he became ill and he went to Allianoi, drank its thermal spring water and got better. He said that he dreamed of God Asclepius and felt himself better with the inspirations of Asclepios. He said that the distance of this thermal spring water center to Bergama was 120 stadia (23-25 km). There is not any other important thermal water complex known between Bergama and Balıkesir. Although there is no epigraphic finding, relying on Aristeides work it is claimed that this place is Allianoi.



Allianoi was established in Hellenistic Period (323-330 BC) and its golden age was in the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138 BC). It is thought that this place was not really an ancient city, but a health center belonging to Pergamum Kingdom. The biggest evidence for this is the fact that no coin in the name of the city existed. This center was used continuously between 3rd century BC and 11th century AD. This site is thought to be a general cult site belonging to the God of Health Asclepios, for there are many works of art related with him. Two Asclepios statues, small bas-reliefs of Telesphoros, two altars belonging to Asclepios and many medical tools made of bronze were found. All these artifacts are kept in the Bergama Museum. These artifacts also suggest that the cult of Telesphoros existed before the cult of Asclepios. Apart from the bath structures indicating intense use of thermal therapy, there are also a large number of findings in the site of Allianoi. Among these are spatulas, urogenital catheter (aenea fistula), various forcepses used for different purposes, and bronze scalpel handles which prove that surgical interventions hadbeen performed. [Asclepions in Turkey, Atac A, Aray N, Yildirim RV, Balkan Military Medical Review 9, 82-84 (2006)]

Books:
* Ancient Smyrna: Smyrna, Diphilus, Asia, Allianoi, Aelius Aristides, Ionian League, Pionius, Mount Sipylus, Polemon of Laodicea, Apsines » Barnes & Noble.com
* Staudamm in Der Trkei: Ilsu-Staudamm, Sdostanatolien-Projekt, Allianoi
* Projet de Barrage: Projet Hydrolectrique Du Fleuve Nelson, Atlantropa,
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