Roman Odessos (Varna, Bulgaria)

The contemporary city of Varna originated as a settlement named as Odessos in the 5-th century B.C. by Greek settlers from Millet in Asia Minor.  The Pontic settlement was founded around 570 B.C.  In addition to the Greeks the inhabitants were Thraceans, Romans, settlers from Asia Minor and other ethnic origins.  Ruins are located in the ancient part of Varna not far from the sea

Roman Thermae

The Romans built the thermae (baths) that became significant and magnificent monuments of the ancient architecture during the end of the 2nd century AD.  The baths occupied an area over 7,000 square meters.  Surviving walls reach 22 meters in height at some locations.

Photo taken at modern day entrance to site on west side of the thermae.

Photo taken at modern day entrance to site on west side of the thermae.

Underground gallery  of shops on west side of thermae looking north

Underground gallery of shops on west side of thermae looking south

Area of shops

Looking to entrance

Western apodyterium (dressing room)

Basilica hall

Basilica hall – view from northwest

Basilica hall – view from northeast

Washbasin

Washbasin

Channel section

Hypocaustum or underfloor heating system – showing terracotta pipe.

Hypocaustum

 

Praefurnium – service gallery

 

Caldarium (on south side)

 

 

Carved marble cornice – fridgidarium

Piscina – pool in fridgidarium

Area outside praefurnium

Hercules’ club – architectural detail

 

Sewer system at Odessos

 

 

 

Main aqueduct of ancient Odessos and the entry point into the Odessos Fortress were discovered by archaeologists in Varna at the site of an excavation for a building with the ground floor being a coffee shop with the aqueduct and fortress wall remains seen from inside the coffees shop through the floor and viewing wall.

Aqueduct – 25 cm diameter

Fortress wall and aqueduct

Photo of aqueduct taken through glass floor of Muro Coffee Shop.

Coffee shop (Muro) where main aqueduct was found during excavation for foundation of building.

More information of the aqueduct can be found in https://archaeologyinbulgaria.wordpress.com

We visited Assist. Prof. Dr. Hirsto Kuzov of the Varna Museum of Archaeology who was instrumental in the success of this excavation and protection of the remains.

Small bath of Odessos

 

 

 

Shows Black Sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey 2019 – Ancient Magnesia

Magnesia was built around 400 B.C. on the slopes of Mount Thorax by the banks of the Lethaios River.

Reference: Magnesia on the Meander (Magnesia ad Maeandrum) Prof. Dr. Orhan Bingol.

Following photos of latrine

Photo has Source: Archives of Magnesia Excavations, drawing (2D-3D): Hakan Anay, rendering: Mert Ulutas.

Following photos of hypocaust building

Reference: Magnesia on the Meander (Magnesia ad Maeandrum) Prof. Dr. Orhan Bingol. Plan of Hypocaust source: O. Yilmaz, 2000.

Following photos of Stadium

Above photo of Stadium, Source: Archives of Magnesia Excavations, drawing: Kutay Karabag (3D), rendering UCLA.

Following photos of Theatron

Above photo of reconstruction from a 3-D laser scan,  Archives of Magnesia Excavations, drawing by Kutay Karabag (3D).

Turkey 2019 – Selcuk

Byzantine cistern and aqueduct

 

 

 

Turkey 2019 -Ancient Metropolis, Ancient Teos, and Ancient Erythrai

Ancient Metropolis

Following photos are of the odeion/bouleuterion

Following photos of bath and latrine

Above photo: Furnace (Praefurnium)

Following photos of latrine

 

Ancient Teos near Sagcik, Turkey

Cistern

 

Ancient Erythrai, Ildiri, Turkey

 

Turkey 2019 – Ancient Stratonicea and Ancient Iassos

Ancient Stratonicea

 

Ancient Iassos

 

Turkey 2019 – Ancient Halicarnassus, Ancient Kuanos, and Ancient Aphrodisias

Ancient Halicarnassus, Bodrum, Turkey

Ancient Kuanos, Dalyan, Turkey

Ancient Aphrodisias

Tetrapylon

Nymphaeum

Theater

South Agora with pool in center

Hadrianic bath complex

Odeion / Bouleuterion

Stadium

Stadium

 

 

 

Jordan 2019 -Petra and Amman

Petra

 

Amman (Ancient Philadelphia)

Ancient Roman Theatre

 

Bouleuterion/Odeion

Nymphaeum

 

Greek Roman Theatre of Catania, Sicily Parco Archeologico Greco Romano di Catania

Located at Via Vittorio Emanuele II 266, 95124 Catania, Sicily, Italy.  Entrance shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roman Aptera, Crete

 

The archaeological site is located in western Crete east of modern-day Chania ( about 13 km) overlooking Souda Bay to the north and wonderful views of the White Mountains to the south.  Aptera was inhabited since the Minoan times and was destroyed in the 365 AD earthquake.  Originally Aptera was a Minoan settlement mentioned in the Age Linear B tablets.  It was re-established during the 7-th century B.C. and eventually flourished in the Classical and especially the Hellenistic Greek times.  Later it became a Roman and Byzantine town.

Souda Bay and Dorian

Roman L-Shaped Cistern

Roman three vaulted cistern

Three vaults are visible

 

 

Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy

Villa Romana del Casale (Villa Rumana dû Casali) is a large and elaborate Roman  palace located about 3 km from the modern-day town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Through  excavations archeologists have revealed one of the “richest, largest, and varied collections” of Roman mosaics in the world.  Also they have revealed a rather elaborate system of water technologies including fountains, cisterns, an aqueduct, and bath facilities.  This site has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo by L.W. Mays

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Villa_del_Castle

© José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Villa_del_Castle

 

 

Aflaj in Oman

What is a falaj?

A falaj in Oman refers to water that runs through a channel dug in the earth with the source of water being groundwater. The plural of the word ‘falaj’ used in Oman is ‘aflaj’, which is a comprehensive term used to denote a system of irrigation.

Types of falaj

Dawoodi Falaj: These are long channels dug underground that are several kilometers long. Their depth usually reaches up to tens of meters, so water can be present in these channels all year. The most important of these falaj are: Falaj Al Khatmayn (or Khatmeen) and Falaj Daris in A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, which appear on the World Heritage List.  These are basically the same as the Persian qanat originating over 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

Ghaili Falaj: These falaj receive their water from ponds or running water. Their depths do not exceed 3 to 4 meters. Water quantities increase in these falaj directly after rainfall and usually dry up quickly during extended dry periods.

Ayni Falaj: These falaj draw their water directly from the springs (wells), including hot springs. The importance of these falaj depends on their water quality, which varies between hot and cold, and between fresh drinking water, saline water, and between alkaline water mixed with valley water, considered suitable for agriculture. There is another kind of spring that contains varying proportions of mineral salts suitable for water treatments and therapies.

Source: Abdullah Al-Ghafri, Study on Water Distribution Management of Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman, Ph.D. Dissertation, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, March 2004.

Aflaj visited Feb. 7 – 9, 2019

Falaj Sarrani – Al Baraimi, Oman
Falaj Darius – Nizwa, Oman
Falaj Khatmeen – Birket Al Mouz, Oman
Falaj Al Malki – Izki, Oman
Falaj Farfarah – Bidbid, Oman
Falaj Al Khaudh Village – near Muscat, Oman

Falaj Sarrani – Al Baraimi, Oman

Entrance

Talib and Susi Mays

 

 

 

 

 

Falaj Daris – Nizwa, Oman

 

Falaj Khatmeen – Birket Al Mouz, Oman

 

Falaj Al Malki – Izki, Oman

 

Falaj Farfarah – Bidbid, Oman

 

 

Falaj Al Khaudh Village – near Muscat, Oman