Salagassos in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) was a flourishing Hellenistic city first settled in the 7th millennium BC, conquered by Alexander the Great and destroyed by an earthquake in the 7th century AD.
Sagalassos was one of the most remarkable ancient cities of Pisidia, a region in southwestern Anatolia. Located high in the Taurus Mountains near the modern town of Ağlasun, the city developed under strong Greek cultural influence, was conquered by Alexander the Great and later became one of the most prosperous urban centers of the Roman Empire.
Its impressive theaters, fountains, baths, temples and public squares demonstrate the wealth and ambition of its inhabitants. Yet Sagalassos also provides a powerful example of how natural disasters, disease, political instability and economic decline could transform an ancient city. Although it is often described simply as a city “destroyed by an earthquake,” archaeological research shows a more complicated story: Sagalassos experienced several earthquakes, survived the first major disasters, and only gradually declined before its eventual abandonment.
Sagalassos began to develop as a city during the Hellenistic period. According to archaeologist Marc Waelkens, the settlement emerged in the late 5th century BC and developed as a true “city” from approximately 200 BC onwards. Waelkens also emphasizes that the site was not immediately abandoned after the Roman period but remained inhabited into the early 13th century but not as a city but as scattered settlements in the wider area.
Ideal location but geologically vulnerable
The Hellenistic city’s location played an important role in its history. Sagalassos stood at an altitude of roughly 1,450–1,600 meters on the southern slopes of the Taurus Mountains. Its position gave it access to fertile agricultural territory, while its inhabitants developed successful industries, especially the production of distinctive red-slipped pottery. UNESCO describes Sagalassos as the metropolis of the Roman province of Pisidia and notes that the surrounding territory produced grain and olives. The city therefore benefited from both agriculture and manufacturing, allowing it to become a prosperous regional center.
Greek culture became particularly influential after Alexander the Great conquered the region in 333 BC. Sagalassos adopted Hellenic cultural traditions, and during the Roman period its architecture combined Greek traditions with Roman monumental design. Under Roman imperial rule, the city reached its greatest prosperity. It was especially favored under Emperor Hadrian, who promoted Sagalassos as an important city of Pisidia. Monumental public buildings, fountains, baths and other structures were constructed, transforming the mountain settlement into an impressive urban center.
However, Sagalassos existed in a region vulnerable to earthquakes. Archaeological and geological evidence demonstrates that the city experienced several major seismic events. Researchers Marc Waelkens, Manuel Sintubin, Philippe Muchez and Etienne Paulissen found evidence suggesting that at least four significant earthquakes affected the city, potentially during the late first century CE, the middle of the third century, the early sixth century and the middle of the seventh century.
The first damaging earthquake
One of the most important earthquakes occurred around 500–518 AD. The earthquake caused extensive damage, but Sagalassos did not immediately disappear. In fact, the inhabitants repaired and rebuilt many structures. UNESCO describes how, following the earthquake around 500 AD, the city was restored “with a great sense of monumentality.” This rebuilding is evidence of the resilience of the population. Rather than abandoning their city, the inhabitants invested in its reconstruction.
The 6th century, however, brought additional difficulties. The Hellenistic city was affected by epidemics, including the plague that spread through the Byzantine Empire in the 540s. According to the archaeological evidence, the plague of approximately 541–543 significantly reduced the local population. At the same time, the wider economy of Asia Minor was experiencing difficulties. The combination of disease, demographic decline and economic disruption weakened the city’s ability to recover from future disasters.
The final and most destructive earthquake appears to have occurred during the middle or second half of the 7th century. This earthquake is particularly important because archaeological evidence suggests that it may have caused the eventual abandonment of the city. Geological research by Manuel Sintubin and his colleagues states that the 7th century earthquake was so severe that it “seems to have caused the abandonment of the city.” Their research suggests that Sagalassos may have been close to the earthquake’s macroseismic epicenter. The damage was therefore not simply the result of poor construction or gradual deterioration; it was associated with powerful seismic activity in the immediate region.
Even more revealing is the discovery of the Sagalassos Fault. Researchers used archaeology, geology, geomorphology, remote sensing and other techniques to investigate the earthquakes. Their studies identified an active normal fault system passing beneath the ancient city. The research concluded that a historical surface rupture may correspond to the devastating earthquakes of approximately 500 AD and the 7th century. This interdisciplinary research demonstrates how archaeology can help modern scientists reconstruct earthquakes that occurred more than a thousand years ago.
Physical remains of the disaster
The physical remains of the Hellenistic city provide direct evidence of these disasters. Collapsed monuments, fractured floors and damaged architectural structures have allowed researchers to reconstruct the direction and intensity of earthquake movements. One study notes that fractures in the mosaic floor of the ancient library, as well as damage to the Upper Agora and theater steps, provide information about the stresses produced by the earthquake. The researchers concluded that the magnitude of destruction suggested an epicenter close to the city.
Nevertheless, it would be misleading to say that the earthquake alone “destroyed” Sagalassos. By the 7th century, the city had already experienced population loss, epidemics, economic difficulties and Arab raids. The earthquake was therefore a final major blow to a community that had already become increasingly vulnerable. UNESCO similarly describes a process in which epidemics and economic decline caused parts of the city to be abandoned, followed by further difficulties and another heavy earthquake.
The abandonment of Sagalassos was therefore gradual rather than instantaneous. Some inhabitants moved into smaller, more defensible settlements, while urban life increasingly disappeared. Archaeological evidence shows that occupation continued in isolated communities for centuries. This distinction is significant because the ruins visible today represent not simply the remains of a city suddenly destroyed, but the accumulated remains of a society that adapted repeatedly to crisis before finally disappearing as an urban center.
Today, Sagalassos is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean. Its remote mountain location protected it from extensive later looting, while layers of erosion and vegetation covered many of its buildings. Archaeological excavations, particularly those associated with Marc Waelkens and the University of Leuven, have gradually revealed its monumental architecture and everyday history. Modern scientific investigation has also transformed the site into an important case study for understanding ancient earthquakes.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
