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Extravagant Roman Villa Had Its Own Fishpond
Archaeology Magazine ^ | July 23, 2025 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 07/28/2025 9:39:45 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

The ancient city of Tripolis, near the town of Baldun, is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in western Anatolia. Over the past 13 years, archaeologists from Pamukkale University have been investigating the city, and have uncovered numerous Roman and Byzantine era ruins, including monumental fountains, a 1,500-year-old church, and colorful mosaics. Türkiye Today reports that the team recently uncovered a luxurious 1,600-year-old villa that is one of the most significant properties yet uncovered. Spreading across 16,000 square feet, the opulent residence contains vibrant frescoes, spacious halls, and a large colonnaded inner courtyard. The highlight of the sprawling estate was a 430-square-foot artificial fishpond, with marble floors decorated with fish motifs. The pool's interior walls were fitted with terracotta pipes that could be used as small places of refuge for the marine life and protect them from direct sunlight. Experts believe species such as carp, catfish, and eels were raised in the oversize fish tank not for viewing or entertainment, but to be served to distinguished guests at elaborate parties. According to the report, during Roman times, domestic fish pools served more than just culinary needs -- they were also symbols of affluence and sophistication. To read about Roman-era mosaics unearthed in Turkey, go to "Zeugma After the Flood."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: anatolia; baldun; byzantineempire; godsgravesglyphs; pamukkale; romanempire; tripolis

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Ruins of Tripolis, Turkey
Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons
Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons

1 posted on 07/28/2025 9:39:45 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 07/28/2025 9:41:13 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The moron troll Ted Holden believes that humans originated on Ganymede.)
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To: SunkenCiv

They had a cement pond?.....................


3 posted on 07/28/2025 9:45:10 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: SunkenCiv

4 posted on 07/28/2025 9:46:26 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: SunkenCiv

In the late republic this was coming among the elite in their rural villas. Millets, in particular, were prized


5 posted on 07/28/2025 9:49:03 AM PDT by j.havenfarm (24 years on Free Republic, 12/10/24! More than 10,500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: SunkenCiv
Experts believe species such as carp, catfish, and eels were raised in the oversize fish tank not for viewing or entertainment,

Not just "viewing and entertainment." There is the famous story about the cruel Roman patrician Vedius Pollio who had slaves killed by throwing them into a pond filled with lampreys.

6 posted on 07/28/2025 9:57:23 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: SunkenCiv; All

Amazing what civilizations built and how they were.destroyed by enemies foreign and domestic.


7 posted on 07/28/2025 10:15:01 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard
Yep.

Slave dropped a goblet, slave got thrown to the eels. Apparently that was the banquet entertainment.

8 posted on 07/28/2025 10:24:19 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: SunkenCiv

.


9 posted on 07/28/2025 4:52:36 PM PDT by redinIllinois (Pro-life, accountant, gun-totin' Grandma - multi issue voter )
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To: SunkenCiv

It needs some pointing up....


10 posted on 07/29/2025 1:43:18 AM PDT by minnesota_bound (Making money now. Still want much more.)
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