Aizanoi, a site on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, is one of Anatolia’s most remarkable treasures, home to one of the world’s best-preserved Temples of Zeus, a unique theatre–stadium complex, and the Macellum, one of the earliest known marketplaces. At Gürok, we are committed to carrying this cultural legacy forward through a long-term support program spanning archaeological excavations, restoration efforts, local employment initiatives, and projects designed to enhance visitor engagement and social impact.
Rooted in Our Founding City, Committed to Our Culture
We provide ongoing support for Aizanoi to safeguard Kütahya’s historical heritage, boost local tourism, and pass cultural heritage on to future generations.
- Location & Scope: Çavdarhisar, Kütahya, Türkiye. A rare architectural ensemble featuring the Temple of Zeus, a 20,000-seat theater, a 13,500-seat stadium, the Macellum (one of the earliest marketplaces), a colonnaded street, bridges, and a bath–palaestra complex.
- Historical Background: With origins dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, Aizanoi flourished during the Roman era as a prosperous center of agriculture, viniculture, and wool production. It has been on the UNESCO Tentative List since 2012.
Sustained Excavation and Restoration
- Priority Zones: Kocaçay (Penkalas) riverbanks, the agora, and the theater area.
- Bridge Restorations: The restoration of Roman-era marble bridge No. 2 has been completed, while work on bridge No. 3 continues.
- Scientific Coordination: All efforts are conducted under scientific supervision in coordination with universities and museum authorities.
- Statue & Mythology: A 2.10-meter male statue and the heads of Eros, Dionysus, and Heracles.
- Traces of Daily Life: 2,000-year-old shops discovered in the agora, with inscriptions revealing information about their period of operation.
- Cosmetics Shop: Findings include makeup pigments such as blush and eyeshadow in 10 distinct shades, perfume bottles, hairpins, beads, and numerous oyster shells once used as cosmetic palettes.
Employment & Ownership
Local employment is strengthened by hiring workers and technical staff from the region. Growing visitor interest supports local businesses. Between 2020 and 2022, visitor numbers rose by 113.5 percent.
The Temple of Zeus: Among the best-preserved Zeus temples in the world and the only one in Anatolia with a vaulted substructure.
Theater–Stadium Complex: A rare architectural layout where two monumental structures share the same axis.
Macellum (One of the World’s Very First Marketplaces): Inscriptions of the Edict on Maximum Prices (issued by Roman Emperor Diocletian in 301 CE to curb inflation across the empire) shed light on economic history.
Columned Street & Bridges: The restoration of the marble bridges, the backbone connecting the city to cultural and commercial areas, is ongoing.
Bathhouse–Palaestra: A focal point of public life, adorned with ornate marble details and athletic spaces.
