Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Laodicea in southwestern Türkiye have uncovered a 2,000-year-old assembly hall believed to have served as the political and administrative heart of the city during Roman times.
Located in the modern-day province of Denizli, Laodicea is on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites and has been the focus of ongoing excavations and restorations for more than two decades. The newly unearthed structure, discovered during the 2025 excavation season, marks a major milestone in the site’s 22-year archaeological journey. The city’s history stretches as far back as 5500 BC.
“This discovery adds a new layer to our understanding of civic life in ancient Laodicea,” researchers said, noting that the building’s architectural plan is unlike anything previously found in ancient Anatolia. The hall features a rare combination of pentagonal exterior walls and a hexagonal interior layout, suggesting a unique and possibly ceremonial use.
Archaeologists believe the assembly hall functioned as a center for both political deliberations and judicial proceedings, reinforcing Laodicea’s importance as a regional power during the Roman era.
Previous discoveries at the site include vividly frescoed travertine blocks, a three-meter-tall statue of the Roman Emperor Trajan, the monumental Traian Fountain, a sculpted priest’s head, and a dramatic group sculpture depicting Scylla, the sea monster from Homer’s Odyssey.
The new find offers fresh insight into the architectural innovation and political organization of one of Anatolia’s most significant ancient cities.
