Excavations in the Izmir province, West Turkey, revealed a well-preserved brick vault structure. It was discovered in the area of the ancient Mediterranean city of Metropolis, presently between the Yeniköy and Özbet villages. The structure is a part of a bath-palaestra complex that dates back 1900 years. Occupation in the area of the ancient city was continuous during the Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

The structure possibly served as a canal for transferring hot water to the pools in the caldarium (hot plunge bath) section of the bath complex. The Roman bath–palaestra complex in the ancient city covers an area of 5,000 square meters. Experts from Archaeology Department of the Manisa Celal Bayar University noted that the structure is similar to the  Vedius Gymnasium in Ephesus. Both structures were constructed in the period of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius in the same technique, which might indicate that same masters might have worked on them. The baths in Metropolis were expanded in the 2nd century BC adding new sections for eating and drinking, as well as bathing. In previous years archaeologists managed to unearth the bath’s caldarium, tepidarium (warm section), frigidarium (cold section), festive rooms, marble and mosaic rooms, palaestra and mosaic porticos.

(after Hurriyet Daily News)