Wikipedia
Hierapolis (, lit. "Holy City") was an ancient city located on hot springs in classical Phrygia in southwestern Anatolia. Its ruins are adjacent to modern Pamukkale in Turkey and currently comprise an archaeological museum designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC, with many patrons retiring or dying there. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, most famously that of Marcus Aurelius Ammianos, which bears the earliest known example of a crank and rod mechanism. The great baths were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together. There are deep niches in the inner section, including the bath, library, and gymnasium.
Hierapolis or Hieropolis (Greek for sacred/Holy city) may refer to these Ancient cities in different Roman provinces of the Hellenistic world, and several former (now titular) (arch)bishoprics having see in such city :
in modern Turkey-
Hierapolis, in Phrygia Pacatiana Secunda, near modern Pamukkale, south-western Turkey.
- Hierapolis in Phrygia remains a Latin Catholic Metropolitan titular archbishopric
-
Hierapolis ad Pyramum or Castabala, in Cilicia Secunda, near modern Adana, south-east Turkey
- a Latin Catholic titular bishopric, but under the name Castabala
-
Hierapolis in Isauria,
- a Latin Catholic Titular bishopric with see in the above city
- Hieropolis of the Phrygian Pentapolis, modern Koçhisar, Sandıklı, near Afyonkarahisar, central Turkey
- Hieropolis Comana, in Cappadocia (central Turkey)
- Hierapolis Euphratensis or Hierapolis Bambyce, in Roman Syria Euphratensis Prima, modern Manbij, north-central Syria
- as Hierapolis in Syria, the above city is the nominal see of three Catholic successor titular sees :
- the Latin Catholic Metropolitan titular archbishopric of Hierapolis of the Romans
- the Melkite Catholic Titular Archbishopric of Hierapolis of the Melkites
- the Syrian Titular Bishopric of Hierapolis of the Syrians