Archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Alexandria Troas in Turkey's Çanakkale province are revealing significant structures from its past. This season's work has focused on uncovering a substantial odeon, estimated to seat between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators, and a grand monument connected to the city's agora.
Alexandria Troas, with Hellenistic origins, later flourished as a Roman colony. Its strategic location on the Aegean coast made it a vital trade hub, connecting Asia Minor with Macedonia and Rome. At its peak, between the 1st and 4th centuries AD, the city is estimated to have supported a population of around 100,000. The city's importance was further highlighted by its harbor, which facilitated the export of granite columns. Alexandria Troas was eventually abandoned in the 13th century.
The ongoing excavations are led by Professor Erhan Öztepe from Ankara University's Department of Archaeology. His team has been excavating the forum area, the city's public heart, since 2011. Recent efforts have concentrated on two previously unexplored sections: the odeon and a monumental stoa complex.
Professor Öztepe emphasized the odeon's significance, noting it will stand as another prime example of such architectural achievements. An inscription discovered in 2006 near the odeon, dating to the reign of Emperor Hadrian, provides evidence of a vibrant cultural life, mentioning festivals and prizes awarded to Dionysian artists. The odeon, a venue for musical and theatrical performances, had an estimated seating capacity of up to 3,000. Excavations have revealed preserved outer walls, and the team is working to uncover the seating areas, known as the cavea.
Adding to the discoveries, a monument in the northern corridor leading to the forum honors a musician from Lesbos. Although the statue is missing, its base testifies to the esteem in which artists were held in Alexandria Troas. Inscriptions found at the Odeon indicate that a musician from Lesbos achieved recognition and was honored with a statue for success in a competition held there.
Simultaneously, excavations are revealing a monumental complex linked to the agora. This includes a stoa with an underground vaulted corridor, known as a cryptoporticus, which connects to the city's main east-west thoroughfare, the decumanus. Collapsed vault stones still cover the cryptoporticus, and their removal could allow for further exploration. Doorways discovered last year suggest the presence of rooms behind the current excavation area, estimated to be around seven meters tall.
Alexandria Troas held a special status within the Roman Empire, enjoying tax exemptions akin to Rome itself and benefiting from intentional development by the empire. Emperor Hadrian, in particular, played a role in the city's development, with an inscription from Athens honoring him as the restorer of the colony. His reign saw the construction of aqueducts and the Herodes Atticus Bath.
While significant progress is being made in uncovering the public spaces, large portions of the city, particularly residential areas, remain unexcavated. Private property ownership currently impedes access to these areas, which could offer crucial insights into the city's evolution, such as whether Roman construction directly overlaid Greek houses or if new neighborhoods were created, and how Hellenistic domestic traditions persisted into the Roman period. The focus of current excavations remains on the forum, odeon, and agora complex, promising further revelations about this historically significant ancient metropolis.