Pessinus – Ballıhisar, Eskişehir

Pessinus – Ballıhisar, Eskişehir

Once the vibrant heart of the Phrygian mother goddess cult, the ancient city of Pessinus stands as a pivotal link between the native Anatolian, Greek, and Roman worlds. Located in the modern village of Ballıhisar, near Eskişehir, Pessinus was the most important sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Cybele (or Matar), and its influence was felt as far away as Rome itself.

The Cult of Cybele: A Sacred Stone and Priestly Kings

According to tradition, Pessinus was founded by the legendary King Midas in the 8th century BCE as the primary center for the worship of Cybele. The cult's most sacred object was a black meteorite stone, believed to have fallen from the heavens, which embodied the goddess herself. The sanctuary was administered by a line of eunuch high priests, known as the Galloi, who wielded both religious and political power.

The fame of Pessinus reached its zenith in 205 BCE during the Second Punic War. Following a prophecy, the Romans sent a high-level delegation to bring the sacred stone to Rome. The arrival of Cybele, known in Rome as Magna Mater (the "Great Mother"), was a major religious event, and her cult became an official part of the Roman state religion, ensuring the enduring fame of Pessinus.

From Cult Center to Roman City

Under the Roman Empire, particularly during the reign of Emperor Augustus, Pessinus was transformed from a temple-state into a grand Greco-Roman city. It became the administrative capital for the region and was adorned with monumental architecture that blended the imperial cult with its ancient Anatolian traditions.

Archaeological Highlights

Excavations, led for many years by Ghent University, have uncovered the city's layered history:

  • The Temple and Imperial Cult: The most prominent structure is a magnificent marble temple from the reign of Emperor Tiberius. While once thought to be Cybele's sanctuary, it is now identified as a Sebasteion, a temple dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperors. This highlights the city's integration into the Roman imperial system.
  • The Canal System: An impressive, seven-stepped marble canal system, dating to the Augustan period, channeled the Gallos river through the heart of the city. This feat of engineering was both functional and monumental, creating a grand civic space.
  • Theatre and Public Squares: The city boasted a large theatre with a capacity for 8,000 spectators, a colonnaded street, and a large public square (quadriporticus) that served as the commercial and social center.
  • The Necropolis: The burial grounds surrounding the city contain a variety of tombs and funerary monuments, providing insight into the lives of the inhabitants of Pessinus over centuries.

Pessinus offers a unique insight into how a powerful, ancient Anatolian religious center was absorbed and transformed by the Roman Empire, creating a city where the cults of an ancient mother goddess and the Roman emperors existed side by side.

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Location Information

Latitude:39.331425
Longitude:31.582462
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