Ancient Olympic Champions Swam in 2,000-Year-Old Pool in Turkey

A 2,000-year-old 'olympic pool' has been unearthed in Turkey. Excavations in the ancient city of Tralleis in Aydın, Turkey, have shed light on the athletic prowess of ancient civilizations. The head of the excavation team, Prof. Dr. Murat Çekilmez, stated that the 37-meter-long and 12-meter-wide pool was used by athletes in ancient times.It is believed that the pool was used for cooling off, especially during the hot summer months. In ancient times, such cold water swimming pools were typically located in the middle of bath complexes. The example in Tralleis is estimated to have been a swimming pool for approximately 300 people.Prof. Dr. Çekilmez suggested that the pool was also used by children who were trained in the gymnasium (a multi-purpose educational complex) behind the pool. The pool is slightly larger than those found in other ancient cities in the area.The structure's open design in ancient times allowed for the use of spring water, which was supplied through a 56-kilometer-long water system. The excavations also revealed a drainage system that enabled the rapid emptying and cleaning of the pool. Once all the work is completed, plans are in place to refill the pool with water.