Amorium, Archaeological site in Emirdağ, Turkey
Amorium is an archaeological site in Turkey's Afyonkarahisar region that reveals the remains of a Byzantine settlement organized into two distinct zones. The Upper City features Byzantine-era walls, while the Lower City is ringed by defensive fortifications that underline its past importance as a fortified stronghold.
The settlement emerged as a Byzantine military center and reached its height during the 9th century, when several emperors came from the region and the site served as an administrative capital. This period of prominence shaped its structure and significance for centuries.
The site functioned as a major administrative and military center for Byzantine control of central Anatolia. Visitors can observe how the layout reflects the organization of a fortress city designed to project power across the region.
The site sits in a rural area east of Emirdağ and is accessible by car, though roads to different sections can be unpaved in places. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water, especially given the hot conditions typical of central Anatolia.
The site preserves evidence of resistance against iconoclastic beliefs that raged through a period of religious upheaval for decades, deeply altering practice in the region. This vanished phase survives today only in archaeological finds that document alternative forms of worship.
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