The Stratonicea bouleuterion, built in 129-130 BC, resembles stylistically the one from Miletus. The entrance is on the western side of the building and four rows of seats have been preserved. In the past some scholars identified it with the Serapis temple, but the inscriptions found in the bouleuterion as well as an edict by emperor Diocletian testify against this theory.
Cyzicus ancient city had been founded by the settlers from Miletus and was one of the oldest Ionian colonies on the coast of the Sea of Marmara. Once a magnificent temple of Hadrian stood there which was perceived as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in the times of late Roman Empire. Now, the ruins of Cyzicus are rarely visited by tourists and the remains of ancient structures are heavily overgrown and inhabited mainly by bat colonies.
The remains of Daskyleion, situated nearby the Manyas lake and Ergili village, are extremely interesting for historians because of their turbulent history. In this north-western Anatolian settlement the numerous traces of Persian rule were discovered, including the satrap's palace and the place of Zoroastrianism religious rituals.
The archaeologists under the leadership of dr Bilal Söğüt from Pamukkale University in Denizli are currently working in the area of Roman bath in ancient Stratonicea. The team of 100 workers will clear the remains of the baths complex that was built for women only. All together there are three bath complexes in Stratonicea as the recent research has confirmed.
Nearby Yatağan, overshadowed by the thermal power plant, lie the ruins of Lagina ancient sanctuary. Their location, among the surroundings heavily damaged by industrial activities, paradoxically matches the characteristics of the goddess who used to be worshipped there. It was Hecate, the dark goddess of the underworld, of Anatolian origins.
