Basilica Therma

For the town of ancient Bithynia, seeBasilica Therma (Bithynia).

Basilica Therma

Kral Kızı Hamamı(in Turkish)
Shown within Turkey
Alternative name	Sarıkaya Roma Hamamı
Location	Terzili Hamam,Yozgat Province,Turkey
Coordinates	39°29′41.7″N35°22′34.7″E
Type	Public Bath
History
Founded	2nd century
Site notes
Public access	Yes

Basilica Therma(Turkish:Kral Kızı Hamamı or Sarıkaya Roma Hamamı) is an ancientRomanspatown located in theYozgatprovince ofTurkey.It is thought to be the ancientAquae Saravenae(Akova - Saravena), though this is disputed with nearbyKırşehir.

The bath was built in the 2nd century and used inByzantine,SelcukandOttomanperiods and still open to the public in modernTurkey.

The large thermal pool measures 23,30x12,80 meters and has a depth of 1.34 meters. Pool water is about 45 °C. There is an inner pool measuring 16.00x4.00 meters with symmetrical ladders on its both sides. The third pool with thermal water boiling from the floor is positioned perpendicular to the inner pool. The pool is 15.00x5.20 meters with a semi-circular shape on its short sides.

The bath is added to theUNESCO List of World Heritage SitesTentative List in 2018.

Etymology

The bath was mentioned for the first time in the 2nd century AD in the Ptolemaic Atlas, with the Ancient Greek script as “Σαρούηνα” (Sarouena).

It is written as “Aquae Saravenae” in Latin sources. The 13th century copy of the Peutinger Map, whose original is thought to have been drawn in the 4th or 5th century, reads “Aquas Aravenas” in corrupted Latin.