Sarıkaya: Roman Baths and Thermal History

At the heart of Sarıkaya, thermal waters, Roman architectural history, and later religious interpretations converge. Basilica Therma lies on the Bozok Plateau in north-central Anatolia and makes the town’s long history tangible at a specific site. The ancient Roman bath is estimated to have been built in the 2nd century AD.

A Roman Bath with Changing Names

The names reflect different eras: in Roman times, the bath was known as “Aquae Sarvenae,” in Byzantine times as “Basilica Therma,” and in Ottoman times as “Terzili Hamamı.” In 2018, the Sarıkaya Roman Bath was designated a first-degree archaeological site. On May 2 of the same year, Basilica Therma was submitted for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. This tentative list is distinct from the World Heritage List.

One historical interpretation links the bath to changing religious use: according to this account, after Emperor Theodosius banned paganism, a marble baptismal font bearing a cross was placed in the large thermal pool. Because of this function, Christians regarded the site as sacred. The bull’s-head and snake motifs on the Sarıkaya Roman Bath are also among its striking architectural details.

Pools, Dimensions, and Thermal Water

The large thermal pool measures 23.30 × 12.80 meters, is 1.34 meters deep, and has a water temperature of about 45°C. At its center is an almost oval, two-part baptismal font with a cross relief. It measures 120 × 140 centimeters and is 25 centimeters thick. The pool’s dimensions thus sit alongside a smaller, purpose-built baptismal font—a tangible link between the complex and its later religious interpretation.

A third pool lies at a right angle to the inner pool. Its thermal water emerges from the bottom; at the short ends, the pool has a semicircular ground plan. It measures 15.00 × 5.20 meters. After the discovery of the forepool, further excavations uncovered a second and third pool behind the main building. The thermal spring at Basilica Therma is considered to have healing properties and continues to supply thermal water.

During the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, water from the thermal spring was used for therapeutic bathing without damaging the main building of the Roman bath. This brings together the continuing thermal spring and its historical use in two distinct periods: the water still flows, while its use for therapeutic bathing is recorded for earlier eras.

Sarıkaya and the Surrounding Area

Nearby, in Terzili, Karayakup, stands the historic Adem Ağa Konağı. This single-storey timber-frame building with mud infill was built in 1926 and has been preserved to this day. Also in Terzili, Karayakup, the Terzili Armenian Chapel remains in use. Armenian residents visit the chapel every year and hold religious services there. Together, these places point to further historical and religious landmarks in the area around Sarıkaya.

Location and Travel Orientation

Basilica Therma is in the center of Sarıkaya. The Sarıkaya thermal baths are also centrally located and can be reached by road. If your trip focuses primarily on the Roman bath and thermal history, the town center provides a specific location reference when looking for a holiday apartment. This lets you match your choice of location to your trip’s focus, without treating the sights themselves as accommodation features.

Sarıkaya is listed as 75 kilometers from Yozgat, 300 kilometers from Ankara, 120 kilometers from Kayseri, 124 kilometers from Cappadocia, and 110 kilometers from Hattuşa. The distances to Nevşehir Kapadokya, Kayseri, and Sivas Nuri Demirağ airports are approximately 150, 120, and 190 kilometers, respectively. Check your route and current travel conditions before setting off. A major road connection between the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions also runs through the wider region. The town center and these long-distance figures therefore offer different points of reference for your accommodation and travel planning.

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