Investigations on a Roman-era tunnel, which was discovered in the garden of a house in the Aegean province of İzmir’s Kadifekale district, have been completed. The tunnel, which is thought to have been built as a water conveyance system, will be the subject of a documentary film. Promotional booklets will also be made for the tunnel.
Secret tunnels around İzmir’s Agora have always been a matter of discussion. It is thought the tunnels were built in the Roman era in order to convey water to the ancient city located between Kadifekale and Kemeraltı.
The first comprehensive investigation on long-distance water conveyance systems to meet the water needs of İzmir was carried out in the end of the 19th century by Georg Weber within the framework of the activities of the German Archaeological Institute.
In one of these tunnels, found in the garden of a house in the Sakarya neighborhood, the Panagia Galatariotissa (the Virgin-Who-Gives-Milk-to-Mothers) Church, which was mentioned by Weber, was discovered a few years ago. The Konak Municipality bought this place and restored it. Then it began to serve as the Konak Municipality’s Department of City History.
Following the work for the documentary, the tunnel will be opened to visitors. The tunnel was believed to increase the fertility of women who drank its water.
