8. The Celestial Map
Pamukkale's travertine terraces' design, ancient astronomers thought, reflected the northern skies' constellation map.Using the reflecting surfaces of the thermal waters for astronomical computations and forecasts, they built temples and observatories matched with certain pools.The mythology holds that the waters would change color and temperature during specific celestial events, therefore offering omens and direction to the temple priests.Sophisticated astronomical alignments found in studies of the architectural remnants imply that the ancient people indeed used the site for celestial observations and maybe as a natural calendar system.
