The ancient city of Tralles (known as Tiral today) may be seen atop a hill from the Aydın-Denizli highway. It is located in the district of Topyatagi, a kilometer north of Aydin city.
As related by the ancient geographer Strabo of Amaseia, Tralles was founded by Argive and Thracian tribes. Although it is an extremely ancient settlement, very little proper archaeological research or excavation has been conducted concerning Tralles and for that reason, our knowledge of the city is quite limited. The first historical mention of the city is a reference made to it during the war of independence undertaken in the 5th century B.C. against the Persians by the Spartan general, Thibron. In 334 B.C. Alexander the Great delivered the city from Persian rule. Tralles changed hands frequently among the Hellenistic kingdoms: the Seleucidswere in control of it in 313 B.C. and after the Magnesian wars, it passed to the Kingdom of Pergamon in 260 B.C.
In 129 B.C., Tralles became part of Roman province of Asia. When King Mithridates Eupator of Pontus rebelled against the Romans, the city remained under Pontine rule for four years beginning in 88 B.C. In 84 B.C. Tralles was returned to Rome. In 26 B.C. it suffered serious damage in an earthquake and as it was rebuilt with the assistance of Emperor Augustus, the city was renamed Caesarea.
Under Byzantine rule, Tralles was an episcopal see. The Turks took control of it in the 12th century.
Strabo tells us that the city was a rich and prosperous place in Roman times. Today however very little remains standing of the city that once stood on a plateau surrounded by a protecting wall. The structure known locally as Og Goz (”Three Arches”) is actually three vaults — all that remains of the gymnasium. The remains of the cavea of the ancient theater lie to the north. Because a large part of the ancient city today lies within a military zone, archaeological excavations and research cannot be carried out.
On display at the Aydin Museum are a variety of archaeologica works from the ancient city of Tralles.
One of the two architects responsible for the buildings of Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) in istanbul was Anthemius of Tralles. (The other was Isador of Miletos.)
The “Young Athlete” in the istanbul Archaeological Museum and the “Farneese Bull”, both masterpieces of late Hellenistic sculpture are two world-famous works by sculptors from Tralles.