The Pessinus Archaeological Site is situated in Ballıhisar Village, 13 km southwest of Sivrihisar Town in Eskişehir. The city reached its peak during the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD). The square where the temple is located features a Theater with Steps, Bouleuterion, Agora, and a colonnaded street. During the reign of Emperor Hadrianus (117 - 138 AD), an 8000-person capacity theater was constructed on the hill to the east of the city. Pessinus lost its significance in the 9th century AD and was eventually abandoned. Artifacts from the city are on display at the Outdoors Exhibition of Ballıhisar Village and the Eskişehir Eti Archaeology Museum. Temple of Augustus The temple of Augustus, built in the Corinthian order with a peripteral plan, was started after the death of Augustus and completed during the reign of Emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD). It has 6 pillars on the short side, 11 pillars on the long side, and two pillars between the antes. The foundations of the cella and pronaos are common and measure 17.15 x 9.15 m, while the ruins of the foundations measure 24.10 x 13.70 m. The temple sits on a crepidoma with five or six steps. The temple's crepidoma superstructure steps, cella wall blocks, pillar drums, Corinthian capitals of the pillars and antes, architrave, frieze, cornice, and parts of the roof are scattered around the temple and within the village. Theater with Steps Only 26 out of the 30 steps of the theatre have been preserved. The structure measures 11.51 x 11.75 meters. The theatre connects the temple to the Agora below. Bouleuterion (Meeting Place of the City Council) The Bouleuterion, also known as the Severus Theater due to its construction during the Severan dynasty (193-235 AD), is an ellipsoid structure located above the orchestra of the Theater with Steps. It consists of six rows of marble seats with steps in the middle and was likely used as a meeting place for the city council. Some of the locally gathered marble blocks used in its construction bear the marks of stonemasons, such as 'K', 'Γ', 'Λ', 'A', and 'M'. Agora with Porticoes The agora, which was constructed during the reign of Claudius (41-54 AD), consists of a square below the temple and theatre with steps, surrounded by porticoes on three sides. It measures 32m in length and 26.38m in width. The portico pillars are located on the top step, with some of the pillars and plinths still preserved in their original positions. The agora is connected to the colonnaded street at the bank of the Gallos River. Gallos River and Canal System The most impressive structure of the early Roman Empire is the canal system with seven steps, which dates back to the Augustan era. The canal, which is 11-13 meters wide, was constructed to collect and carry water from the Gallos River as it passes through Pessinus. It was continuously extended from the 1st to the 3rd century BC and reached a length of 500 meters.

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