Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes in Wien, Band 78/2009, pp. 19-42, 2024/08/16
Information is limited about the location of the cemeteries of Metropolis (Province of Izmir, near
the modern town of Torbalı), and systematic research on this matter has so far been of little help.
We know that there is a cemetery of rock cut tombs situated west of the Acropolis. The funeral
gifts found in these tombs are generally dated to the second half of the 2nd century B.C. Another
cemetery of rock cut tombs was discovered under the seats of the theatre. One undisturbed
tomb contained burial gifts belonging to the Classical Period
while others were robbed and without any findings.
Fully preserved Hellenistic pottery vessels, however, were found during the excavation of the
Roman Mosaic House near the theatre. This pottery is considered to represent funeral gifts, indicating that this area continued to be used as a cemetery.
