Patricia Leonardo - HIERAPOLIS 3D & AR

For my Master’s thesis and project on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies, I participated in a seven-month exchange program at the Cultural Heritage Department of Salento, Italy. During this time, I joined the Italian Archaeological Mission in Hierapolis, collaborating with the Turkish government at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hierapolis, Turkey.

Hierapolis, an ancient city in classical Phrygia (modern-day southwestern Anatolia), lies near the famous hot springs of Pamukkale. This archaeological site includes significant features such as a Roman theater, a nymphaeum, and a fascinating cult center—the Apollo Sanctuary and the Plutonium, a sacred site dedicated to the Greek god of the underworld, Hades. Excavations in Hierapolis have unveiled critical insights into the cult of Hades, clarified mysteries surrounding the Plutonium, and offered a deeper understanding of ancient Greek and Roman religious practices. Despite these discoveries, much about the site’s history and rituals remains enigmatic, illustrating the complexity of ancient religions and the ongoing potential for archaeology to reshape our understanding of the past.

As part of this project, I honed my skills in 2D and 3D modeling, photo and video editing, research, historical interpretation, and AR product design. I also contributed to content production and used advanced tools to visualize and document the site’s findings.

Skills and Expertise:
   •   2D & 3D Modeling
   •   Photo & Video Editing
   •   Historical Research & Interpretation
   •   AR App Product Design
   •   Content Production

Technical Tools:
   •   Cinema 4D
   •   AutoCAD
   •   Photoshop
   •   Final Cut Pro
   •   HTML
   •   Joomla
   •   Database Management
   •   Data Analysis
   •   Archaeology Software: ArcMap, ArcGIS

This interdisciplinary experience combined heritage studies, cutting-edge technology, and creative content production, showcasing the power of digital tools in preserving and interpreting the past.