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The Independent
20-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Spectacular statues reveal art tradition of ancient Rome's lost sculpture capital
A spectacular set of Roman statues unearthed in Turkey has shed new light on the art tradition of the lost city of Perga, which was held as the ancient empire's sculpture capital. Archaeologists from Turkey 's Future Heritage Project unearthed five sculptures dating to the second century AD during excavations in two areas of the ancient city on the country's southwestern Mediterranean coast. One of the sculptures is a striking 2-metre-high statue of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, sitting on a base depicting the god Eros seated on a dolphin. Next to the Aphrodite statue, researchers found another nearly 2-metre-tall statue of a woman with features from the time of Roman emperor Severus, who ruled from 193AD to 211AD. 'According to the initial findings, this statue shows features from the Severus Period,' the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums said in a statement on Facebook. Another statue of a woman with similar features but broken into two pieces and sculptures of a clothed man and woman side by side were also found. Archaeologists suspect the statues were part of a collection on display outside a public building, highlighting its presence. 'These discoveries, which provide new clues into Perge's sculpture tradition, contribute to understanding the social structure and artistic production processes of the period,' the directorate said. Researchers suspect the statues unearthed from the ancient city's 'East Street' could be a Roman imagining of Greek mythical figures made around the second century. The lost city of Perga, which traces its origins to the Hittite period around 1650-1200BC, was once a key centre for sculpture-making in the ancient world, renowned for its production of marble statues. Archaeologists continue to unveil well-preserved Greek mosaics and marble statues in the region. During the Roman era, it was well-known for its architectural landmarks, including a series of fountains, pools, and baths built in a relatively arid area. However, archaeologists say much of the ancient city remains underground, waiting to be discovered. The statues uncovered so far in the latest dig are expected to go on display at Turkey's Antalya Museum.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Unearthed Five Lost Statues From Remains of the Roman Empire's Sculpture Capital
Excavations across the ancient city of Perga revealed five new statue finds from as far back as the second century A.D. The most impressive discovery was a 6.5-foot-tall statue of Aphrodite, sitting atop a base depicting Eros sitting on a dolphin. Perga's was once a key sculpture-producing location for the entire Roman Empire. The city of Perga was renowned throughout the Roman Empire for its skilled laborers' production of marble statues, exporting high-quality work across the empire. The ancient city (located in present-day Turkey) is still delivering on that legacy today—crews working within the archaeological Future Heritage Project recently unearthed five new statues dating to the second century A.D. According to a translated statement from Turkey's General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, the five sculptures were uncovered in two separate areas. None were more striking than a 6.5-foot-tall statue of Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love and beauty) sitting atop a base depicting Eros (the Greek god of love and desire) seated on a dolphin. Experts believe the statue is likely a Roman imagining of the Greek mythical figures created during the second century A.D., when Perga was under Roman rule. Perga was once a key center of sculpture and statue-making in Asia Minor. The city itself dates to the Hittite period, and was known then as Parha. The city's Roman influence is strong, including a street grid that features two main colonnaded avenues (one running north to south and the other east to west). In addition to sculpture, the city was also well-regarded for its architecture, and sported a theater, monumental fountains, ornate towers, baths, and a 12,000 person-capacity stadium from the second century B.C. Though its history is still plenty prominent above-ground, more of the ancient city remains to be discovered. Until recently, this included the five new statues. Next to the Aphrodite statue, crews found a six-foot-tall carving of a standing woman draped in a tunic, crafted in a style reminiscent of the Roman empire's Severan dynasty (193 to 235 A.D.). Nearby sat a third statue, also a female in the same style, but broken into two pieces (likely as a result of being knocked over). An excavation in the 'East Street' section of Perga resulted in the discovery of another pair of statues, these found side by side. One was of a woman and the other a man, both robed. Experts believe their location suggests that they were part of a sculpture ensemble that used to highlight a public building or square. 'These discoveries, which provide new clues into Perga's sculpture tradition, contribute to understanding the social structure and artistic production processes of the period,' the directorate said in a statement. As part of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Future Heritage Project, crews will continue to search for additional statues while planning to restore the five newly discovered examples for display in the Antalya Museum, considered one of the top sculpture museums in the world. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
