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Check Out the Pristine 2,200-Year-Old Greek Mosaics Just Unearthed in Turkey
Calling all art history buffs! You are not going to want to miss this latest find.
A group of archaeologists in Turkey just uncovered a few ancient Greek mosaics right near Zeugma, a Turkish city located near the border of Syria. The mosaics date back to the 2nd century BC and are in pristine condition. The project is being run by Professor Kutalmış Görkay of Ankara University along with a group of students.
The project to first uncover the mosaics began in 2007 after dam construction threatened to cover the area in water. Archaeologists then dashed to finish the excavation before the flooding took over.
The different mosaics were “integral parts of homes millennia ago,” explained My Modern Met. The artwork portrays different mythological creatures, such as ancient heroes and different gods and goddess. Each mosaic has a different theme, which dictated the function of the room. According to My Modern Met and Görkay, “a bedroom might feature a mosaic that portrayed lovers such as Eros and Telete.”
“They were a product of the patron’s imagination. It wasn’t like simply choosing from a catalog,” Görkay told Archaeology.org. “They thought of specific scenes in order to make a specific impression.”
Zeugma, which translates to “bridge” or “crossing,” has history dating back as far as the 3rd century BC. Due to its prime location between the Greco-Roman world and the Persian Empire, it played a prime role in history. The city fell in AD 253 after Sassanids from Persia attacked the city, according to My Modern Met.
The team is still working hard to uncover more artifacts despite 80 percent of Zeugma being underwater.
See some of the beautiful mosaics below.
