7-Foot Marble Statue from 5th Century BCE Unearthed at UNESCO Site in Turkey
A remarkable seven-foot marble statue dating back to the 5th century BCE was unearthed beneath an ancient Roman road in Sardis, Turkey. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the capital for the western satrapy of the Achaemenid Persian Empire and Lydia. The statue, estimated to have been created between 470 and 450 BCE, was discovered in two sections, lacking its feet and some fragments. It had been modified during the Roman era, which helped maintain its intricate details. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, highlighted the significance of this rare find. The statue, adorned in a himation and chiton while holding a quince, sheds light on the cultural interactions and ritual practices of Sardis among Greek, Lydian, and Persian societies.
Key facts
- A seven-foot-tall marble statue from the 5th century BCE was discovered at the ancient city of Sardis in Turkey.
- The statue was found under a former Roman roadway at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The sculpture is dated between 470 and 450 BCE.
- It was found in two large parts, missing feet and some fragments.
- The statue was repurposed during the Roman period and placed under paving material, preserving its details.
- Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery on Facebook.
- After conservation, the statue will go on view at Turkey's Manisa Museum.
- The excavation is under the administration of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
- The sculpture is stylistically hybrid, with features from the 6th and 5th centuries BCE.
- The figure wears a himation and chiton over a horizontally striped garment, a local Lydian tradition.
- The statue holds a possible quince, possibly an offering to a deity.
- Sardis was the capital of the Achaemenid Persian empire's western satrapy and the kingdom of Lydia.
Entities
Institutions
- UNESCO
- General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums
- Manisa Museum
- Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey
Locations
- Sardis
- Turkey
- Salihli district
- Manisa Province
- Anatolia
- Greece