Two statue heads of Greek deities were carved into statue heads over 5,000 years ago in a city in western Turkey, which was the home to one of first stock exchanges.
Both are described as having astonishing beauty. The fragments are of Aphrodite (the goddess of love) and Dionysus (the god of wine).
Bodies of the statues were discovered in previous digs, but the heads were found in creek bed in the ancient city of Aizanoi – it is not yet clear how the heads and bodies were separated.
Each head was carefully carved out of limestone. Aphrodite’s head measures 19 inches tall, while Dionysus’ is 17 inches.
Two statue heads of Greek deities were carved into statue heads over 5,000 years ago in a city in western Turkey, which was the home of one of the first stock exchanges. Pictured is Dionysus
Excavation coordinator Gokhan Coskun told Anadolu Agency that the heads of both deities ‘are important findings for us, as they show that the polytheistic culture of ancient Greece existed for a long time without losing its importance in the Roman era.’
The Roman Period’s most important city, Aizanoi, is home to the Zeus Temple, Complex of Stadium-Theatre, and the Macellum.
The city is the ancient capital of the Aizanitisians, who lived under the rule ancient Phrygians. The Zeus Temple at the site dates the city back to 3000BC.
The European voguers found the ancient city in 1824. However excavations began only in 1926.
Fragments described as possessing “astonishing beauty”, the fragments are of Aphrodite, goddess of love, Dionysus (pictured), god of wine.
Pictured is the location of ancient city of Aizanoi, which is located in Turkey
The city was the home of the Aizanitisians, who lived under the rule ancient Phrygians. The Zeus Temple (pictured) dates the city back to 3000BC.
The discovery of the statue heads by archaeologists at the site suggests that there was a sculpture workshop in the area that produced these amazing works of art.
August saw the same archaeologists announce they had found a partial sculpture of Hygieia, an ancient Greek goddess. This statue was also found at the Aizanoi.
Hygieia The personification of cleanliness, health, and sanitation is often depicted with a serpent wrapped around the arm or torso of the subject and a cup or wine chalice in her hands.
Coskun stated to the Greek Reporter that the head had not survived to the present, but that in its current form, it is approximately the same size as a human.
Bodies of the statues were discovered in previous digs, but the heads were found in creek bed in the ancient city of Aizanoi – it is not yet clear how the heads and bodies were separated. The head of the Aphrodite statue is shown in the picture.
Each head was carefully carved from limestone. Aphrodite’s is 19 inches high, while Dionysus’s is 17 inches.
‘In past digs in Aizanoi, Hygieia was also found. This suggests that buildings and constructions related to the health cult may have been made in Aizanoi during Roman times.
He explained that he was trying to show the columns on the south and west wings of the agora (bazaar) as well as the shops behind them.
The statue of Hygieia was found in the columned gallery on the south wing or marketplace.