The marble statue depicts a woman in a cloak standing on a pedestal, with her identity and the purpose of the sculpture currently unknown.
The Excavation Department of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the discovery of an 1,800-year-old marble statue in the ancient city of Metropolis, as reported by Ancient Origins on June 29.
The statue portrays a woman in a cloak standing on a pedestal. Although it is missing its head and two arms—parts that could be separately attached—the remaining sections are well-preserved.
The headless woman statue was sculpted during the time when the Roman Empire controlled Anatolia.
The city of Metropolis is located in the Torbali region of İzmir Province, near the western coast of Turkey. The first settlers arrived during the Neolithic period (around 10,000 – 1,900 BC).
During the Bronze Age (around 3,300 – 1,200 BC), Metropolis was known as Puranda and was part of the Hittite kingdom of Arzawa. In the Hellenistic period (323 BC – 31 BC), the city was governed by the Kingdom of Pergamon.
Scientists have been excavating the city of Metropolis for 30 years, uncovering more than 11,000 artifacts from various historical periods, including coins, glass, ceramics, figurines, sculptures, and numerous artifacts made from bone, ivory, and metal. Notable discoveries include an intricate Roman bath featuring many sculptures, a statue of a gladiator, and four large cisterns capable of holding 600 tons of water for the city. In addition to temples and a circular theater, many other structures have also been excavated, such as sports complexes, halls, shops, boulevards, galleries, and public restrooms.
Based on the dating, the research team believes that the headless statue was sculpted during the time when the Roman Empire controlled Anatolia (the Asian part of Turkey). Further research is needed to determine the identity and purpose of the statue. The recent excavation is a collaborative effort between the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Celal Bayar University, with plans to continue this year.
