Archaeologists have unearthed a colossal marble statue dating to the early Classical period at the ancient city of Sardis in western Turkey, offering new insights into the cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Lydia.
The discovery was made during ongoing excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Salihli district of Manisa Province. The excavations are being carried out under the supervision of Turkey’s General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
Standing 2.2 metres tall, the statue depicts a young man and has been dated to between 470 and 450 BC. According to Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the sculpture is one of the rare surviving examples of monumental marble statuary from the period.
Archaeologists found the sculpture in two large sections, although its feet and several smaller fragments are missing. The statue had been reused during the Roman period as paving material for a collonaded street at the entrance to the city. Laid face-down beneath the paving, the sculpture’s facial features and many of its carved details remained remarkably well preserved for centuries.
The figure combines stylistic features from different artistic traditions. While its upright stance and long hair reflect sculptural conventions of the 6th century BC, the modelling of the face and hands places it firmly within the first half of the 5th century BC.
The young man is shown wearing a thick himation over a thin chiton, together with a distinctive horizontally striped garment beneath. Researchers note that this style of dress has no known parallels among comparable sculptures from Anatolia or mainland Greece, highlighting the strong influence of local Lydian traditions.
In his right hand, the figure holds what is believed to be a quince, thought to represent a votive offering to a deity. Archaeologists believe the object could provide valuable evidence for understanding ritual practices, religious beliefs and cultural interaction in Sardis during the Achaemenid Persian period, when the city served as the capital of the empire’s western satrapy.
Sardis was the center of the ancient Kingdom of Lydia and was a major administrative centre under the Achaemenid Persian Empire. The city is renowned for its rich archaeological remains – the Temple of Artemis is among the world’s largest synagogues and has extensive Roman-period architecture.
The statue will be exhibited at the Manisa Museum once conservation and restoration work are done.
Sources : Azertag
