Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Aspendos in southern Turkey have uncovered an 1,800-year-old marble statue group depicting Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, alongside his son Telesphoros, offering new insights into Roman-era beliefs about healing and public health.
The discovery was made during excavations at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Antalya Province as part of Turkey’s Heritage for the Future Project. The statue group was found among the collapsed remains of the Monumental Gate on the western side of the East Square, along Theatre Street.
Standing 2.2 metres tall, the marble sculpture dates to the final quarter of the second century AD, during the Roman Imperial period. Archaeologists say its artistic quality, detailed workmanship and symbolic composition make it one of the most significant recent finds from the ancient city.
Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery, describing the sculpture as an outstanding example of Roman-period craftsmanship.
The main figure, Asklepios, is portrayed as a mature, bearded man standing in a frontal pose with his weight resting on his left leg. His upper body is largely bare, while a draped cloak, or himation, falls across his left shoulder and around his waist and legs in deep folds. Although much of his right arm is missing, it originally rested on a staff entwined by a serpent, the enduring symbol of medicine and healing.
At the god’s feet stands Telesphoros, represented on a much smaller scale and dressed in a long hooded cloak that conceals his body. In ancient Greek religion, Telesphoros was associated with recovery and convalescence following illness.
Archaeologists say the pairing of the two figures is particularly significant because it illustrates not only the treatment of disease but the complete process of healing, from illness through to recovery.
The location of the discovery also highlights the importance of the sculpture. It was found within the ruins of the Monumental Gate leading to the East Square, one of the city’s principal public spaces, suggesting it originally stood in a prominent ceremonial setting.
Researchers say the statue group provides important evidence for the worship of Asklepios in Roman Aspendos and demonstrates the significance of health and healing cults in the city’s civic life.
Aspendos was one of the most renowned cities in the Roman province of Pamphylia and was one of the ancient Roman theatres with its high quality and well-preserved Roman theatre. The latest discovery is the latest in the growing body of evidence which has confirmed the city’s wealth, artistic sophistication and religious diversity at the height of the Roman Empire.
Further conservation and study of the statue group will help give more insights into the role of healing sanctuaries and religious practices in one of Asia Minor’s most important ancient cities.
Sources : Ministry of Culture and Tourism
