As part of the Geleceğe Miras (Legacy for the Future) project, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced a significant archaeological discovery in the ancient Greco-Roman city of Perge, located in the province of Antalya.
During excavations carried out in 2025, five sculptures of great historical and artistic value have been uncovered, shedding new light on the sculptural tradition of the region during the Roman period.
The excavations, conducted in different sectors of Perge, have brought to light five statues sculpted with remarkable mastery, reflecting the city’s artistic richness in antiquity. One of the most outstanding pieces in the discovery is a statue of Aphrodite measuring approximately two meters in height.
The sculpture depicts the goddess of love and beauty in an elegant pose, fused at its base with the figure of the god Eros, who is seated on a dolphin. Preliminary analyses suggest that it is a Roman replica from the 2nd century AD, a period during which the city of Perge flourished under the rule of the Roman Empire.
Alongside Aphrodite, archaeologists have unearthed another female statue measuring 1.87 meters in height, dressed in a draped tunic that exhibits stylistic characteristics typical of the Severan dynasty (193–235 AD).
In the same area, a second female statue with similar features was found, broken into two pieces, suggesting that it may have been toppled at some point in ancient history.
Meanwhile, in the so-called “East Street” of Perge, two additional sculptures have been found, representing a woman and a man, both dressed in classical attire of the time.
The arrangement in which they were discovered indicates that they may have been part of a sculptural ensemble that adorned a public building or a monumental avenue of the city.
The ancient city of Perge, located in the Roman region of Pamphylia, is renowned for its impressive artistic legacy. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the city became one of the main centers of sculptural production in Asia Minor.
The workshops of Perge were famous for the quality and realism of their creations, many of which were exported to other regions of the Roman Empire.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has stated that the sculptures will undergo restoration and conservation processes before being exhibited at the Antalya Museum, where they are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the art and society of Roman Perge.
Furthermore, archaeologists will continue excavations in the area in the hope of discovering new pieces that may help complete the historical puzzle of this ancient metropolis.
SOURCES
Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural y Museos (Ministerio de Cultura de Turquía)
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