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Ancient Marble Zeus Head Unearthed in Türkiye
The Zeus head was found at the ancient Aphrodisias archaeological site. Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Türkiye.
Archaeologists in Türkiye discovered an ancient marble head depicting the Greek god Zeus. The Zeus head was created in Aphrodisias, a Hellenistic-period city known for its skilled sculptors. The Aphrodisias archaeological site is located in the Aydın province in western Türkiye.
Ancient Zeus Head Is “An Exceptional Find”
The ancient marble Zeus head. Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Türkiye.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the “unique discovery in Aphrodisias” in a recent social media post. He wrote, “The marble head, which reunited with the light of day after centuries, exhibits the splendor of Zeus, the most powerful and important god in Greek mythology.” Archaeologists determined that, in the second or third century, the Zeus head was carved in relief from a single block of locally sourced, medium-grained Aphrodisias marble. At 66 centimeters high, the Zeus head was intentionally larger than life. It was seemingly carved as part of an architectural console.
Minister Ersoy continued, “The magnificent drill work on the hair and beard belongs to a top Aphrodisias sculpture workshop. The sophisticated depiction of the powerful divine image gives the head a powerful effect. The delicate technique borrowed from portrait sculpture is used here to give the classical image of Zeus a more realistic, contemporary effect, as if he were a breathing god. The head is an exceptional find of the highest quality and historical significance.”
Archaeology in Aphrodisias
The Temple of Aphrodite at the Aphrodisias archaeological site in Türkiye. Source: Carole Raddato/Wikipedia Creative Commons.
The ancient Greek city of Aphrodisias was constructed around the Aphrodite Temple, which dates back to the third century B.C.E. As such, the city was named after the Greek goddess of love and served as an important site for her worship. Aphrodisias was situated near quarries of white and blue-grey Carian marble, which was used to create building facades and figurative sculptures during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Marble sculptors from Aphrodisias became famous across the Roman Empire for their sophisticated portrait busts and depictions of gods, emperors, and other key figures. An earthquake destroyed Aphrodisias in the early seventh century, and the city never fully recovered.
Serious scientific exploration at the archaeological site of Aphrodisias kicked off in the early 20th century, and excavations there remain ongoing. The site was formally added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017. Several full-length marble statues and unfinished pieces associated with the ancient schools of sculpture have been found in Aphrodisias. The newly-uncovered Zeus head sheds further light on the advanced artistic practices and pagan belief systems of its ancient residents.
Who Was Zeus?
19th-century illustration of an ancient statue of Zeus. Source: World History Encyclopedia.
According to ancient Greek mythology, Zeus is the father or king of all the deities. He ruled over a pantheon of gods and goddesses, each with their own characteristics and responsibilities. From his throne atop Mount Olympus, Zeus was believed to omnisciently observe everything that happened among humans. He rewarded good behavior, exacted justice, and offered protection when necessary. Zeus has been depicted throughout art history across different cultures, styles, and mediums.
Greek and Roman artists typically depicted Zeus as bearded, mature, and stately. The residents of ancient Aphrodisias naturally focused their worship on the goddess Aphrodite. Still, they would have considered sculptural representations of the all-powerful, universal Zeus to be especially spiritually significant.
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