2,000-year-old female statue discovered in ancient city of Blandus
2,000-year-old female statue discovered in ancient city of Blandus
The statue was discovered at a depth of approximately 1.5 meters during excavations led by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism The headless armless statue is still intact and is believed to date back to Roman times It was discovered during excavations at a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Demeter Standing 1.9 meters tall it will be restored before being displayed at the Uşak Archaeological Museum It is estimated to date back to Roman times approximately 2,000 years ago in the ancient city of Blaundus Turkey In September 2024 archaeologists sent the headless armless statue for further examination It will eventually be handed over to the local antiquities authority for conservation and study
The city also known as Mlaundus is located approximately 200 kilometers east of Izmir after the discovery of Greek coins engraved with the phrase Located approximately 40 kilometers from Uşak Mlaundus is undergoing systematic excavation but small towns like Mlaundus remain largely unexplored despite their relatively good condition Although several major cities in Asia Minor such as Sardis and Hierapolis were discovered, the discovery of the female statue occurred three years after two other statues were discovered at the same site believed to be temples of the ancient Greek goddess Demeter The Hellenistic period was followed by the rise of the Roman Empire at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and the Roman conquest of Egypt the following year by the Ptolemaic dynasty which eliminated the last major Hellenistic kingdom
In Classical Antiquity during the Hellenistic period Greek cultural influence peaked in the Mediterranean and beyond The flourishing and advancements in art literature theater and architecture spanned the period of Greek history the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia After a preliminary assessment archaeologists confirmed the statue's origins as the Hellenistic period followed by the rise of the Roman Empire at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. and the Roman conquest of Egypt by the Ptolemaic dynasty The statue was sent for further examination and will eventually be transferred to the local antiquities agency for conservation and detailed study
