ISTANBUL, Türkiye: A two-metre-tall white marble statue of the goddess Athena, dating back 2,000 years to the height of the Roman Empire, has been unearthed in the ancient city of Laodikeia in southwestern Türkiye, authorities said on Thursday, reported Xinhua.
Culture and Tourism Minister, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, shared on the social media platform X that the statue was discovered during excavations at the stage building of the Western Theatre in the ancient city in Denizli province.
The masterpiece is considered a significant example of the classical style from the Augustus period.
Ersoy noted that the theatre, which served as a stage for performances of Homeric epics, was a centre of cultural expression in antiquity.
He emphasised that the discovery of the well-preserved statue underscores the city’s historical role as a major artistic hub.
“With our ‘Legacy for the Future’ vision, we continue to preserve this unique heritage and carry it into the future,” the minister said, referring to a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening archaeological conservation efforts.
Laodikeia, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, was one of the most important trade and financial centres of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
The ongoing excavations continue to reveal the city’s monumental structures, including theatres, stadiums and sacred areas. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
