Roman emperor's summer palace discovered in southern Turkey

Archaeologists have discovered a Roman emperor's summer residence in Kibyratis, located in the Turkish mountains, according to Haaretz.

Lydian tomb in the Kabalis with relief of a lion, Archaic period [Credit: University of Vienna]

The rural estate belonged to the family of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161-180 AD, according to researchers from the Austrian Archaeological Institute.

The area of Kibyratis has had few archaeological digs, although large rural estates from the Roman period were known to exist there.

Comprehensive surveys only started in 2008, which revealed extensive sites belonging to imperial families.

The remains have been badly damaged but historians have managed to piece together mosaics, clay water pipes and marbled wall decorations.

The Roman Empire had lucrative contracts exporting wine and pottery goods from its Eastern provinces and there is evidence of wine making from the finds of marble press weights used in viticulture.

Survey on Asar Tepe: At least part of this belonged to the Calpurnii estate. Here the remains 
of pottery production were found [Credit: Oliver Hulden]

A votive altar unearthed is inscribed with a poem about a hunting party, which was one of the most popular pastimes of Roman nobles. The inscription was dedicated by Marcus Calpurnius Longus, of the Calpurnii family.

It describes Longus killing an ibex during a hunting expedition and sacrificing the animal to the gods to gain their protection over his lands and wealth.

Other finds include a relief carved in rock to the mother goddess Cybele, an ancient Phrygian deity, worshipped with orgiastic rites. A second carving shows a shepherd being attacked by a wolf.

Archaeologists believe that the man gave praise to the goddess Cybele for saving him from the attack, and dedicated the stone carving in gratitude.

Another important discovery found in 2011 was a rock-cut tomb in the northern research area. The tomb, decorated with the relief of a lion, can now be dated to the archaic period, hundreds of years before the find of around 180 AD.

For reasons unknown, the Calpurnii family lost the Kibyratis estate and it came into the hands of the royal family towards the end of the 2nd century AD. One of the new owners was Annia Cornifica Faustina, sister of Marcus Aurelius.

Author: Fiona Keating | Source: International Business Times [April 18, 2017]

byUnknown

in Archaeology, Near East, Turkey

April 18, 2017

Roman emperor's summer palace discovered in southern Turkey

Archaeologists have discovered a Roman emperor's summer residence in Kibyratis, located in the Turkish mountains, according to Haaretz ....

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Construction workers find 3 Roman era tombs in NW Turkey

Construction workers in Turkey's eastern Marmara region have discovered three sarcophagi from the Roman-period, thought to have belonged to a noble family, reports said on Monday.

The sarcophogi were reportedly found at the construction site of the municipal water and sewarage administration building near the coast in Kocaeli's İzmit district, called Nicomedia by the Greeks and served as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire in the Third and Fourth centuries (AD).

After discovering the ancient tombs at the construction site on Sunday, workers immediately notified officials at Kocaeli Culture and Tourism Directorate, who arrived at the site on Monday to examine the tombs.

Police have reportedly cordoned off the area and have taken security measures to prevent any damage to the sarcophogi.

Kocaeli Culture and Tourism Directorate President Adnan Zamburkan was one of the officials who visited the site and noted that two of the sarcophogi are thought belong to children, while the other one belongs to an adult.

"We will bring the sacrophogi to the museum after consultations with the cultural and natural heritage conservation board" Zamburkan said.

Officials from Kocaeli Museum Directorate have also followed the excavation of the tombs, and took pictures, reports said.

Source: Daily Sabah [March 06, 2017]

byUnknown

in Archaeology, Near East, Turkey

April 06, 2017

Construction workers find 3 Roman era tombs in NW Turkey

Construction workers in Turkey's eastern Marmara region have discovered three sarcophagi from the Roman-period, thought to have belonged...

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'Gate of Constantinople' at Nikaia to be restored

Restoration work has been initiated on the 'Gate of Constantinople' (Turkish İstambul Kapisi), the most magnificent part of the city walls in the northwestern city of İznik (Greek Nikaia) located in northeastern Turkey.

Aerial view of the Gate of Constantinople at Iznik (Nikaia) [Credit: DHA]

Nikaia is one of the important pilgrimage centres for the world of Christianity as the 1st and 7th Ecumenical Councils were held there in 325 and 787 AD. The city was captured from the Byzantines in 1331 by Orhan I and for a short period the town became the capital of the expanding Ottoman emirate.

The restoration project, carried out by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, to turn the sunken basilica in the lake into a museum and others works in the ancient theatre, tile furnaces, Abdulvahap Hill, khans and madrasahs have been continuing in the city.

Works have been accelerated for Nikaia, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire that holds great significance for Christians and Muslims alike, to enter the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Gate of Constantinople, which is 4,970 metres in length, with 12 secondary gates and 114 towers, which are 10-15 metres away from each other, features the delicacies of war and defense strategies of the era.

The Gate of Constantinople at Iznik (Nikaia), 2008 [Credit: WikiCommons]

The Gate of Constantinople, which was the central gate of Nikaia, is the most magnificent gate of the city walls as it opens to Constantinople.

The gate has changed after undergoing many sieges, natural disasters and interventions through the centuries, but has survived until now. After the restoration process, the gate will become a unique work showing the traces of both the Greek and Ottoman civilizations.

At a ceremony held to mark the beginning of the restoration, Bursa Mayor Recep Altepe said they accelerated works for the historical heritages in the city, which is a candidate for UNESCO. 

“We are working on all historical artefacts from the Roman Theatre to the Green Mosque. This is a long-time dream to revive the walls in İznik, which is known as a city of walls. We initiated works in the İstambul Kapisi. Following the first stage of works, all gates, walls and towers will have their unique identity,” he added.

İznik Mayor Osman Sargın said the city had Turkey’s longest city walls. “The cleaning of the walls is almost coming to an end. Those who will enter the walls in the south will be able to walk to the north easily in this historic atmosphere,” he added.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News [April 05, 2017]

byUnknown

in Archaeology, Heritage, Near East, Turkey

April 05, 2017

'Gate of Constantinople' at Nikaia to be restored

Restoration work has been initiated on the 'Gate of Constantinople' (Turkish İstambul Kapisi ), the most magnificent part of the cit...

Read More