9.02.2024
6 Dakika
Türkiye hosts some of humanity’s most remarkable pieces of common heritage within its territories. These lands, which have housed many civilizations throughout history due to their unique location connecting the continents and abundant natural resources, serve as a time capsule of diverse human history. An invaluable piece of such history is the ancient city of Zeugma, which was founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, on the banks of the Euphrates River in 300 BC. Let's take a closer look at this important archaeological site and its unique ruins.
In its early years, the city was named Seleucus Euphrates, combining the names of its founder and the river on whose banks it is located. It later took the name Zeugma under the rule of the Roman Empire. This name, meaning "bridge, passage" in Latin, aptly suits the location of the city at a crucial crossing point on the Euphrates. Situated at the bank of one of the shallowest points of the river, allowing easy passage, the city was founded on the slopes extending from the acropolis to the valley floor, called Belkıs Hill today. At the summit of this hill and in the very center of the acropolis, a Temple of Thyke once stood, now remaining underground. Thyke, known as Fortuna in the Roman Pantheon, was the goddess of Olympus who ruled over fortune. Positioned at a dominant point along this significant ancient passage, the temple must have held great importance for the travelers of that era in great need of luck.
Now, let’s delve into the most crucial reason why Zeugma is a world-famous ancient city. The city, which experienced its glory days under Roman rule, became one of the military and commercial centers of the empire. Its sheltered location on the banks of Euphrates River attracted wealthy officers of the Roman army and wealthy merchants, leading to the construction of many villas on the city slopes descending to the river. The interiors of these villas were adorned with mosaics that reflected the artistic style of the period. Today, two of these villas, along with their unique works of art, remain intact.
You can see observe some of the Zeugma ruins, saved with considerable effort from being submerged under the waters of the Birecik Dam in the region, and most of the mosaics reflecting the daily lives of the Romans, intertwined with mythology, at the Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Now, let's explore some of the remarkable works of art in the museum.
The Statue of Mars, which welcomes visitors from a lofty pedestal, is one of the significant ruins of the ancient city of Zeugma. This renowned statue of Mars, the god of war in the Roman Pantheon, also bears a burn mark from the day when the city was occupied and plundered.
This magnificent mosaic, which has become the symbol of the Zeugma Ancient City and the museum, still holds the mystery of the woman it depicts. Did the artist portray a gypsy girl or the titan Gaia, the mother of gods and goddesses? Some even believe that this figure is not a woman but Alexander the Great himself.
This mosaic, depicting a famous mythological scene, stands among the prominent works of Zeugma. Preserved in a well-maintained and vivid visual form, the mosaic illustrates the moment when the identity of Achilles, who disguised himself as a woman to avoid the Trojan War, was revealed through deception. The other male figure in the depiction is a familiar name for mythology enthusiasts: Odysseus, who planned and executed the conspiracy.
During the excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma, 100 thousand bullae, clay seal prints, were unearthed. These remnants which indicate that Zeugma was a very important bureaucratic and commercial center, constitute the world’s largest bulla collection.
There are many other works worth seeing in the Zeugma Archaeological Site, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. However, the Zeugma mosaics, adorning Roman houses with depictions of mythological scenes and characters, along with the Zeugma Museum, make this historical and cultural area a must-see attraction.
