A group of archaeologists recently made a remarkable discovery during archaeological excavations in the Sinop province of northern Turkey, where they unearthed a large mosaic believed to date from the Hellenistic era, the period of history between the death of of Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, and the suicide of Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.
The mosaic, estimated to be around 2,300 years old, was found in the remains of an old building, in a room that could correspond to a dining room, which would indicate that the ruins correspond to what was the home – more than two millennia ago – of a wealthy family.
“Sinop is of great importance in terms of mosaic remains. Previous excavations have already revealed several magnificent mosaics in different places. However, current excavations in the Balatlar building complex (during the last decade) have now shown us a remarkable mosaic created with pebbles. These mosaics date back to the Hellenistic period, and offer a fascinating glimpse into the city’s ancient past,” explained Metin Süren, director of Sinop’s Office of Culture and Tourism.
For her part, Gülgün Köroğlu, a leading expert from Istanbul’s Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, also underlined the great importance of the newly discovered mosaic in Sinop: “These intricate mosaics are a testament to Sinop’s relevance as a flourishing settlement, which was a commercial and religious center at that time. The mosaic designs show a great diversity of motifs, including religious symbology and images of daily life; unique patterns have also been discovered in various sections of the mosaic.”
“It is worth noting that this somewhat rare and exceptional Hellenistic mosaic (dated after the death of Alexander the Great) makes a contribution to the mosaic heritage of Turkey, and stands out as an archaeological discovery of which few similar examples exist in the whole world that can be compared”, commented the renowned historian.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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