Hellenistic Goddess Head Discovered in Turkey's Metropolis

Hellenistic-Era Goddess Sculpture Head Unearthed in Western Türkiye

IZMIR, Türkiye – Archaeologists have uncovered a marble sculpture head dating back to the Hellenistic period (323–31 BC) in the ancient city of Metropolis, located in Türkiye’s western province of Izmir.

Excavations in Metropolis, known as the “City of the Mother Goddess,” have been ongoing since 1989 and conducted under the direction of Serdar Aybek from Dokuz Eylul University’s Department of Archaeology since 2007. This year’s dig revealed the goddess head in a commercial building area.

“The hair details, facial features, and the seamless joining of separately carved pieces indicate a Hellenistic origin. After careful cleaning, a cavity was found in the pupils, designed for inlaid colored stones, reflecting ancient Greek sculptural techniques. The head’s size offers new insights into Metropolis’ Hellenistic-era craftsmanship.”

Aybek, the excavation director, emphasized the significance of the find. The technical analysis points to high-level artistry characteristic of the period.

Important: The sculpture is believed to correspond in dimensions to a previously found Hestia torso from the Bouleuterion, suggesting it may have belonged to a monumental statue of the goddess.

Context and Continuing Work

Excavation work continues with the support of the Sabanci Foundation as part of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s “Heritage for the Future” Project. The site’s historical depth is remarkable, with the earliest settlement evidence dating back to the Neolithic era.

The discovery process involved several key steps:

• Unearthing in a defined commercial sector of the city.
• Meticulous cleaning and preservation in the field laboratory.
• Technical analysis of carving methods and material.
• Comparative study with other artifacts from Metropolis.

This find adds a crucial piece to the understanding of religious art and urban life in Hellenistic Metropolis, reinforcing its importance as a continuous cultural center from prehistory through the Byzantine era.