Fantastic Hellenistic Mosaics uncovered at Zeugma

The city is dated to the Hellenistic period and founded the successor of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian general Seleucus Nicator (hence the Seleucid dynasty), about 300 BC

Zeugma is 80% submerged, and, despite the protests, was flooded by the waters of the artificial lake created by the Biretsik dam.

The artifacts, which were discovered in excellent condition, date from the 2nd century AD. The unique art mosaics, depict the Muses and the Ocean

The mosaic of the Muses depicts them with the name of each written in Greek, with the Hellenistic common being the version in use at the time.
The mosaic representing the nine Muses decorated a large room in the house that archaeologists have named "House of the Muses", because of the architectural elements and decoration.

In the center is shown Calliope and around her, her sisters. According to Hesiod, Calliope was the greatest and noblest of the nine Muses, patron of epic poetry and rhetoric, and all the Fine Arts (Kalliepousa), hence the choice of her in the center of the composition is not surprising.

The second mosaic represents the ocean and Tithy is finer than another with similar composition found in a different location. The liveliness of the figures, their beauty and wonderful colors impressed viewers. Indeed, experts say that they have used specially constructed glass tesserae. The third is smaller and represents a young man.

According to hurriyetdailynews, scientists estimate that the ancient city of Zeugma was about 2-3000 houses, of which 25 remain under water. The excavations, which were launched in 2007, is expected to be completed in 2015.

The uncovered mosaics were displayed at a press conference attended by Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Şahin and the head of the excavations, Professor Kutalmış Görkay.

Görkay said excavations at Zeugma, which was one of the most important centers in the Eastern Roman Empire, had started in 2007, adding that good progress had been made with the support of the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and İş Bank.

“There are still unexcavated areas. There are rock-carved houses here. We have reached one of these houses and the house includes six spaces. We have also unearthed three new mosaics in this year’s excavations,” he said.

Görkay added that with the end of the excavation season, the most important stage had now started.

“From now on, we will work on restoration and conservation. We plan to establish a temporary roof for long-term protection. We estimate that the ancient city has 2,000-3,000 houses. Twenty-five of them remain under water. Excavations will be finished in the Muzalar House next year,” he said.

The professor said the annual budget for the excavations changed every year, but a total of about 7 million Turkish Liras had been spent on the excavations since 2005.

Mayor Şahin said the region’s history, which included empires such as the Romans, the Hittites, the Assyrians and the Byzantines, was "as old as the history of mankind," oddly leaving out the Greeks who under Alexander and the epigonoi ruled the area until the Romans

“They did not think of roads, water and infrastructure only, but they attached importance to revealing cultural values. This is the city of industry and trade and also deserves to be a city of culture and tourism. This is our mission. I hope we will be able to unearth the whole civilization of Zeugma,” she added.

Meanwhile, the media presentation event for the three newly uncovered mosaics drew flak fro social media users, after pictures emerged showing officials, including Şahin, stepping on the ancient works in their shoes.