 |
| Image Credit : Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
The Discovery
The find was made during excavations at Aspendos, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Turkey's Antalya Province, carried out as part of the country's Heritage for the Future Project. The statue group was recovered among the collapsed remains of the Monumental Gate on the western side of the East Square, situated along Theatre Street, one of the ancient city's principal thoroughfares.
Standing 2.2 metres tall, the marble sculpture dates to the final quarter of the second century AD, placing its creation firmly within the Roman Imperial period. Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery, describing the sculpture as an outstanding example of Roman-period craftsmanship. Archaeologists say its artistic quality, intricate workmanship and symbolic composition rank it among the most significant recent finds from the ancient city.
What Archaeologists Found
The main figure, Asklepios, is depicted as a mature, bearded man standing in a frontal pose with his weight resting on his left leg. His upper body is largely bare, while a draped cloak, or himation, falls across his left shoulder and around his waist and legs in deep, carefully rendered folds. Although much of his right arm is now missing, it would originally have rested on a staff entwined by a serpent — the enduring symbol of medicine still recognised today.
At the god's feet stands the smaller figure of Telesphoros, dressed in a long hooded cloak that conceals his body entirely. In ancient Greek religion, Telesphoros was closely associated with recovery and convalescence following illness, representing the final stage of the healing process rather than its initial treatment.
Historical Background
Aspendos was one of the most renowned cities of the Roman province of Pamphylia, celebrated in particular for its exceptionally well-preserved Roman theatre, still regarded as one of the finest surviving examples of Roman theatrical architecture anywhere in the ancient world. The discovery of this statue group adds to a growing body of evidence confirming the city's wealth, artistic sophistication and religious diversity at the height of Roman power in Asia Minor.
The location of the find within the ruins of the Monumental Gate leading into the East Square, one of the city's principal public spaces, suggests the statue originally stood in a prominent ceremonial setting, visible to residents and visitors moving through one of Aspendos's most significant civic areas.
Scientific Analysis
Archaeologists say the pairing of Asklepios and Telesphoros within a single statue group carries particular significance, as it illustrates not merely the treatment of disease but the complete arc of the healing process, from the onset of illness through to eventual recovery. This layered symbolism reflects a nuanced ancient understanding of health as an ongoing journey rather than a single medical intervention.
Researchers regard the statue group as important physical evidence for the worship of Asklepios in Roman Aspendos, and as a clear demonstration of the significance that health and healing cults held within the city's broader civic and religious life. The sculpture's prominent placement near a major public gateway further reinforces the central role such healing cults appear to have played in the everyday religious experience of the city's population.
Why This Discovery Matters
This find offers a rare, tangible connection to Roman-era attitudes toward medicine, illness and recovery, an area of ancient belief often difficult to reconstruct from written sources alone. The statue's exceptional preservation and detailed craftsmanship allow researchers to study the visual and symbolic language used to represent healing deities with unusual clarity.
The discovery also strengthens Aspendos's standing as a site of major archaeological importance beyond its famous theatre, contributing further evidence of the city's artistic accomplishment and its integration within the wider religious traditions of the Roman Mediterranean world, where healing cults associated with Asklepios were widespread.
What's Next?
Further conservation and detailed study of the statue group are expected to provide additional insight into the role of healing sanctuaries and religious practice in one of Asia Minor's most important ancient cities. Researchers anticipate that continued analysis, alongside ongoing excavation of the surrounding Monumental Gate and East Square area, may reveal further evidence relating to how healing cults were physically and ceremonially integrated into Aspendos's urban landscape.
The find forms part of Turkey's broader Heritage for the Future Project, which is expected to continue supporting excavation and conservation work across Aspendos and other significant archaeological sites in the years ahead.
Conclusion
The discovery of this remarkably preserved statue group at Aspendos offers a compelling window into how one of Roman Asia Minor's most celebrated cities understood and honoured the process of healing. Depicting both the treatment of illness through Asklepios and the promise of recovery through Telesphoros, the sculpture stands as a powerful reminder of the deep connection between religion, medicine and civic life in the Roman world — and adds a significant new chapter to the story of one of Turkey's most important ancient sites.
Sources : Ministry of Culture and Tourism
FAQ
Q: What was discovered at Aspendos? A: Archaeologists uncovered an 1,800-year-old marble statue group depicting Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, alongside his son Telesphoros.
Q: Where exactly was the statue found? A: It was found among the collapsed remains of the Monumental Gate on the western side of the East Square, along Theatre Street, within the ancient city of Aspendos.
Q: How old is the statue? A: It dates to the final quarter of the second century AD, during the Roman Imperial period.
Q: Who is Telesphoros and why is he significant? A: Telesphoros was a figure in ancient Greek religion associated with recovery and convalescence following illness, representing the completion of the healing process alongside Asklepios.
Q: Why is this discovery important? A: It provides rare physical evidence for the worship of Asklepios in Roman Aspendos and highlights the significance of health and healing cults within the city's civic and religious life.
