Five different sculptures dating back to the Roman Period were unearthed during excavations in the ancient city of Perge in Antalya.
The sculptures provide new information about the sculpture tradition of Perge and contribute to understanding the artistic and social structure of the ancient period.
The most remarkable among the artifacts unearthed during the excavations is the Aphrodite statue, which is about two meters high. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is depicted in unity with Eros sitting on a dolphin at the bottom of the statue. According to preliminary examinations, this work is considered to be a Roman Imperial Period replica dating to the 2nd century AD.
Right next to the statue of Aphrodite is another 1.87 meter high statue depicting a standing, clothed woman. Experts say that this statue may date to the Severan period (193 to 235 AD) due to its stylistic features. In the same area, another statue of a clothed woman with similar features was found in two pieces and was probably damaged by falling over in antiquity.
The excavation team also uncovered a statue of a man and a woman located side by side on Perge’s East Street. The location of these statues, depicted in classical Roman-era clothing, indicates that they were designed as part of an urban monument or public building.
Perge, one of the most important cities of the Pamphilia region, had become one of the important centers of sculptural art during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The works produced in the workshops in the city were processed with great skill, exported to different regions of the Roman Empire and had a great impact on the ancient art world.
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