November 14, 2024 The sun rises from Anatolia

Artifacts reflecting Egyptian influence found in the ancient city of Smyrna

Artifacts reflecting Egyptian influence were found during excavations in the ancient city of Smyrna, which has one of the largest theaters in the Mediterranean.

Figures and objects influenced by the Egyptian civilization were found during the ongoing excavations in the theater of the ancient city under the direction of İzmir Katip Çelebi University faculty member Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy.

Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy said, “In recent years, we have been carrying out excavations intensively, especially in the Smyrna Theater. In these excavations, we come across many Egyptian influenced finds. We know that the political, cultural and commercial relations between Egypt and Anatolia date back to the early ages. Now we see concrete examples of this relationship in the excavations at the Smyrna Theater.”

The vomitorium of the Smyrna Theater is being uncovered
Theater section of the ancient city of Smyrna Photo: AA

The ancient city of Smyrna is a Greek and Roman city located in İzmir, modern-day Türkiye. It was one of the most important cities of Asia Minor in ancient times.

Smyrna, whose name is mentioned in the 7th century BC in the first written sources, was ruled by the Ions, Aeolians, Lydians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans throughout its history.

Photo: DHA

The first settlers of Smyrna are thought to be the Aeolians. The city was captured by the Ionians in the 11th century BC and became one of the most important members of the Ionian League.

Hellenistic and Roman Periods: Smyrna, which came under the rule of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, continued to develop as an important trade center during the Roman Period. During this period, the city became the fifth largest city of the Roman Empire.

It was included in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2020 as part of the heritage area created under the name ‘İzmir Historic Port City’.

Photo: DHA

Prof. Dr. Akın Ersoy gave information about the figures and objects with Egyptian influence obtained during the excavations concentrated in the theater area and said, “We know that the relations between Egypt and Anatolia date back to the early ages in political, cultural and commercial terms. Now we see concrete examples of this relationship in the excavations at the Smyrna Theater.”

Photo: DHA

“The fact that these objects are mostly found in the Smyrna Theater shows us that there was perhaps a worship area for Egyptian gods in the area where the theater was located. Of course, we need to prove this architecturally. But these objects at least point to a temple of Egyptian gods. We also know from the inscriptions that Egyptian influence was present in Izmir and of course in Anatolia as a whole. Because especially after Alexander the Great and with the Roman Empire’s domination of Egyptian lands, this cultural rapprochement took place rapidly.”

Photo: DHA

Prof. Dr. Ersoy said, “There are 5 samples here. The first of these is a mask. This figure is a cover used in the burning hole of oil lamps. It is an Egyptian influenced figure. Another object is a figure of a woman in the position of giving birth, half of it is missing. But we know from other examples that this object is a figure associated with a healthy childbirth and a healthy child. This is a feature mostly seen in Egypt. Another object is an oil lamp fragment. It has an image of the Temple of Isis on it. The 4th object is a brick fragment. It has the inscription ‘Serapis Hiera’ on it. It means ‘the sanctuary of Serapis’. Therefore, based on all these finds, we say ‘There may be a sanctuary here’. The 5th object is the figure of the eye of Ra. This is also called the ‘eye of Horus’. It expresses that there is only one god. It is also the eye of conscience. It shows Egyptian influence.”

Banner
Related Articles

During the basic excavation, settlement dating back to the Roman and Hellenistic periods was discovered

November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023

A citizen in the northern Turkish city of Samsun, while excavating foundations for a residential construction, uncovered traces of a...

Three 2700-year-old bronze shields and a bronze helmet dedicated to the Urartian “god” Haldi found in Ayanis castle

September 8, 2024

September 8, 2024

Three bronze shields and a bronze helmet dedicated to the Urartian “god” Haldi were found in the fortress of Ayanis...

A litus with a relief of Dionysus, the god of wine, was found

August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024

A 2 thousand year old litus (weight press stone) with the relief of Dionysus, known as the “god of wine”...

A rare 9-million-year-old porcupine fossil was found in Anatolia

September 16, 2023

September 16, 2023

Scientists discovered animal fossils dating back 9 million years in a rural area in Tavas district of Denizli, including a...

Turkish gendarmerie seizes Roman tombstones and columns

July 3, 2024

July 3, 2024

Türkiye’s recent successful efforts to prevent the smuggling of historical artifacts abroad continue. Recently, an operation was organized by Kocaeli...

The city that witnessed the immortal friendship of an orphan and a dolphin: Iasos

May 10, 2024

May 10, 2024

The city of Iasos, whispered by the waves of the Aegean Sea, bearing the traces of history and mythology, is...

Kyzikos Ancient City, named after the Hylas legend in Greek mythology

November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

Kyzikos Ancient City is situated at the foothills of Mount Kapıdağ within the borders of Balıkesir province, where the Bandırma-Erdek...

Theater emerges as works continue in ancient city of Perinthos

July 28, 2023

July 28, 2023

Work continues to unearth the largest theater of Thrace in the Ancient City of Perinthos in the Marmaraereğlisi district of...

Archaeologists unearthed 4200-year-old various wheat grains in Kültepe

September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

Various wheat grains that are 4200 years old were unearthed in Kültepe, located in the province of Kayseri, Türkiye. Kültepe...

Scientists have the deciphering of the Anatolian hieroglyphs discovered in the Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa

October 11, 2023

October 11, 2023

The deciphering of the Anatolian hieroglyphs discovered during last year’s Hattusa excavations, led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Schachner, has been...

Hittite Period İmamkulu rock relief

November 20, 2023

November 20, 2023

İmamkulu Relief is one of the most beautiful examples of Hittite period (probably 13th century) art. İmamkulu relief is located...

A Lycian city founded by the Rhodians: Rhodiapolis Ancient City

July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

Rhodiapolis, which is accepted as a city founded by the Rhodians because of its name, is located on a hill...

Child skeleton and silver ring dating back 7,600 years found at Domuztepe Mound

September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024

A child skeleton and a silver ring dating back 7,600 years were found in Domuztepe Mound, which has uninterrupted settlement...

The 2000 year old Anisa Plate shows that Greek was spoken in Anatolia at that time

April 12, 2024

April 12, 2024

The Anisa Plate with a 2000-year-old parliamentary resolution found in Kültepe, the most important karum of the Assyrian trade colonies,...

Excavations resumed in the ancient city of Bathonea, where Viking remains were found

August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024

Excavation works for the year 2024 started in the ancient city of Bathonea in Avcılar district of Istanbul. Bathonea Ancient...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *