The stunning Medusa mosaic of the ancient city of Kibyra, located in the Gölhisar district of Burdur and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, has been covered with a special method to protect it from climate conditions.
The Medusa depicted in the mosaic is a terrifying Gorgon with a head full of snakes, capable of turning people to stone with her gaze. Despite her stunning beauty, she has been cursed by the goddess Athena.
The mosaic in Kibyra is created using the “opus sectile” technique, which involves assembling pieces of differently colored marble, making it a unique work of art in the world.
The Medusa Mosaic, located in the ancient city of Kibyra, has an approximate history of 2000 years and is situated in the orchestra section of the ancient theater.
The ancient city of Kibyra, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, has become a popular destination for visitors. Approximately 25,000 people visited the ancient city this year.
The Medusa mosaic has attracted significant interest from visitors. Discovered during excavations in 2009 in the Odeion section, the Medusa mosaic has been protected this year to prevent damage from winter conditions.
The head of the Kibyra excavation, Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özüdoğru, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Burdur Mehmet Akif University, shared on his social media account, “The opus sectile Medusa mosaic covering the orchestra floor of the Kibyra Olympeion Odeion and the floor of the Odeion Stoa, made of opus tessellatum mosaic, have been covered to protect them from climate conditions. It will be reopened to visitors in April 2025.”
