During the in archaeological excavations in the ancient Aspendos city, located in the Serik district of Antalya, southern Turkey, a statue of Hermes during the Roman Empire was discovered.
The excavations in Aspendos, a city founded by Akas in the tenth century BC, are carried out under the leadership of the General Directorate of Cultural Values and Museums, within the project “Inheritance for the future”. About the discovery announced the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
“In Aspendos, a silent witness of time, figures buried for centuries have come to light. During the excavations carried out within our project “Inheritance for the future”, in the ancient Aspendos city, a statue of Hermes during the Roman Empire was discovered. In the same area were the ends of the statues of Aphrodite and Eros, as well as fragments of the statues of Artemis and Nemesis, ”he said.
According to the Ministry’s statement, the marble statue of Hermes was discovered among the ruins of a monumental well (nymph), located east of the theater street in the ancient city, where in season 2024 the excavations began, on the southern wing of the entrance gates.
The discovered statue depicts Hermes, known as the messenger of Zeus, the main god of Olympus and the fastest of the gods.
In Greek mythology, Hermes is known as the god of roads, trade, hospitality, diplomacy, competitions and astronomy. It is also described as a protector of thieves and traders, flocks and shepherds.
The statue presents Hermes holding in the right hand a bag and in the left hand a cadu (toiag), which he supports on the cloak that falls from the shoulder. Near his left foot is the figure of a ram, his head turned to Hermes.
It is observed that the weight of the statue, which sits on a inscription base, is distributed on the left foot, while the right foot is slightly bent to the knee and pushed in front.
The statue, found during the excavations in several fragments and almost completely removed from the ground, was assembled in the excavation warehouse and evaluated entirely.
The work, whose total height, including the base, is 1.65 meters, by its stylistic characteristics, belongs to the period of the Roman Empire (the end of the second century-the beginning of the third century AD).
In the area where the statue of Hermes was discovered, the ends of the statues were found, supposed to be of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and of Eros, the god of love.
