A 2,000-year-old inscription belonging to Hadrian has been found in Uşak.

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During the ongoing excavation works in the Blaundos Ancient City, located in the Ulubey district of Uşak, a monument dedicated to Roman Emperor Hadrian was found. The 2,000-year-old marble inscription includes the phrase "Savior and founding emperor Hadrianus Olimpios."

The excavation works, which started in 2018 in the Blaundos Ancient City, where soldiers from Macedonia settled during Alexander the Great's campaign in Anatolia, are continuing this year under the direction of the Uşak Museum Directorate.

Known as a "garrison city," the ancient city resembles a natural fortress due to being surrounded by the deep Ulubey Canyon and having only one entrance.

In the excavation that began in June, work was carried out on the 2,000-year-old temple of the goddess Demeter, who symbolizes agriculture and abundance in mythology, as well as in the monumental tomb area located at the entrance of the city.

WORK CONTINUES IN THE HEART OF THE ANCIENT CITY

A project was prepared by the Uşak Museum Directorate to uncover the columned street used as a marketplace in the center of the ancient city. The work is included in the "Heritage for the Future Project" carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Archaeologists, consisting of a team of 60, are working diligently on the columned street. It is known that the street, which extends east-west in front of the temple of the goddess Demeter, was the heart of the ancient city during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

A INSCRIPTION DEDICATED TO HADRIANUS HAS BEEN REACHED

During the works, an inscription dedicated to Roman Emperor Hadrianus was reached. The marble inscription, which is 80 centimeters long and 35 centimeters wide, contains the phrase "Savior and founding emperor Hadrianus Olimpios."

Archaeologists evaluate that Emperor Hadrianus provided assistance to cities during that period and expected commendatory words from the local people in return, suggesting that the inscription may have been written for this purpose.

"IT SHOWS HE WAS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE"

Uşak Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Sabri Ceylan told AA correspondent that they started excavation works on the columned street in the first week of November after the Blaundos Ancient City was included in the "Heritage for the Future Project."

Stating that the columned street is the most important point of the city, Ceylan noted:

"This section attracts a lot of interest from our visitors. We started to uncover the east-west oriented street from the beginning of this month. So far, we have found 4 column bases. Additionally, an inscription dedicated to Roman Emperor Hadrianus has emerged in the ongoing excavations. The examination of the historical process of this inscription is ongoing. This inscription documents that Hadrianus was an important figure as an emperor."

Ceylan drew attention to the findings indicating that the street was also actively used during the Byzantine period, stating that the works are being carried out over a wide area.

"IT CONTINUED WITH THE SAME IMPORTANCE AND SPLENDOR IN THE BYZANTINE PERIOD"

Ceylan explained that they have a 4-year work plan ahead, saying, "We can say that the street is the heart of the ancient city. The columned street area of the ancient city continued with the same importance and splendor during the Byzantine period after Rome. After documentation, we plan to restore and reconstruct the ancient street here."

When the works are completed, Ceylan stated that Blaundos would gain a more visible structure, which would positively affect the city's tourism potential.