08.09.2025 00:25
In the excavation works carried out at the ancient city of Aigai in the Yunusemre district of Manisa, a sun dial approximately 2,200 years old has been uncovered. The artifact, found as a single piece and designed to be mounted on a ship's prow, draws attention with its similarity to the example found on Delos Island and its intricate craftsmanship.
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In the Aigai Ancient City, located in the Yunusemre district of Manisa, which has a history of approximately 2,700 years, important remnants of the ancient world are being uncovered in excavation works that have been ongoing since 2004.
2,200-YEAR-OLD SUN DIAL FOUND
In the excavations conducted in the public assembly building (Bouleuterion), a sun dial preserved as a single piece was found. It was noted that the artifact stands out for reflecting the scientific understanding of the period as well as its original craftsmanship. The sun dial has started to be exhibited in the Manisa Museum, which opened this year.
"THE MOST DETAILED EXAMPLE REACHING US FROM ANTIQUITY"
Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin, the Head of the Aigai Ancient City Excavation and the Head of the Archaeology Department at Manisa Celal Bayar University, stated that the depiction of a ship sheds light on Aigai's connections to the sea and its admiration for maritime culture, adding that the sun dial is one of the most detailed examples reaching us from antiquity. Prof. Dr. Sezgin said, "This sun dial, which emerged in the Aigai Assembly building, is quite special. The dial is positioned on a Doric-style column capital, elevated from the ground. The front part of the structure is designed in the shape of a ship's bow, with eye motifs symbolizing 'nazar' on both sides."
"WE HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER EXAMPLE SO INTRICATELY CRAFTED"
Prof. Dr. Sezgin also stated, "We know that the bronze rods on the dial create shadows according to the angle of the sun's rays, indicating the hours of the day. The central line allows for the tracking of astronomical events such as summer and winter solstices. In this respect, it is a unique example both aesthetically and functionally. There are only a few similar examples in the ancient world. Apart from a similar one located on Delos Island, we have not encountered another example so intricately crafted," he said.
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