29.10.2026 18:39
During excavations continuing at the Ancient City of Teos in Seferihisar, İzmir, a near-life-size marble portrait of Antinous, who was in the close circle of Roman Emperor Hadrian, has been unearthed. Head of Excavations Prof. Dr. Musa Kadıoğlu stated that the portrait is the only known example of this size in Anatolia. Around the temple, 13 inscriptions and new monument bases were also found; the inscriptions also mention the name of Parmenion, one of Alexander the Great's commanders.
In the archaeological excavations continuing at the Ancient City of Teos in the Seferihisar district of İzmir, 13 inscriptions, new monument bases, and a marble portrait of Antinous, who was in the close circle of Roman Emperor Hadrian, have been unearthed.
According to a statement from İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the municipality also supports the excavations carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Archaeology of Ankara University's Faculty of Languages, History and Geography.
Known for hosting the Association of Dionysian Artists, consisting of poets, theater performers, and musicians, in the 3rd century BCE, Teos is referred to as the city of artists of antiquity due to this feature.
The 2026 excavation season at Teos concentrated around the Temple of Goddess Roma and Augustus. During the excavations, work was carried out on the western long side after the southern, eastern, and northern edges of the temple.
The excavation team identified new monument bases around the temple. It is not yet known to whom the bases, which are considered to have had statues on them, belonged.
13 INSCRIPTIONS FOUND IN THE FOUNDATION STONES
In the stone-paved square in front of the temple, architectural blocks that were removed from older structures and used as foundation stones were also identified. It was stated that the 13 inscriptions on the blocks contain important information about the city's political and social relations in its early periods.
Prof. Dr. Musa Kadıoğlu, Head of the Teos Ancient City Excavation, whose views were included in the statement, reported that they identified new monument bases around the temple.
Kadıoğlu stated that there must have been statues of honored persons on the bases, but it is not yet known to whom they belonged.
Kadıoğlu, drawing attention to the importance of the inscriptions on the architectural blocks removed from older structures and used as foundation stones, noted that the finds provide information about the city's political and social relations in its early periods.
Kadıoğlu, stating that among the inscriptions was the name of Parmenion, one of Alexander the Great's important commanders, also stated that the inscriptions included decisions concerning foreign judges.
THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THESE DIMENSIONS IN ANATOLIA
Prof. Dr. Musa Kadıoğlu reported that one of the important artifacts unearthed in the Temple of Goddess Roma and Augustus was the marble portrait of Antinous, who was in the close circle of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Kadıoğlu evaluated the portrait, which is close to human dimensions, as an important find in terms of similar examples in Anatolia.
"We found a portrait of Antinous here in normal human dimensions. It is very important in that it is the only known example of these dimensions in Anatolia," said Kadıoğlu, using the statement, "When we evaluate it together with the inscription fragments, we can say that the structure was used in the second century as a sacred area associated with Antinous as well as the Goddess Roma and Augustus."