Only statue of Roman emperor on display in Antalya Museum

ANTALYA – Doğan News Agency

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Continuing excavation and restoration work at the ancient city of Perge in southern Antalya province has unearthed a trove of rare and priceless artifacts, including a one-of-a-kind statue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who took the throne in the Roman Empire in the 2nd century. 

Other findings unearthed during the excavations included two Aphrodite statues, Asclepius, Tykhe, Nemesis, Helios and Selene statues, a snake statue, a dressed man statue, a dressed woman statue and a horse statue.  

In order to display these priceless artifacts and the statue of the Roman emperor, who was also known as Caracalla, a special section named the “Perge Western Street and F5 Fountain” has been created in the Antalya Museum. 

It is claimed that the statue of the emperor Caracalla, one of the most important artifacts decorating the Caracalla Fountain, which was unearthed at the junction of the Western City Gate and the Northern Bath, is the only one in the world. 

Right next to the huge marble Caracalla statue in the museum a small soldier statue is displayed, which reveals its magnificence. 

The huge statue lacks only its right hand. There is also a part of an unknown object which the statue once held in its lost hand and which extends to its head. The Caracalla statue’s dress bears Medusa and eagle figures.


A chaplet of oak leaves 

The Caracalla statue, which was removed from the Nymphaeumu pool, stands 2.2 meters in height. The one and only solid statue of the emperor that has been discovered so far is said to have special importance. 

There is a Corona Civica (a chaplet of common oak leaves woven to form a crown) on the head of the statue. 

The officials at the Antalya Museum said many artifacts had been removed on the same area and they decided to create a special section for them. 

The 70th year of excavations in the ancient city of Perge, which lies within the borders of the Aksu district, 17 kilometers away from Antalya city center, started in February. The first work was commenced in the city in 1946 by Prof. Arif Müfid Mansel and is now carried out by the Antalya Museum.