Relief shows tolerance at museum

ANTALYA - Anatolia News Agency

The relief of Gabriel in Antalya dates back to the Anatolian Seljuk period. AA Photo

A relief depicting the archangel Gabriel, which is believed to have belonged to a church and is now displayed at the Antalya Museum, draws great interest from visitors to the museum as a symbol of tolerance.

The one-meter-long marble relief, which was one of the first works registered at the museum, is important in terms of its religious significance, according to the museum’s director, Mustafa Demirel.

“Gabriel, known as the chief angel in Christianity, is also one of the four angels of Islam. The relief dates back to the Anatolian Seljuk period. Visitors are surprised that it has been respected and survived for so long, although many pieces of Christian artwork have been damaged over time,” Demirel said.