2-Meter Athena Statue Discovered at Laodikeia Ancient City

By Bosphorus News Culture and Science Desk

A nearly two-meter white marble statue of Athena has been uncovered at the ancient city of Laodikeia in southwestern Türkiye, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced on April 23, confirming a new archaeological find linked to the early Roman imperial period.

The statue was discovered on March 31 during excavations at the West Theatre of Laodikeia, near present-day Denizli. According to the ministry, the figure was found lying face down within a rubble fill along the outer wall of the stage building, known as the postskene. The head of the statue has not yet been recovered.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the find represents "another important discovery" at the site, describing the sculpture as "approximately two meters in height and made of white marble."

The ministry said the statue reflects the classical artistic style of the Augustan period, dating between 27 BC and AD 14. The figure is considered part of a broader sculptural context associated with the theatre complex.

Official statements noted that, unlike traditional depictions of Athena as a war goddess, the Laodikeia statue appears to emphasize aspects of the deity linked to craftsmanship. The interpretation aligns with Laodikeia's historical role as a center of textile production in antiquity.

Excavations at Laodikeia, one of the major urban centers of Roman Asia Minor, have in recent years focused on the restoration of its theatre structures and the recovery of sculptural elements linked to stage decoration.

The newly uncovered statue adds to ongoing efforts to document the artistic and cultural landscape of the site during the early Roman imperial period.