During excavations in the ancient city of Laodicea, located in the Turkish province of Denizli, archaeologists made a sensational discovery. A group of sculptures depicting a scene from Homer's “Odyssey” with the sea monster Scylla were found during the restoration of the Western Theater. The discovery is especially valuable due to the well-preserved original paint on the sculptures, which is rare for artifacts of this age.
The sculptural composition, dating back to the beginning of the II century BC, includes the head and arm of Scylla, the torso of Odysseus, fragments of the figures of his companions and part of the ship. The find is remarkable not only for its historical significance, but also for the high artistic skill of its execution. The realistic depiction of emotions on the faces of the characters and the detailed elaboration of the elements testify to the outstanding skill of the ancient sculptors.
It is believed that the sculptures were part of theatrical productions and were located on the second tier of the Western Theatre, which is likely what helped preserve the paint. The discovery is part of a larger project called “Heritage for the Future”, initiated by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to preserve the archaeological heritage of Anatolia.
The discovery is of great importance for the study of ancient art and may shed light on the technologies and materials used by ancient craftsmen. In addition, the find highlights the importance of Laodicea as a cultural and historical center, which is a candidate for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
