In the ancient Greek City, Zeugma, which is located in today's Turkey, unbelievable mosaics were uncovered, dating back to the 2nd century BC, but incredibly well-preserved and look as beautiful and stunning as the first day.
The site came to the attention of the international archaeological community when it was threatened by flooding, due to the construction of a nearby dam in southern Turkey in 2000.
When Professor Kutalmış Görkay of Ankara University and his team of archaeologists began excavating, they found amazing and well-preserved glass mosaics rich with color.
"There are still unexcavated areas. There are rock-carved houses here. We have reached one of these houses and the house includes six spaces. We have also unearthed three new mosaics in this year's excavations," he said.
People used mosaics with characters from ancient Greek mythology to decorate their houses.
Görkay emphasized that now, the project will reach its most important stage - conservation.
"From now on, we will work on restoration and conservation. We plan to establish a temporary roof for long-term protection. We estimate that the ancient city has 2,000-3,000 houses. Twenty-five of them remain under water. Excavations will be finished in the Muzalar House next year," he said.
The Greeks named the city "Seleucia" when they founded it in the 3rd century BC
The Roman empire conquered the city in 64 BC, renaming it to Zeugma (meaning "bridge" or "crossing" in ancient Greek)
Pictured here are Oceanus and Tethys, Ancient Greek and Roman ocean deities
This is Thalia, the muse of idyllic poetry and comedy.
Source:
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Comment: See also: Archaeologists: Sublime technique makes Syrian mosaics one of the greatest in the world