Archaeologists from Selcuk University have made a remarkable discovery of mosaics featuring aquatic creatures during their excavations in Herakleia.
Known as Latmos in the Archaic and Classical periods, Herakleia was an ancient Greek city nestled at the western base of Mount Latmus in Turkey’s Muğla Province. Initially founded in the classical Greek period, Herakleia’s cultural and historical influences were predominantly Greek, which is reflected in the architectural and artistic remnants found there.
This city was designed following a Hippodamian grid layout, with streets oriented to the cardinal points and centered around the agora. The remnants of Herakleia include various structures like temples (including one dedicated to Athena), a theater, a nymphaeum, a Roman bathhouse, rock-cut tombs, and a Byzantine-era fortress, illustrating the diverse cultural influences over time.
A recent study led by Prof. Dr. Zeliha Gider Büyüközer from Selçuk University’s Archaeology Department has unveiled mosaics depicting crocodiles, dolphins, flamingos, and eels.
The excavation is part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage to the Future” initiative, aimed at documenting a Roman bathhouse complex and boosting tourism in the area.
Prof. Büyüközer emphasized the striking discovery of crocodile depictions in the frigidarium (cold room), which contains six crocodile figures facing each other. This is particularly intriguing since the local temperate climate does not support crocodile habitats.
“The mosaic artist must have observed a crocodile firsthand, as the depiction’s intricate detail suggests. This indicates the artisan might have been a traveling master craftsman who worked in regions inhabited by crocodiles,” commented Prof. Büyüközer.
In the tepidarium (warm area), the mosaic floor displays four dolphins positioned at each corner. Additionally, two flamingos are depicted holding eels crafted from red stones in their mouths.
“Flamingos are species that still inhabit this region today. The artist has captured the fauna from the local geography,” added Prof. Büyüközer.
Header Image Credit: AA