Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Adramytteion (Ἀδραμύττειον) in western Turkey have uncovered a remarkably preserved Greco Roman villa featuring elaborate mosaics, frescoes, sophisticated drainage systems and even images of household pets identified by name.
The discovery was made in the Ören area of Burhaniye in Balıkesir province, where archaeological excavations have been taking place since 2012.
The findings are offering researchers a rare glimpse into domestic life, wealth and cultural connections at Adramytteion nearly 2,000 years ago, while also revealing the long history of the site from its Hellenistic Greek period through Roman rule.
Archaeological work is being conducted by the Balıkesir National Forces Museum Directorate with permission from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Scientific consultancy is provided by Dr Hüseyin Murat Özgen, head of the Adramytteion Research Team at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
Researchers have been investigating an area of around 9,000 square metres, uncovering remains belonging to different periods of the ancient city’s history.
A luxurious Roman residence
Among the most important discoveries is a large Roman residential complex centred around an atrium and surrounded by three substantial halls.
The rooms were richly decorated with mosaic floors, frescoes and geometric and figurative designs.
In the northern hall, archaeologists identified 15 mosaic panels depicting birds, fish and a winged horse.
The winged horse is especially significant because the same motif appeared on coins minted by Adramytteion (Ἀδραμύττειον) as early as the fourth century BC.
Its appearance in a Roman residence centuries later suggests that an important symbol associated with the ancient city continued to survive as part of its cultural identity.
Ancient mosaics reveal the names of household pets
Some of the mosaics provide an unusually personal glimpse into the lives of the villa’s inhabitants.
Among the images are a cat and a dog accompanied by inscriptions apparently identifying them by name.
Researchers say the cat’s name translates as “Emerald”, while the dog was called “Okyanos” (Ὠκεανός), meaning “Ocean”.
The presence of named animals in the decoration provides a fascinating insight into the private world of an affluent household in Roman-era Adramytteion.
Greek heritage and Mediterranean connections
Other mosaics feature Medusa and Gorgon figures, as well as pygmy figures interacting with birds.
The pygmy imagery is particularly interesting because similar motifs are associated with mosaic traditions from North Africa.
Researchers believe these artistic influences could provide clues about the villa’s wealthy owner.
Ancient Adramytteion was an important maritime and commercial centre with two harbours and connections extending across the eastern Mediterranean. The residence may therefore have belonged to a prosperous merchant whose commercial or cultural contacts reached North Africa.
The discovery also highlights the city’s long Hellenistic Greek heritage.
The foundations of an earlier Hellenistic structure were found directly beneath the Roman villa. Parts of the earlier building were later incorporated into the Roman complex, demonstrating the continuity of occupation at the site.
Rather than representing an entirely new settlement, the Roman residence was constructed within an urban landscape that had already developed during the Hellenistic period.
From Hellenistic Adramytteion to Roman-era residence
Evidence from the villa’s eastern hall indicates that the residence was in use during the second century AD, although the complex continued to be modified over subsequent centuries.
Following destruction during the Roman period, another hall was constructed south of the central area during the fourth or fifth century AD.
This later addition contained its own geometric and figurative decoration, reflecting the changing artistic traditions of the period.
The villa was also equipped with sophisticated infrastructure, including drainage channels, pipelines and installations serving areas that required water.
The combination of elaborate mosaics, decorated halls and advanced engineering indicates that the residence belonged to members of Adramytteion’s prosperous elite.
For archaeologists, however, the importance of the discovery extends far beyond the luxury of the villa.
The remains provide valuable evidence for understanding everyday life, trade and cultural exchange at Ἀδραμύττειον, while the successive Hellenistic and Roman layers reveal how an ancient Greek city developed and adapted over centuries.
Excavations are continuing, and researchers hope that further investigation of the residential quarter will reveal more about the people who lived there and the connections that linked Adramytteion with the wider Mediterranean world.
