Fragments of figurines were discovered in one of the most important cities of the Hellenistic era

figurines were revealed in archaeological excavations carried out around its ancient hippodrome Antioch.

Excavations at the hippodrome in the Küçükdalyan neighborhood of Antioch province, which are being carried out under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future Project,” have focused on the area known as the “area of ​​palaces.”

In the work carried out by a team of 200 people, led by Professor Hatice Pamir, of the Department of Archeology at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University in order to reveal the urban structure of ancient Antioch, two fragments of figurines made of baked clay came to light.

In the team’s first study, it was found that one of the fragments, which included the head and part of the torso, it depicted a ‘sophist’, an ancient philosopher and dates from the early Hellenistic period, between 300 and 200 BC.

The head of the other figurine was also found to date to the late second century BC.

The head of the excavations told the Anadolu Agency (AA) news agency that the area consists of a racecourse, a temple and a palace complex.

First time they find fragment of figurine from baked clay from the Hellenistic period

He said that it is the first time that a fragment of an idol made of fired clay from the Hellenistic period has been found in the archaeological work. “One of the artifacts is a figurine depicting a ‘sophist’ from ancient times, philosophers and traveling educators who imparted spiritual knowledge. We know that ancient Antioch was always prominent for its spiritual institutions. The discovery of an object from the Hellenistic period is extremely important as it shows that there was spiritual education at that time,” he explained.

Pamir also reported that they decided that the piece was not made from a mold but rather crafted by an artist using a freehand technique.

Pamir emphasized the importance of the other find as well, saying: “We think the head of this figurine, which dates back to the late second century BC, could be a piece of object used inside a house or possibly a child’s play”.

He added that the fragments have been placed under protection at the Hatay Archaeological Museum.