Spectacular mosaic of Poseidon found in Turkey

Archaeological excavations near the southern Turkish province of Adana have unearthed a rare mosaic depicting Poseidon. It is believed to date back to the 3rd or 4th century B.C. and is nearly 11 square meters.

The Poseidon mosaic was found in the frigidarium, the large cold pool of a Roman bath which is part of the ancient bath at the ancient city of Aegae. The bottom part of the mosaic contains partly ruined writing in Greek that states: 'Greetings to all of you bathing' or 'Hail to all those who wash', depending on the translation you'd like to go with.

The city of Aegae served as a naval base in the era of the Roman Empire and it was also a famous place for Asklepios. Turkish archaeologist Tari said the region is rich in historical tissue, and they had previously found a mosaic depicting the god of love, Eros.

Adana Museum Deputy Director Nedim Dervişoğlu said they continued to place a big importance on excavations in order to further boost the province’s tourism potential, with such works carried out in a number of different parts of the city.  Dervişoğlu stated:

“During excavations, we found a mosaic on a field over a space of 11.39 square meters. It is separated into two main panels. The depiction in the southeastern part of the mosaic has been completely destroyed while the depiction in the north shows Poseidon carrying a trident. There are dolphins in the right and left of Poseidon. When the excavations are completed around the mosaic, the depiction will be meaningful. We believe it dates back to the 3rd or 4th century BC.”

The discovery of this mosaic is a part of a larger excavation in four quartered areas of the Aigeai Ancient City.