Turkish archaeologists unearthed an ancient statue of Hermes, the winged messenger of the gods, in the Greco-Roman city of Aspendos. It was found alongside objects associated with other major deities in Greek mythology.
Turkish Archaeologists Uncover Fragmented Hermes Statue
Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Minister, announced the discovery of a marble statue of Hermes at Aspendos, an ancient city in southern Türkiye. In a statement published on social media, Ersoy said, “In Aspendos, the silent witness of time, figures that have been buried for centuries have come to light. During the ongoing excavations within the scope of our Future Heritage project, a statue of Hermes from the Roman Imperial Period was uncovered.”
Dating back to the late 2nd or early 3rd century CE, the statue of Hermes was found in pieces within the ruins of a nymphaeum, an ancient fountain monument dedicated to nymphs. The fountain is located near an entrance gate, where the current excavation project began last year. Experts are reassembling and restoring the Hermes statue on-site. In the same area of Aspendos, archaeologists unearthed the heads of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and Eros, the god of love and sex. They also found sculptural fragments they believe belong to statues of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and Nemesis, the goddess of retribution.
The remains of Aspendos are located in the present-day Antalya province of Türkiye. During the reign of the Roman Empire, Aspendos was an important center of culture and trade. The city boasted the Roman Theatre of Aspendos, which was capable of hosting 15,000 spectators. Dating back to the 2nd century CE, it remains one of the best preserved ancient theatres from Greco-Roman history.
Hermes: Divine Messenger of the Gods
According to ancient Greek mythology, Hermes is the divine messenger of the gods. With his winged sandals, he could pass between the divine and human realms, helping guide souls into the underworld. He also served as the patron god of travelers, merchants, shepherds, and thieves. Legend has it that Hermes, the son of Zeus and Maia, made a name for himself very early on. As an infant, he managed to steal his half-brother Apollo‘s prized cattle.
At nearly five-and-a-half feet tall, the marble statue found at Aspendos depicts Hermes on an inscribed pedestal with a ram icon at his feet. He wears a cloak and holds a money pouch in his right hand. In his left hand, he carries a characteristic caduceus, a winged staff with two snakes coiled around it. Experts say the statue’s pose, with its right knee bent slightly and its weight concentrated on the left foot, corresponds to the movement and naturalism of the Roman Imperial Period style. As such, it was most likely created in the late 2nd century or early 3rd century CE.
