A monumental marble statue from the 5th century BC has been discovered in the Sardis Ancient City, located in the Salihli district of Manisa, Turkey. The standing figure of a young man stands 2.2 meters high.
The statue dates to approximately 2,500 years ago, specifically between 470 and 450 BC. It was found in two large pieces, with its feet and some small parts missing.
The statue's unique clothing style differentiates it from similar statues in Anatolia and Greece.
Turkish officials highlight the statue's unusual garment as a direct link to Lydian culture, noting that no other known statue in Anatolia or Greece shares this particular combination of clothing.
The right hand of the statue holds a fruit, believed to be a quince offered as a dedication to a deity. The figure dates to the period when Sardis served as the satrap capital of the western province of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Archaeologists determined that the statue was reused as paving stone in a colonnaded street during the Roman era. It was buried face down, a position that helped preserve its facial features remarkably well.
A unique finding that will shed light on Anatolian archaeology.
Following scientific examination and restoration, the statue will be displayed at the Manisa Museum in Turkey.
