A 2-meter marble statue of Athena was found almost intact in an ancient theater in Turkey, but the head has not yet been found.

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 28/04/2026 at 13:17

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Discovery in the Western Theater of Laodicea, in southwestern Turkey, reveals an almost complete white marble piece and reinforces the cultural importance of the ancient center linked to the region’s trade, medicine, and Greek mythology

A statue of Athena measuring approximately two meters was found almost intact in the ancient theater of Laodicea, in southwestern Turkey, revealing new traces of a historical center linked to trade, medicine, and culture.

Estátua, Atena, mármore — The white marble statue of the goddess Athena was discovered at an archaeological site in Turkey — Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey

Statue of Athena found without its head

The discovery was announced by Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. The piece emerged in the area of ancient Laodicea, a city of great importance about two thousand years ago.

The sculpture was found almost complete. The only part not yet located is the head, which may be in an unexcavated area of the archaeological site.

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Discovery occurred in the Western Theater

The piece was found in a building that was part of an ancient theater. It was positioned on the exterior of the structure, a detail that caught the attention of the teams involved in the excavations.

The site is identified as the Western Theater of Laodicea. The work is ongoing and continues to bring to light traces associated with the ancient city’s past.

The sculpture’s position indicates that the space was not just for performances. The theater also functioned as a cultural exhibition environment, bringing together pieces capable of enhancing the audience’s experience.

Theater combined mythology and visual memory

Studies indicate that the theater housed several sculptures related to well-known stories of the time. Many of them depicted episodes from Greek mythology and helped transform the space into a center of visual narrative.

Among the themes represented were stories associated with the works attributed to Homer. The sculptures helped the audience follow these accounts through images placed within the theater environment itself.

Other recent discoveries in the region have shown scenes from Odysseus’s journey. Among them are encounters with figures like Polyphemus and Scylla, reinforcing the presence of mythical themes in the composition of the space.

White marble preserves the statue’s details

Even without its head, the statue of Athena retains enough elements to identify the piece’s style. The sculpture values proportion, finish, and details, characteristics associated with the period in which it was produced.

The level of finish on the work helps to understand the relevance of the space where it was installed. The presence of the piece in the theater shows the cultural importance attributed to the environment.

Laodicea, now an archaeological site, was once an important center for trade, textile production, and medical activities.

The excavations seek to preserve ancient structures and reveal new aspects of this past.

Laodicea continues to reveal new pieces

The statue of Athena joins a series of recent finds in Laodicea. In recent years, excavations have identified pieces that show aspects of the culture and daily life of antiquity.

Work continues in the region, with expectations of new discoveries as teams advance through the unexplored areas of the Turkish archaeological site.

With information from Só Notícia Boa.

A 2-meter marble statue of Athena was found almost intact in an ancient theater in Turkey, but the head has not yet been found.

Discovery in the Western Theater of Laodicea, in southwestern Turkey, reveals an almost complete white marble piece and reinforces the cultural importance of the ancient center linked to the region’s trade, medicine, and Greek mythology

Statue of Athena found without its head

Discovery occurred in the Western Theater

Theater combined mythology and visual memory

White marble preserves the statue’s details

Laodicea continues to reveal new pieces

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A 2-meter marble statue of Athena was found almost intact in an ancient theater in Turkey, but the head has not yet been found.

Discovery in the Western Theater of Laodicea, in southwestern Turkey, reveals an almost complete white marble piece and reinforces the cultural importance of the ancient center linked to the region’s trade, medicine, and Greek mythology

Statue of Athena found without its head

Discovery occurred in the Western Theater

Theater combined mythology and visual memory

White marble preserves the statue’s details

Laodicea continues to reveal new pieces

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