Mosaic with rare depiction of river god found in Aspendos

Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic with a rare depiction of a river god in the ancient Greek city of Aspendos, in southern Turkey’s Antalya province. The mosaic dates to the 3rd century A.D. and has a central panel featuring a youthful Eurymedon, personification of the river the city was built on.

The founding legend of Aspendos dates the city back to 1000 B.C. when it was established by Greek colonists from Argos. Whatever the kernel truth in that origin story, by the 5th century B.C., Aspendos was minting its own silver coins and they were widely accepted throughout the Greek world for their reliable quality. Its location on the Eurymedon River just 10 miles from the Mediterranean coast made it an important stop for traders, and the city became wealthy from the trade in salt, olive oil and wood.

Ruled variously by Lydia, Persia, Macedonia and its descendants, Aspendos fell under Roman control in 190 B.C. Today its best-preserved remains date to the Roman imperial period, including the theater which is the best-preserved Roman theater in the world.

The mosaic was discovered in the East Square of Theater Street, the street that connects the theater to Aspendos Acropolis. The surviving mosaic floor is large, an estimated six meters wide and 25 meters long (20 by 82 feet), extending from the East Square to the city walls. About 7.5 meters (25 feet) of its length have been uncovered so far. Archaeologists are continuing to excavate the rest of it.

The figural panel depicts Eurymedon reclining the river, his arm propped on an amphora that has water flowing out of its mouth into the river. He is draped in a robe of vivid moss green, and fish swim in front of his extended leg. He holds a river reed in his right hand, and wears a crown of reeds or grasses. A variety of geometric patterns border the panel, including guilloche, floral scrolls and triangles, squares and peltas. A second large panel consists only of black and white geometric designs.

The structure the mosaic adorns is believed to have been a pool when it was built in the 3rd century. It was later divided into rooms after the building was damaged in an earthquake in 262 A.D.

The find points to a decorated urban area where water carried both practical and symbolic meaning. In a city closely tied to its river, such an image would have been immediately recognizable. […]

The mosaic was made with small stone pieces known as tesserae. The color transitions, balanced proportions, and detailed treatment of the figure suggest skilled craftsmanship.

River gods were familiar figures in Greco-Roman art, but examples in Anatolian mosaics are limited. That makes the Young Eurymedon mosaic especially important for understanding how local geography and civic identity were expressed in Roman-period art.

* This article was originally published here