Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Arts
  • Cinema
  • Music
  • Events
  • Portrait
  • Reviews
  • Performing Arts

2,400-year-old mask of Dionysus unearthed in western Turkey 

by Anadolu Agency

BALIKESİR, Turkey Sep 06, 2020 - 3:44 pm GMT+3
A photo from the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Daskyleion, Balıkesir, western Turkey, Sept. 6, 2020. (AA PHOTO)
A photo from the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Daskyleion, Balıkesir, western Turkey, Sept. 6, 2020. (AA PHOTO)
by Anadolu Agency Sep 06, 2020 3:44 pm
RECOMMENDED
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in Screen Gems' "The Pope's Exorcist." (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Review: How much of 'The Pope's Exorcist' is real?

RUSSELL-CROWE

A terracotta mask dating back nearly 2,400 years has been found during excavations in western Turkey, said the head of the excavation team.

Archaeologist Kaan Iren, leading the excavations in the ancient city of Daskyleion in the western Balıkesir province, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that a mask of the ancient Greek god Dionysus, found in the city's acropolis, is one of this year's most interesting findings. "This is possibly a votive mask. More information will become available over time with more research," said Iren, a professor at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University.

Legend has it that wearing such a mask is a way of paying homage to Dionysus, the Greek god of carnivals and masquerades, by allowing you to free yourself from secret desires and buried regrets. Dionysos is said to have concealed both his identity and his power and is considered a patron of the arts.

The terracotta mask of the ancient Greek god Dionysus, found at the ancient city of Daskyleion, Balıkesir, western Turkey, Sept. 6, 2020. (AA PHOTO)
The terracotta mask of the ancient Greek god Dionysus, found at the ancient city of Daskyleion, Balıkesir, western Turkey, Sept. 6, 2020. (AA PHOTO)

Daskyleion is located on the shore of Lake Manyas in the Bandırma district of Balıkesir, from the time when Asia Minor had many ancient Greek settlements. Iren said that this year, a cellar was unearthed in the Lydian kitchen in the city's acropolis. "Work continues to obtain seeds and other organic parts from the excavated soil in the Lydian kitchen and its surroundings through a flotation process," he added.

Through more research, the cuisine and eating habits of the region from 2,700 years ago will be better understood, the archaeologist said. In the seventh century B.C., the city was named Daskyleion when the famous Lydian King, Daskylos, came to the city from Sardis due to dynastic quarrels, according to Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism website. His son Gyges was born in Daskyleion and later recalled to Lydia.

After Gyges became the king of Lydia, the city was renamed Daskyleion – the place of Daskylos – around 650 B.C.

RECOMMENDED
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in Screen Gems' "The Pope's Exorcist." (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Review: How much of 'The Pope's Exorcist' is real?

RUSSELL-CROWE
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    history ancient city of daskyleion balıkesir dionysus
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    An amateur photographer Vincent Cornelissen captures a bean goose flying upside down. (Photo from Instagram @b0unce1971)

    It is showing off: Photographer captures goose flying upside down

    ANIMALS-ARCHIVES
    Parts of the newly completed last section of the Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul, Turkey, May 19, 2021. (DHA Photo)

    Turkey raises speed limits on highways starting from July

    SPEED-LIMIT

    Türkiye registers better-than-expected current account gap

    current-account-balance

    Istanbul's consulate chronicles: Sudhi Choudhary, Consul General of India

    SUDHI-CHOUDHARY
    No Image
    Red warning: Britain braces for extreme record-breaking temps
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021