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 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • 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

Ancient hygiene tools of gladiators on display in Izmir

by DAILY SABAH WITH AA

IZMIR Jul 16, 2021 - 8:10 pm GMT+3
An official presents the ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)
An official presents the ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)
by DAILY SABAH WITH AA Jul 16, 2021 8:10 pm

Turkey's Izmir Archaeology Museum recently launched a new, unique exhibition centered around the historical artifact known as a "strigil," which 2,300 years ago was a tool used for cleansing the body by scraping off dirt, perspiration and oil.

A bronze strigil is this month's guest of the museum as part of its "You Will See What You Can't See" project where a new, special artifact is introduced to visitors every month.

The strigil in question was discovered during archaeological excavations in the ancient Greek city of Teos, one of the 12 cities that formed the historical Ionian League.

The tool was used in ancient Roman and Greek cultures, and the one on display is believed to have belonged to an athlete or a gladiator.

An engraving depicting a cockfight can be seen on an ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)
An official presents the ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)

Hünkar Keser, director of the museum, said that the word "strigil" could be translated as "cleaning spoon," as he explained the historical use of the artifact.

"We know that athletes covered their bodies with olive oil before they practiced sports. After completing their workouts in sandy areas, they had to clean their bodies," Keser told Anadolu Agency (AA). "They used to scrape their bodies with this spoon-like strigil, and thus (remove) the coarse dirt."

At approximately 16 centimeters (nearly 6.3 inches) long, and shaped in a form that evokes the image of a crescent moon, the strigil has unique engravings on its surface that depict scenes from a cockfight.

"We know that it is a custom made spoon. The cockfighting figure on it is also an interesting detail. In those times, fighting is a form of entertainment used to attract people's attention. The use of the strigil is also specific to that period."

An official presents the ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)
An official presents the ancient artifact known as a "strigil," a historical tool used for cleansing gladiators, on exhibition at Izmir Archaeological Museum in Izmir, Turkey, July 15, 2021. (AA Photo)

Keser noted that the strigil was unique, just like the other ancient artifacts of the museum. He added that the rare and special strigil had attracted a lot of attention from visitors.

Keser said that some visitors would examine the artifacts that were exhibited as part of the "You Will See What You Can't See" project for hours.

The previous item to be exhibited as part of the Izmir Archaeology Museum's project were awe-inspiring marble statuettes carved by Stone Age sculptors in Anatolia 7,000 years ago, called the “Stargazers.”

The "You Will See What You Can't See" exhibition is due to run through January 2022.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jul 16, 2021 11:10 pm
    KEYWORDS
    archaeology ancient artifacts ancient greeks ancient rome gladiators
    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.
    No Image
    May Day 2023 from around the world
    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
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021