The approximately 2,350-year-old statue of Cybele was unearthed in the Antandros Ancient City in Balikesir‘s Altinoluk neighborhood.
It is thought to have been founded in the 10th century BC on the skirts of Kaz Mountains, and according to some sources, its history dates back to BC. The sculpture, which was found during the 21st period excavations in the ancient city, which dates back to 2000 BC, excited the excavation team.
Ege University Faculty of Letters, Department of Archeology lecturer and Head of the Excavation Team Prof. Dr. Gurcan Polat was used as a wall stone on the walls of a Roman villa. Stating that they found a sculpture from the 4th century, “Unfortunately, it is not fully preserved. It’s a 30-centimeter-high marble figurine. We understand that it is a statue of Cybele,” he said.
A Very Important Goddess
Underlining that Cybele is a very important goddess for Mount Ida (Ida Mountains) Antandros, Polat said: We know from ancient sources that there is a culture called ‘Cybele Idean’. Idali Cybele. This is the first time we have recovered a statuette from this cult that we know exists here. It is important in that respect.”
Polat said that there are lion figures on both sides of the Cybele statue sitting on the throne and that the yellow part of another lion is preserved on his lap.
Stating that Aeneas, who had escaped from the city after the fall of Troy and set out to seek a new home, came to the region, Cybele gave him permission to cut trees from his own sacred grove and build his ships, Polat underlined that the statuette was very valuable for Antandros.
