A-Z Guidebook: Zeugma Museum Inward Southeast Turkey

Z is for Zeugma Museum

For my in conclusion contribution to the A-Z Guidebook posts, I’ve dug dorsum into my photograph archives from 5 years agone when nosotros visited the Zeugma Museum located inward Gaziantep, southeast Turkey.

In 2012, the museum, less than a twelvemonth one-time then, was fascinating because it is the world’s largest mosaic museum – containing 1700m2 of priceless mosaics from the ancient Roman town of Zeugma, which way “bridge” or “crossing” inward ancient Greek. 

Wandering through partly reconstructed ancient Roman villas, excavated on-site roughly the Euphrates river, ane tin almost go dorsum inward fourth dimension to nearly 2,000 years agone when Zeugma was a pop trading pump along the Silk Road road to China. Zeugma was founded along the river inward 300 BC past times ane of the generals of Alexander the Great as well as accomplish its peak inward the 3^rd century AD earlier existence abandoned due to raids as well as earthquakes.

Today, much of the ancient town as well as its modern counterpart of Belkıs prevarication nether the reservoir created past times the structure of ane of Turkey's largest dams inward 2000. The massive Birecik Dam is located less than a mile from the site. 

Fortunately, international archaeologists were able to salvage many artifacts as well as these impressive mosaics earlier the dam flooded the area. The Zeugma Museum attempts to recreate the atmosphere that ane time prevailed inward this prosperous Roman town. Though you’ll uncovering enough of Greek as well as Roman gods preserved inward the mosaics, my favorite is the Gypsy Girl, known for her emotive eyes that look to follow y'all wherever y'all larn inward the night room where she similar a shot lives.

Looking dorsum now, nosotros were real lucky to go through southeast Turkey when nosotros did. The people nosotros met were wonderful, the nutrient was delicious as well as the historical sites were memorable. And that is what go is all close for me!

I’m linking this postal service to the monthly go conduct link upwards organized past times Fiona, a beau Australian blogger, at Tiffin Bite Sized Food Adventures, who has kindly hosted this link-up for the past times 26 months! Thank you! Each calendar month featured a novel alphabetic lineament of the alphabet. This calendar month is the alphabetic lineament “Z.” Please pop on over to Fiona’s weblog to read to a greater extent than A-Z go stories or experience gratis to link upwards your own!