Ancient City of Metropolis Welcomes Back Seat of Honor With Griffins

“The Seat of Honor with Griffins”, which was found well-preserved during the excavations in Metropolis, the City of Mother Goddess, which have been carried out with support of the Sabancı Foundation, has been reproduced to be placed in its original two-thousand-year-old location in the Ancient Theater. The replica, carved by sculptor Sinan İlhan by using the pantography technique, was installed in the seat’s original place in the Ancient Theater in a ceremony hosted by Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, General Manager of the Sabancı Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Serdar Aybek, Head of Department of Archeology, Manisa Celal Bayar University. The original Seat of Honor with Griffins, which was found in 1995 in the Ancient Theater, one of the most remarkable artifacts of the Ancient City of Metropolis, is displayed in Izmir Archeology Museum. 

Nevgül Bilsel Safkan, General Manager of the Sabancı Foundation, pointed out that their support to the Metropolis excavations is notable among the Foundation’s other cultural and art activities, and “Since 2003, we have been supporting the excavations and contributing to unearthing of the historical wealth in the ancient city. We are excited to see such findings which have been impatiently awaited by the world of archeology in Turkey and all around the world. We believe it is important to preserve the findings and help more people see them as well as shedding light on the history. Over 11 thousand artifacts found during the excavations are now exhibited in Izmir Art and History Museum, Izmir Archeology Museum, and Selcuk Efes Museum. Among these artifacts is the Seat of Honor with Griffins found in the Ancient Theater, one of the most remarkable artifacts of the Ancient City of Metropolis. A reproduction of the seat, which was found in 1995 during the excavations and is now displayed in Izmir Archeology Museum, was carved with a mold made using the original. We are here today to install the Seat of Honor with Griffins in its 2-thousand-year-old original place. From now on, the Seat of Honor with Griffins will welcome visitors of Metropolis in its original place. The Seat of Honor with Griffins has been a symbol of Metropolis, contributing to its recognition in the national and international platform, and I am very happy to see it back in Metropolis,” she said. 

The fieldwork of the international archaeological project, involving a team of scientists from both local and overseas universities, is led by Prof. Dr. Serdar Aybek, Head of the Department of Archaeology, Manisa Celal Bayar University. “I witnessed the discovery of the Seat of Honor with Griffins when I was an undergraduate student at the archeology department back in 8 September 1995, and 23 years later, it is exciting to see a replica of it in its original place. We have been displaying this precious artifact in the Metropolis hall of Izmir Archeology Museum, where we could introduce it to a great number of people, and from now on, it can be seen in its original place by visitors of the ancient city. I think this marble seat produced thanks to sculptor Sinan İlhan’s careful efforts should be seen as a new artifact attached to the theater. The Metropolis Theater has experienced several destructions and modifications throughout history. In this respect, other seats were replaced, especially in the Roman Era, and new altars were placed. We should see this seat we installed earlier today as an addition of our period. We appreciate the efforts of all members of our board and especially thank the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which provided all the required permits to make this project happen, the Sabancı Foundation and its directors,” Aybek said. 

The excavations of the Ancient City of Metropolis, with permission and contributions by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage And Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, supported by the Sabancı Foundation, has been revealing the mysteries of history for 28 years. The excavations of 2018 started on July 20th and still continue in the city. 

About Metropolis

The ancient city of Metropolis, unearthed day by day thanks to the excavations going on since 1990, is situated between the Yenikoy and Ozbey neighborhoods of the district of Torbali, Izmir. The history of Metropolis dates back to the Neolithic Age, running through the traces of first settlements, the Classical Ages and the Hellenistic Age, further spanning Roman and Byzantium Empires and culminating in Anatolian Turkish Beyliks and the Ottoman era. 

As a result of the excavations to date, the structures and venues discovered to constitute the texture of an ancient city include a Theatre, a Bouleuterion (Council House), a Stoa (Roofed Colonnade) from the Hellenistic Age, and two Baths, a Bath-Palaestra (Sports Area) Complex, a Mosaic Hall, a Peristyle House, Shops, Public Toilet, and Streets which were all constructed during the Roman Empire Period. The number of small artifacts, including ceramics, coins, glass, architectural pieces, figures, statues, bone and ivory works, pithos (storage container) and many mineral artifacts, unearthed during the excavations in these locations and recorded so far exceeds 11 thousand. These artifacts are now exhibited in Izmir Art and History Museum, Izmir Archeology Museum, and Selcuk Efes Museum.