The "Marcus Statue", which returned home, is on display for the first time in the Presidential Complex.

For the first time in the history of the Republic, a president will host an archaeology-themed program. The Presidential Complex will also showcase rare examples of archaeological heritage with the "Golden Age of Archaeology" exhibition on the same day. Marcus Aurelius, returning home, will be the exhibition's most prominent guest. The International Archaeology Symposium, which will discuss the ancient traces of Anatolia, will bring together scholars from around the world in the nation's home.

Marcus Aurelius' first stop was Beştepe

The statue of Marcus Aurelius, which has survived from the depths of history to the present day, will be unveiled for the first time at Beştepe, a state summit. This unique, nearly two-thousand-year-old artifact will greet visitors in a dedicated area within the Exhibition Hall of the Presidential Complex. This special opening, which will bring together scholars tracing the past at the Presidency, will go down in history not only as an exhibition but also as one of the most ambitious gatherings in the history of the Republic in the fields of archaeology, cultural heritage, and historical research. An international archaeology symposium hosted by the Presidency will bring together local and international scholars in Ankara. The symposium will explore the historical and artistic value of the statue of Marcus Aurelius, the process of its discovery, and its significance in Anatolian archaeology through scholarly presentations. This simultaneous event, which has captivated academia with its scientific depth and the public with its social impact, will also demonstrate Türkiye's resolute will to open its cultural heritage to the world. This historic step will not only mark a turning point in cultural diplomacy but also mark a strategic threshold where Türkiye redefines its cultural sovereignty.

The exhibition and symposium, which will be held at Beştepe on August 6th, is attracting attention not only from academic circles but also from the international press. Members of the Turkish-based foreign press, as well as archaeology editors from world-renowned media organizations, will be following the program on-site. Following the exhibition opening, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will deliver the opening speech at the "Golden Age of Archaeology" International Archaeology Symposium, which will last three days. More than 250 scholars, 29 of whom are international, will participate in the symposium, and a total of 33 academics, 17 of whom are international, will make presentations. All excavation directors from across Türkiye will also be in Ankara.

The proportion of works to be exhibited for the first time exceeds 80 percent

In the "Legacy to the Future" exhibition, which will bring together mythology, diplomacy, and science, each artifact will tell its own story. The exhibition will feature numerous artifacts unearthed during excavations conducted as part of the "Legacy Heritage Project" and which have garnered international attention. More than 80% of the artifacts, brought to the exhibition in Beştepe as a result of a scientific discovery or a cultural struggle, will be exhibited for the first time, meeting archaeology enthusiasts in their homeland.

It will host visitors for approximately 6 months.

The exhibition's highlights include a millennia-old plate, a 3,500-year-old clay tablet found in Hatay, and a thousand-year-old perfume bottle set recovered from underwater in Antalya. These artifacts, described as the discovery of the century for the Neolithic Age and virtually a three-dimensional version of a mythological story, were unearthed in a room in Karahantepe. The Scylla Head, a detailed depiction of a mythological sea monster found during the Laodicea excavations, a silver coin belonging to Orhan Gazi found during the Karacahisar Castle excavations and preserved in the Eskişehir Eti Museum, a sphinx found in Gordion, finds from an extraordinary recycling workshop in Metropolis, and a Roman-era Cybele Statue will also be among the many artifacts on display.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy will also attend the exhibition and symposium, which will be inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The archaeological heritage, which will be temporarily displayed in the Presidential Complex Exhibition Hall, will be open to visitors for approximately six months.

Reporter: News Center