Ancient Tralleis reveals 2,000-year-old Roman mosaic in Türkiye

Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Tralleis in Aydin province, western Türkiye, have uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved Roman mosaic estimated to be nearly 2,000 years old. The discovery was made inside the bath-gymnasium complex, where researchers say the structure once played a central role in education, physical training and public life during the Roman Empire.

Excavations uncover remarkable Roman artwork

The excavation is being directed by Prof. Murat Cekilmez of Aydin Adnan Menderes University under the Culture and Tourism Ministry's Heritage for the Future initiative. Located in the Efeler district, roughly two kilometers from Aydin city center, the archaeological site has previously yielded significant Roman and Byzantine remains, including what experts believe was an Olympic-style swimming pool.

Cekilmez said the latest excavation campaign focused on the northern section of the bath-gymnasium complex, where the team uncovered a large hall decorated with a mosaic portraying a hippocampus, the mythical sea creature traditionally associated with Poseidon. "The presence of this figure confirms that the hall remained in active use throughout the Roman Imperial period," he said.

Ancient educational center comes into sharper focus

Researchers believe the bath-gymnasium served as much more than a recreational facility. According to Cekilmez, the complex functioned as an educational institution where young people received academic and physical training, helping produce scholars, physicians, engineers and writers. "Tralleis was recognized in antiquity as a center of learning and scientific thought, and each discovery helps us better understand that legacy," he noted.

The excavation has also revealed evidence from the Byzantine era, illustrating how the site continued to evolve across different historical periods while preserving traces of its earlier Roman heritage.

Mosaic hidden beneath Byzantine structure

Archaeologists initially believed the excavation area contained only a Byzantine workshop. As the work progressed, however, they discovered the intact Roman mosaic beneath the later construction, a finding Cekilmez described as one of the excavation's most rewarding moments.

"The mosaic has survived in remarkably good condition and provides valuable information about Roman mythology as well as everyday life in Tralleis," he said. The research team plans to continue conservation work before opening the newly uncovered section to visitors in the future.