Archaeologists have uncovered a nearly 1,800-year-old marble statue of Asklepios (Greek: Ἀσκληπιός), the Greek god of medicine, at the ancient Greek city of Aspendos (Greek: Ἄσπενδος) in today’s southern Turkey. Buried for centuries beneath the collapsed remains of a monumental gateway, the sculpture has now been brought back into public view.
Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the discovery on social media, describing the statue as a symbol of healing returning to daylight after nearly two millennia.
The statue stood at one of the city’s busiest public spaces
The marble statue stands about 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) tall and depicts Asklepios with his son and companion, Telesphoros (Greek: Τελεσφόρος). Archaeologists uncovered the sculpture in the northern wing of the Monumental Gate, where Aspendos’ East Plaza meets Theatre Street, one of the city’s busiest public spaces during the Roman period.
The statue stood in a prominent civic setting rather than inside a secluded sanctuary. Researchers say its location shows that healing was not confined to religious spaces but formed part of the city’s public identity. Residents and visitors would likely have passed the monument on their way to the theater, agora, and other important buildings.
The discovery was made during excavations carried out under Turkey’s nationwide Heritage for the Future project, which supports archaeological research and conservation across the country. Researchers date the sculpture to the late second century AD.
Sculpture reflects Roman artistic traditions
The statue portrays Asklepios in the traditional Roman style. He stands with his weight resting on one leg while the other steps slightly forward. He has a full beard and thick hair, and a cloak, known as a himation, drapes over his left shoulder, falling in deep folds around his body. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, these artistic features are consistent with Roman sculptural workshops of the period.
Aspendos’ta şifanın yaklaşık 1.800 yıllık sembolü gün yüzüne çıktı!
Geleceğe Miras Projemiz kapsamında Antik kentte yürüttüğümüz kazı çalışmalarında, sağlık tanrısı Asklepios ile oğlu ve yardımcısı Telesphoros’un birlikte betimlendiği 2,20 metre boyundaki mermer heykel grubuna… pic.twitter.com/1WGSn52bGd
— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) August 6, 2026
At the base of the statue stands Telesphoros, shown as a small child wrapped in a long hooded cloak that conceals almost his entire body. In ancient belief, Asklepios represented medicine and healing, while Telesphoros symbolized recovery after illness. Together, the two figures illustrate the complete journey from sickness to restored health.
Discovery strengthens evidence of healing cult
Researchers say the discovery provides the clearest archaeological evidence yet that the cult of Asklepios was present in Aspendos.
Although the god of medicine was widely worshipped across the Greek and Roman world, especially at renowned healing sanctuaries such as Epidaurus and Pergamon, direct evidence from Aspendos had remained scarce.
The excellent state of preservation makes the find even more valuable. Asklepios and Telesphoros survived together in the same sculpture, allowing researchers to study the complete artistic and symbolic relationship between the two figures.
The ancient city was a major Roman center
Located in the Serik district of Antalya, Aspendos was one of the leading cities of ancient Pamphylia. Founded in the fifth century BC, it became an important trading center known for exporting salt, wine, olive oil, grain, and prized horses throughout the ancient Mediterranean and Near East.
Today, Aspendos is best known for its remarkably well-preserved Roman theater, built between AD 161 and 180 during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Designed by the architect Zenon, son of Theodorus, the theater is celebrated for its exceptional acoustics and still hosts the International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival.
The ancient city also preserves a monumental aqueduct, city gate, nymphaeum, agora, basilica, council house, stadium, baths, and gymnasium. Since 2015, the Ancient City of Aspendos, its theater and aqueducts have been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List. Archaeological excavations have continued under the direction of Prof. Dr. Veli Köse of Hacettepe University since 2014.
Discovery adds a new chapter to Aspendos
The newly uncovered statue adds another chapter to Aspendos’ history. Long celebrated for its monumental architecture, the city can now also be linked directly to the worship of the ancient world’s most important healing deity. The discovery offers new insight into how medicine, religion and civic life came together in one of the Roman Empire’s greatest cities.
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