Archaeologists excavating the ancient Greek city of Kibyra (Greek: Κίβυρα) in southwestern Turkey have reconstructed a nearly 1,900-year-old marble statue of Roman Emperor Hadrian from fragments found near a monumental city gate. Parts of a statue of his wife, Empress Sabina, were also uncovered.
The discoveries were made during excavations led by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, or MAKÜ, as part of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Legacy for the Future Project.” The same nationwide initiative has supported work at other ancient sites, including the recovery of a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman street at Aspendos. Researchers at Kibyra have identified remains of four marble statues from the area.
The reconstructed Hadrian statue stands about 2.14 meters, or 7 feet, tall. A well-preserved portrait head found during the excavations was matched with an armored torso discovered earlier, allowing researchers to restore much of the figure.
Statues shattered in ancient earthquake
The statues are believed to have once stood in the upper section of Kibyra’s Monumental City Entrance Gate. Archaeologists believe they fell and shattered during an earthquake in A.D. 417. Excavation teams have recovered 20 fragments, including arms, legs and feet, during different stages of work at the site.
Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özüdoğru, head of the Kibyra excavations, said Hadrian’s statue was made with marble from the Afyon-Döğer and İscehisar areas. The emperor appears in military dress, with lion and eagle figures carved in relief on his armor.
Archaeologists in Turkey have reconstructed a nearly 1,900-year-old marble statue of Roman Emperor Hadrian from fragments found at the ancient city of Kibyra. Parts of a statue of his wife, Empress Sabina, were also uncovered. pic.twitter.com/H9Ctn236jd
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) August 27, 2026
Özüdoğru said the portrait clearly identifies Hadrian and makes the reconstructed sculpture an important example of imperial representation in Anatolia. Few statues of Hadrian survive in the region in such a complete form. Other recent finds have highlighted the richness of Roman sculpture in Anatolia, including five Roman statues uncovered at ancient Perge.
Researchers also identified significant parts of a statue of Sabina. Other finds include a 1.86-meter, or 6.1-foot, armored emperor statue, a female figure preserved in two torso sections, and a male portrait head about 30 centimeters, or 12 inches, high.
Sculptures may be linked to Hadrian’s travels
Researchers date the statues to around A.D. 130, during Hadrian’s reign from A.D. 117 to 138. His era left a significant architectural mark on Anatolia; at Perga, for example, the Kestros Fountain was built during Hadrian’s reign.
Özüdoğru said Roman cities sometimes erected imperial statues at prominent locations in anticipation of an emperor’s visit. Kibyra may therefore have commissioned the sculptures in connection with Hadrian’s travels through Anatolia. However, archaeologists have not found evidence that Hadrian visited Kibyra itself.
Work continues at Kibyra’s monumental gate
Excavations at the gate began in 2025. Archaeologists initially found much of the structure collapsed into a pile of stone blocks. Teams have since moved, sorted, and classified about 2,500 blocks.
The gate, one of the few examples of its type in Anatolia, has round towers on either side and a three-arched passage in the center. It stood along the main road leading into Kibyra from the necropolis. Monumental Roman entrances remain a focus of archaeological work in Turkey, with researchers recently uncovering a gate decorated with the Twelve Labours of Heracles at ancient Side.
Excavation of the structure remains incomplete. Researchers expect another season of fieldwork before restoration planning can begin.
The sculpture restoration was carried out in 2026 under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ünal Demirer of MAKÜ. Once the work and reconstruction of missing sections are complete, the four statues are expected to be assembled and displayed at the Burdur Museum.
Excavations at Kibyra have continued since 2006, with researchers working to uncover the city’s archaeological history while preserving the site for future generations.
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