Unusual Medusa Carving Discovered at Archaeological Site in Turkey

During excavations of the Roman Forum near the ancient city of Amastris (now known as Amasra) in present-day Türkiye, archaeologists discovered a carving of Medusa with an unusual expression. The Smiling Stone Medusa is found atop the decorative marble columns that once formed the covered walkways or galleries (called colonnades). popular mechanics reported the news, first reported by Türkiye today.

Amasra District is located on the northern coast of Türkiye, adjacent to the Black Sea. Excavations of the Roman Forum began three years ago, following the discovery of historical remains during the construction of a local school in 2017.

Baltin University’s Center for Archaeological Applications and Research oversees the project, which spans more than 30,000 square feet. The Turkish Culture Ministry’s Future Heritage initiative supported the elaborate reconstruction of the colonnade; so far, three columns have been reconstructed.

Even those who don’t know much about Greek mythology may imagine the archetypal image of the goddess Medusa: a head of hair composed of snakes and a ferocious face that turns onlookers to stone. And this Medusa smiled in an almost childlike way.

Türkiye today Fatma Bagdatli Cam, a professor at Baltin University, elaborated on this unusual depiction of the goddess: “Medusa usually becomes a symbol with a frightening expression and snake hair to scare enemies and create fear, but our Medusa is shaped like the goddess of love, with the face and smiling posture of a very small child.” Cam believes that the smiling Medusa is likely to indicate the peace and prosperity of this ancient Roman city.