Historical Mosaics in Konya are Protected

The recent discovery of a 373 square meter geometric mosaic in Ladik Neighborhood, Sarayönü, Konya, and the two-thousand-year-old Roman city of Savatra in Yağlıbayat Neighborhood, Karatay district has generated excitement.

The mosaic found at the site of a construction site, believed to be a sports facility from the Roman era, has been protected. At the Konya Archaeological Museum, 20 pieces of Roman-era mosaics, estimated to have been made between the 1st and 6th centuries, take visitors on a historical journey. Nuriye Ülker, an archaeologist at the museum, said that visitors are greeted with a mosaic floor featuring two pigeons that symbolize heaven, purity, and immortality. Ülker also noted that depictions of this kind are commonly found in Byzantine-era mosaics in the floor of a church in the city center. The mosaics at the museum depict animals and wildlife of the period, and they have evolved over time with the use of glass and smaller cuts of stone, and more detailed renderings. A rescue excavation was conducted in Yunuslar Neighborhood, Beyşehir in 2015 after reports of illegal excavation, and a mosaic floor was found at a site believed to be a villa after clearing away fill soil materials. The mosaic used live colors consisting of white, navy, red, yellow, pink, gray, and brown, and depicts a central hunting scene surrounded by borders featuring figures like fish, birds, pomegranates, walnuts, flowers, and more. The hunting scene depicts the hunter killing a lion.

“Mosaics provide information about the way of life in that period." Ülker, who emphasized that the most important task after finding the mosaics is protection, said "All mosaics in the city are under protection. They are covered with roofs and special materials to preserve them. In addition to in-situ preservation, we also display what we can bring to the museum. Konya is a rich area in terms of mosaics and history. Mosaics are among the most attracting works for visitors to the museum. The one with the peacock bird motif is particularly eye-catching.