Land of Mosaics, Zeugma Ancient City

Gaziantep, like many other cities, is a special city that brings together the most beautiful colors of Turkey. Gaziantep, which continues to contribute to tourism with its natural beauties, delicious cuisine and always smiling people, takes everyone who sees it on a wide-ranging historical journey with its rich historical regions and structures. If you are planning to travel to this city full of beauty from beginning to end in the near future, there is an important point that you should not leave without seeing. The land of mosaics, Zeugma Ancient City... Zeugma Ancient City, where a deep-rooted past has come to light, will surprise you more with every step you take with its mosaics that you will never see anywhere else in the world.

How to Get to Zeugma Ancient City?

Zeugma Ancient City is located at a point that is easy enough not to cause any difficulty in transportation. This ancient settlement area, located in Belkıs Neighborhood of Nizip district of Gaziantep, is approximately 10 km away from the city center.

Let the Journey to Zeugma's History Begin!

The ancient city of Zeugma has a deep and rich history dating back to 300 BC. It was formed as a result of the connection between the city named Selevkeia Euphrates founded by I. Seleucus Nikator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, and the city he founded for his wife Apama right across from it. Due to this feature, it began to be known as Zeugma, meaning “passage” and “bridge”. The city, which is now a historical tour point with many works it has carried to the present day, experienced its brightest age during the Roman period. It also has the distinction of being one of the 4 largest cities of the Kingdom of Commagene.

The structures you will see in the ancient settlement area are the agora, theater, stadium, baths and necropolis. After visiting the city, which impresses everyone with its magnificent history, do not forget to visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the largest mosaic museums in the world.

So, what was unearthed in this ancient settlement area that has a place in memories and receives thousands of visitors every year?

Important Works in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and Gaziantep Archeology Museum

Almost everyone has seen a photo of the Gypsy Girl Mosaic somewhere or has definitely heard of it.

Sound familiar? In fact, the work, whose gender is not exactly known, is called the “Gypsy Girl” with her braided hair and the scarf she ties at the back of her neck. There is no clear information about who she is, but there are two prominent ideas about who she is. The first of these is that the person in the mosaic was inspired by Alexander the Great… The other is that the person in the Gypsy Girl Mosaic is a goddess named Gaia from Greek mythology. Although there is no definite information about which one she is, we can say that she has a sorrowful look that affects people.

This legendary mosaic was first exhibited in the Gaziantep Archeology Museum when it was first unearthed, but it is currently waiting for visitors in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Meanwhile, impressive works from the ancient settlement area continue to be exhibited in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

When it comes to the Zeugma Ancient City, the number of mosaics to be seen increases significantly, but let's emphasize again; almost all the mosaics unearthed have taken their place in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. The main works that attract attention among the mosaics are the Triton Mosaic and the Poseidon-Oceanos-Tethys mosaics.

Other findings that increase the importance of the Zeugma Ancient City are the Bulla seals. A bulla is a print, also known as a seal, made on letters and decrees. The number of seals unearthed from Zeugma alone has exceeded 100,000. If you want to see the bullas up close, you can add the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum to your travel list and have the chance to witness more of Zeugma's history.

Zeugma Ancient City Entrance Fees and Visiting Hours

The ancient settlement area, which reveals a deep past, can be visited at different times during certain periods. Zeugma, which is open to visitors between 08.00 - 18.30 between April and October, can be visited between 09.00 - 17.00 between November and March.

Is Museum Card Valid in Zeugma Ancient City?

You can enter many museums and ancient settlements in Turkey for free with Museum Card. One of these is Zeugma Ancient City. Those who do not have Museum Card can easily enter the ancient city with a small amount.

Written by: Habibe Tokgöz