Archaeologists have uncovered a mosaic with lion motifs during excavations in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium.
Excavations continue in the ancient city of “Prusias on the Hypius River” or Prusias ad Hypium in the Conurālṗa region of the Düzce province in Turkey. It is called the Ephesus of the western Black Sea.
The excavation team working in the area above the theatre of the ancient city found the mosaic with lions in a structure connected to the colonnade.
Experts believe that the room with mosaic tiles recently discovered represents a late Roman cult site (a space indicating the overall way of life of a society or group, including specific values, beliefs, traditions, arts, and other cultural elements).
It was found that the interior walls of the room, approximately 4.51×6.42 metres in size, were covered with marble slabs with a thick layer of mortar. The room had a rectangular plan with a north-south orientation.
A foundation platform was also observed to the north of the room. It was determined that the entire hall was covered with a mosaic floor made of finely processed white, blue, yellow, green, and brown tesserae (small mosaic stones of various colours).
The mosaic, decorated with geometric patterns, features an outline of larger and more colourful tesserae arranged in a frame-like structure. In the centre, within a smaller square frame made of smaller tesserae, a scene is depicted.
Specialists note that the objects found in this room, depicting drums and flutes, suggest that it is a “sanctuary of Dionysus.”
Düzce Governor Seltük Aslan stated on his social media account: “During the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Düzce Conurālṗa (Prusias ad Hypium), a well-preserved, rare mosaic depicting two lions looking at a pine tree with drums and a flute depicted on its branches.”
Prusias ad Hypium, an ancient city located in the Conurālṗa region, was built on a hill extending from east to west and ending in a plain.
In the 2nd century BC, the Bithynians, led by their king Prusias I, took Kieros from the Mariandynians and the state of Heraclea. Prusias improved the city and adorned it with many monuments. He fortified it and changed its name to Prusias. The ancient theatre of the city, known as the Forty Steps, was built during the Hellenistic period (300-30 BC) and includes additions from the Roman period (30 BC-300 AD).
