More of finely detailed Zile mosaic uncovered

"Excavation of a high-quality 2nd century mosaic in Tokat, nothern Turkey, that was seized by authorities last year after looters live-streamed themselves illegally excavating it, has revealed a finely-detailed figure that some are comparing to the iconic Gypsy Girl mosaic in Zeugma. The mosaic was discovered in the courtyard of a vineyard house. Police raided the site last May after receiving a tipoff to the looting activity that had been so stupidly but so helpfully posted on the internet."

"The looters had already arranged to sell it abroad on the black market before they were done excavation, but the Provincial Gendarmerie Command foiled their plans and archaeologists began to carry out official excavations. The mosaic is a large rectangle with multiple panels of geometric and figural designs employing a variety of techniques including opus vermiculatum and opus tessellatum. A female figure inscribed (Tryphe), the Greek word for luxury or abundance suggests an obvious interpretation that the floor decoration was meant to emphasize the luxuriousness of the surroundings."

"However, now that more of the panel has been exposed, you can see the labrys, the double-headed axe that was a symbol of the Great Goddess going back to prehistory in Anatolia, in each of the four corners of the panel. The figure is flanked by two mandorla (almond) or pointed oval shapes that in antiquity was a symbol of new life, fertility and the junction of the spiritual and the physical world. The structure that housed the mosaic appears to have performed a social function rather than having been a private luxury villa, but what that function may have been has not yet been determined."

"The area was an important center for the Cult of Cybele, which could have a connection to the labrys designs, but the newly uncovered figure appears to be a nereid or an Oceanus. The face has green hair and long, thin horns (perhaps the stylized crab or lobster claws seen in depictions of Oceanus). A curled fish ta"

A high-quality 2nd-century mosaic in Tokat, northern Turkey, was seized after looters live-streamed illegal excavation. Police raided the vineyard-house courtyard site after a tip and authorities prevented plans to sell the mosaic abroad on the black market. Official excavations exposed a large rectangular floor mosaic with geometric and figural panels using opus vermiculatum and opus tessellatum. A female figure inscribed “Tryphe” suggests luxury or abundance, while labrys double-headed axe symbols appear in each corner. Two mandorla shapes flank the figure, symbolizing new life, fertility, and a junction between spiritual and physical worlds. The building’s social function remains unclear, though the area was an important center for the Cult of Cybele. The newly uncovered figure may represent a nereid or Oceanus, with green hair and long thin horns resembling crab or lobster claws, plus marine imagery.

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