Türkiye hails discovery of 1,800-year-old Asclepius statue at Aspendos

AK Party spokesperson says newly unearthed 2.2-meter-tall marble statue group of Asclepius, his son Telesphoros highlights Türkiye’s rich archaeological heritage

Türkiye continues to make significant contributions to humanity’s shared history through archaeological discoveries, Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesperson Omer Celik said Friday. His remarks came after a 1,800-year-old marble statue of the ancient Greek god of medicine Asclepius was unearthed at the ancient city of Aspendos. “As artificial intelligence advances, concerns about the one-sided and guided writing of human history are being seriously debated. The connection between ‘history’ and ‘the definition of humanity’ is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion,” Celik said on Turkish social media company NSosyal. During the excavations, a 2.2-meter-tall (7.2-foot) marble statue group depicting Asclepius together with his son Telesphoros was unearthed. Celik described Türkiye’s archaeological heritage as an “unparalleled treasure” for human history, adding that the latest discovery had attracted worldwide attention. He said the discovery provided important evidence of the role of the Asclepius cult and health beliefs in urban life during the Roman period in Aspendos. “Our country continues to contribute to the writing of humanity’s history,” Celik said. He also congratulated Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, ministry staff, archaeologists and academic teams involved in the excavation.