Explore Ancient Anatolia

The Yesemek quarry and sculpture workshop of Hittites lies on the eastern slopes of Yesemek village 27 km south-east of Islahiye town in Gaziantep, Turkey.

Ancient Cities surveys the cities of the Ancient Near East, Egypt, and the Greek and Roman worlds from the perspectives of archaeology and architectural history, bringing to life the physical world of ancient city dwellers by concentrating on evidence recovered from archaeological excavations. Urban form is the focus: the physical appearance and overall plans of the cities, their architecture and natural topography, and the cultural and historical contexts in which they flourished. Attention is also paid to non-urban features such as religious sanctuaries and burial grounds, places and institutions that were a familiar part of the city dweller's experience. Objects or artifacts that represented the essential furnishings of everyday life are discussed, such as pottery, sculpture, wall paintings, mosaics and coins.

Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology is best known for its collection of mosaics, most of which were excavated from the ancient Roman city site of Zeugma of Commagene. The museum was substantially enlarged in 2005 to house the newly-discovered mosaics of Zeugma, considered among the four most important ancient settlement areas under the reign of the kingdom of Commagene, partly submerged in the Birecik Dam Lake today.

Mars, the god of war, found amongst storage jars in the larder of one of the Zeugma villas, stands with his furious glance, a spear in his hand and flowers in the other hand, Gaziantep Museum of Archaeology. Zeugma was an ancient city of Commagene; currently located in the Gaziantep Province of Turkey. It was a historical settlement which is considered among the four most important settlement areas under the reign of the kingdom of Commagene, which is partly submerged in the Birecik Dam Lake today.

Einkorn wheat was one of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat. Einkorn can refer either to the wild species of wheat, Triticum boeoticum, or to the domesticated form, Triticum monococcum. The cultivated form is similar to the wild, except that the ear stays intact when ripe and the seeds are larger.