The “Winged Woman of Burgaz”: A New Archaic Sculpture from the Territory of Knidos

Year 2024, Issue: 27, 65 - 84, 15.12.2024

Candemir Zoroğlu , Ertekin Mustafa Doksanaltı , Derviş Ozan Tozluca

https://doi.org/10.47589/adalya.1608884

Abstract

A statue was found in 2019 in the sea about 30 m off the coast of the ruins of the ancient city of Burgaz in the Datça District of Muğla Province. Because of its findspot, the statue was named the “Winged Woman” of Burgaz and is currently preserved in the Marmaris Museum. Burgaz was in the territory of Knidos so for this reason the statue is evaluated within the Knidos settlement and culture domain. The naming, iconography, and dating of the statue, which is unrelated to any structure or context, are evaluated through similar statues, reliefs, and vase paintings in Anatolia, the Aegean Islands, and continental Greece. In accordance with its stylistic features, the school to which the statue belongs or the place where it was produced are determined. In our study, suggestions are made about the structure, context, and function of this “Winged Woman.” According to the collected data, the “Winged Woman” of Burgaz is dated to the middle of the sixth century BC and probably belongs to a monument from the Emecik Apollon Sanctuary.
However, its exact provenance and function are unknown.

Keywords

Knidos, Burgaz, Emecik, Greek archaic period, Winged Artemis, Gorgon

Project Number

The aforementioned study is related to the subject of the project titled “Knidos Hinterland Archaeological Survey Project II,” numbered 22401150, by the Selçuk University Scientific Research Projects (BAP) unit and was supported by this unit.

Thanks

This study was carried out with the permission of Marmaris Museum Directorate dated 19.02.2020 and numbered E.161141. We would like to thank the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums for this permission; Director of the Marmaris Museum, Ms. Şehime Atabey; Ms. Esengül Yıldız Öztekin who helped us during the photographing and inventory work, and the experts of the Marmaris Museum. We especially thank Esteemed Muhammet Yüksel for his sensitive attitude towards the protection of cultural assets and fulfilling his civic duty in the acquisition of this work. This study and article has been prepared within the scope of the Knidos, Burgaz, and Emecik Apollon Sanctuary Excavations and Research, which are being carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Selçuk University, with the President’s Decision dated 01.06.2021 and numbered 2587. The work is supported by the Turkish Historical Society.

References

• Allen, H.L. 1970. “Excavations at Morgantina (Serra Orlando), 1967-1969 Preliminary Report X.” AJA 74.4:359-83.
• Alten Museum 1922. Kurze Beschreibung der antiken Sculpturen im alten Museum. Berlin: De Gruyter.
• Bean, G.E., and J.M. Cook. 1952. “The Cnidia.” BSA 47:171-212.