Mosaic of Dionysus Discovered at Hierapolis (Manbij) in Northern Syria

Abstract

In 2017, the remains of the two mosaics were accidentally found in the city of Manbij, 60 km northeast of Aleppo in northern Syria. These mosaics seem to be part of the same architectural context that has completely disappeared. The best preserved mosaic has a very interesting theme. It is the Dionysus scene with his thiasos including Satyr and Bacchant and leopard. There is also an other scene of landscape with river god and animals. The last one, so damaged, conserve just a mask and the rest of two personages and an amphora, beside it, there is an inscription mentioning Eros. The scene of Dionysus evokes the well-known figures in Zeugma and Antioch, Turkey, dated to the end of the 2nd century AD and the beginning of 3nd centuries. Perhaps, it represents the epiphany of the god. The others scenes are probably linked with Dionysus iconography. The mosaic could be dated, according to the stylistic criteria, to the end of 2nd century AD and the beginning of 3nd century AD. It attests the diffusion of the Dionysus cult in the city of Manbij (Hierapolis) in the roman period.

Keywords

• Syria
• Manbij
• Mosaic
• Dionysos
• Roman

Mosaïque de Dionysos découverte à Hiérapolis (Manbij) en Syrie du Nord

Abstract

In 2017, the remains of the two mosaics were accidentally found in the city of Manbij, 60 km northeast of Aleppo in northern Syria. These mosaics seem to be part of the same architectural context that has completely disappeared. The best preserved mosaic has a very interesting theme. It is the Dionysus scene with his thiasos including Satyr and Bacchant and leopard. There is also an other scene of landscape with river god and animals. The last one, so damaged, conserve just a mask and the rest of two personages and an amphora, beside it, there is an inscription mentioning Eros. The scene of Dionysus evokes the well-known figures in Zeugma and Antioch, Turkey, dated to the end of the 2nd century AD and the beginning of 3nd centuries. Perhaps, it represents the epiphany of the god. The others scenes are probably linked with Dionysus iconography. The mosaic could be dated, according to the stylistic criteria, to the end of 2nd century AD and the beginning of 3nd century AD. It attests the diffusion of the Dionysus cult in the city of Manbij (Hierapolis) in the roman period.

Keywords

• Syria
• Manbij
• Mosaic
• Dionysos
• Roman.

Kuzey Suriye’deki Hierapolis’te (Münbiç) Keşfedilen Dionysos Mozaiği

Abstract

2017 yılında, iki mozaiğin kalıntıları Suriye’nin kuzeyinde, Halep’in 60 km kuzeydoğusundaki Münbiç kentinde tesadüfen bulundu. Bu mozaikler, tamamen ortadan kalkmış olan aynı mimari bağlamın bir parçası gibi görünmektedir. En iyi korunmuş mozaik çok ilginç bir temaya sahiptir. Satyr, Bacchant ve leoparı da içeren thiasoslu Dionysos sahnesidir. Ayrıca nehir tanrısı ve hayvanların yer aldığı başka bir manzara sahnesi de vardır. Sonuncusu, çok tahrip olmuş, sadece bir maske ve geri kalan iki kişi ve bir amphora korunmuştur, yanında Eros’tan bahseden bir yazıt vardır. Dionysos sahnesi, Türkiye’de Zeugma ve Antakya’da bulunan ve İS 2. yüzyılın sonu ile 3. yüzyılın başına tarihlenen tanınmış figürleri çağrıştırmaktadır. Belki de tanrının tecellisini temsil etmektedir. Diğer sahneler muhtemelen Dionysos ikonografisi ile bağlantılıdır. Mozaik, stilistik kriterlere göre İS 2. yüzyılın sonu ve İS 3. yüzyılın başına tarihlendirilebilir. Dionysos kültünün Roma döneminde Münbiç (Hierapolis) kentinde yaygınlaştığını kanıtlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Suriye
• Münbiç
• Mozaik
• Dionysos
• Roma.

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