Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Sardis in western Turkey have uncovered a seven-foot marble statue dating to the 5th century BCE. The find emerged from beneath a former Roman roadway at the UNESCO-listed site in Manisa Province, where Sardis once stood as a major center of the kingdom of Lydia and the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, said the sculpture belongs to a rare group of monumental marble works from the period. Dated to roughly 470-450 BCE, it is now being prepared for conservation before going on display at the Manisa Museum.
The statue was found in two large sections and is missing its feet and several smaller fragments. Even so, its face and carved details remained remarkably well preserved, thanks to its later reuse beneath paving during the Roman era. Experts note that the figure combines older and newer artistic traits, with an upright posture and long hair alongside facial and hand treatment typical of the early 5th century BCE.
Its clothing is especially distinctive: a thick himation, a chiton, and a horizontally striped garment not seen in comparable sculptures from Anatolia or mainland Greece. Researchers say this unusual style may point to a local Lydian tradition.
The figure also appears to hold a quince-like object in its right hand, a detail that could offer insight into ancient ritual practices. As conservation continues, the statue is expected to deepen understanding of the cultural connections linking Greek, Lydian, and Persian worlds. Discoveries like this can help shape a richer view of how ancient societies expressed identity, belief, and artistic innovation.
