ANTIOCH ON ORONTES: INITIAL RESEARCH ON THE CITY OF MOSAICS



The exhibition titled ‘Antioch on Orontes: Initial Research on the City of Mosaics’ moved to Ankara with the support of Koç University Vehbi Koç and Ankara Studies and Applied Research Center (VEKAM), Anatolian Civilizations Research Center (AnaMed) and Turkish-American Association, was open at Turkish-American Association, from 16 June to 21 September, 2014.

The exhibition titled ‘Antioch on Orontes: Initial Research on the City of Mosaics’ moved to Ankara with the support of Koç University Vehbi Koç and Ankara Studies and Applied Research Center (VEKAM), Anatolian Civilizations Research Center (AnaMed) and Turkish-American Association, was available for visit at Turkish-American Association, from 16 June to 21 September, 2014. Murat Akar served as the curator of the exhibition which tells the tale of how finds from the heyday of Antioch, one of the largest cities of Roman Empire and most important cultural and political centers of the Hellenistic Era were unearthed.

The exhibition presents photos from the archaeological excavations executed from 1932 to 1939 in Antioch by researchers from Princeton University. The excavations continued for 8 seasons, and are characterized as the most comprehensive pieces of research in the region. The photos document the process of discovery of finds from Antioch of the antiquity, as well as world famous mosaics now on display in Hatay Archaeology Museum, one of the most important outcomes of the excavations. Antioch on Orontes: Initial Research on the City of Mosaics also provides insight into the excavation methods and archival techniques of the day. The photos presented in the exhibition which was organized in light of the excavation journals are from the Antioch archives of Princeton University, Department of Arts and Archaeology. Alongisde the photos, a video prepared by the Excavation Committee of Princeton University is also on display. The images reflect the urban lifestyle of 1930s Antioch, as witnessed by completely distinct style of clothing, views from the streets, and landscaping.