As part of the Juliopolis Project which is supported by Koç University VEKAM since 2018 , the exhibition titled Faces of Juliopolis  curated by Ali Metin Büyükkarakaya, from Hacettepe University Department of Anthropology and Evren Sertalp, from Hacettepe University Department of Radio, TV opened its doors within the scope of the Centennial activities of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. The exhibition which is prepared with digital infrastructure supported by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the US Embassy, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Koç University VEKAM, Hacettepe University, Nallıhan Municipality, Mediterranean Cultural Heritage Research Association, and Accademia Jaufre Rudel di studi medievali . The Faces of Juliopolis exhibition will be available at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations between 7-25 December, 2021.

The exhibition  intends to raise cultural heritage awareness by introducing the Ancient City of Juliopolis, one of the largest necropoles excavated in Anatolia and features holographic displays, three-dimensional models, and animations, introducing the faces of Juliopolis people who lived in the Roman period about 2000 years ago, together with the finds related to their personal objects, beliefs, and social lives.

Juliopolis Ancient City is located in Çayırhan (Nallıhan) on the Historical Silk Road, approximately 122 km northwest Ankara. It is near the villages of Çayırhan, Sarılar, and Yardibi, which were flooded during the construction of the Sarıyar Dam in 1956. The above-water part of the ancient city is mostly burial grounds and is located on the northeastern shore of the reservoir.

Since 2009, the salvage excavations carried out by the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations have unearthed more than 750 graves in the necropolis areas of approximately 100 hectares, called East and West. At the same time, the defense wall of the city and a church structure belonging to the early Byzantine period were unearthed in the eastern necropolis area. Studies show that the foundation of the city dates to the Hellenistic period, that it lived its most glorious times in the Roman period, and that it continued to develop without losing importance, especially in the Byzantine period. The ancient city was located near the Skopas River (Aladağ Stream) along the route known as the Pilgrim Road. Extending from Constantinople to Ancyra and even to the Levant, this route was used for pilgrimage and military expeditions.

The Faces of Juliopolis Exhibition is a public archaeology event based on information produced by the Juliopolis Project, which prioritizes digital elements and aims to raise awareness of cultural heritage. Accompanied by rich visuals, the exhibition conveys information on the Ancient City of Juliopolis. It intends to bring people face-to-face with the people who lived in the city through holograms prepared using anthropological techniques. At the same time, it displays three-dimensional models and animations about the practices related to death in the cemetery, together with the information on the beliefs and social lives of the people of Juliopolis.

For further information please visit the exhibition’s website <<