Unique Mosaic of Trojan War Hero “Aeneas” Discovered

In the Kadirli district of Osmaniye, Turkey, a mosaic depicting “Aeneas,” the hero of the Trojan War and ancestor of the Roman people, was unearthed during the foundation excavation of a building.

The mosaic was found in the ruins of a Roman-era villa.

It has been reported that the mosaic depicting the Trojan War hero “Aeneas,” who is also mentioned in Homer’s “Iliad and Odyssey” epics, is unique in the world.

According to the report by İHA, the excavation works carried out by the Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate revealed a mosaic depicting the Trojan War Hero “Aeneas,” who is also mentioned in Homer’s “Iliad and Odyssey” epics, in the ruins of a Roman-era villa found during the foundation excavation of a building in 2015.

After examinations, it was determined that the found mosaic is unique in the world, and it is thought that the mosaic area, which is believed to have been made in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, adorned the floor of a villa of that period.

“He was an important figure”

Researcher historian and writer Cezmi Yurtsever, who said “there is no other similar example in the world” for the discovered Aeneas mosaic, said, “In 2015, news was received that historical artifacts and mosaics were found on the ground of a building here in the city center of Kadirli. Archaeologists came and conducted excavations. In these excavations, mosaic scenes were found on the floor of the building. In one scene, there is a warrior on horseback with a spear in his hand and a woman next to him going lion hunting. The name of that woman is mentioned as Dido in the writings. The name of the hero is Aeneas. This heroic warrior Aeneas was a great hero who participated in the Trojan War. He was an important figure after the Trojan prince Hector. The scene of the Trojan War hero Aeneas fighting a lion was found here.”

“This was the city of Flaviapolis”

Continuing his statement, Yurtsever said, “This was the ancient city of Flaviapolis built during the Roman period. This mosaic was made here in the 3rd century AD. The depiction of a hero from the Trojan War in the ancient city of Flaviapolis during the Roman period, exactly 1500 years after the Trojan War, shows the existence of a magnificent work that has no equal in the world. If the excavations are completed and this place is opened to tourism, Kadirli and Osmaniye will be on the agenda of world tourism. Because the world’s most valuable mosaic of the Trojan War hero is found here.”

Mythological hero Aeneas

Aeneas is a legendary Trojan hero in Greek and Roman mythology. According to legend, Aeneas was a Trojan prince and the son of the goddess Aphrodite (Venus in Roman mythology).

During the Trojan War, Aeneas fought alongside the Trojans and was one of the few Trojan warriors to survive the fall of Troy. After the war, he led a group of Trojans on a long journey and finally arrived in Italy, where he founded the city of Lavinium. Aeneas is best known as the hero of Virgil’s epic poem Aeneid, which tells the story of his journey and the founding of Rome.  

Cover Photo: The goddess Venus appears to Aeneas. Painter Pietro da Cortona