Türkiye welcomes world scholars, ancient masterpieces at Presidential Complex

Türkiye is set to host an unprecedented cultural event on Aug. 6 at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, where the long-awaited bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius will go on display for the first time in decades.

The exhibition, titled “The Golden Age of Archaeology,” will be paired with an International Archaeology Symposium that will bring together 250 scholars from around the world.

Bestepe becomes new address for Anatolian archaeology

The event marks the first time in the history of the Turkish Republic that a president will host an archaeology-focused program at the Presidential Complex, also known as Bestepe.

According to Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the gathering represents not only a showcase of excavations and artifacts but also “a demonstration of how a nation embraces its historical memory and establishes cultural sovereignty.”

The symposium will take place at the Presidential Library, while the exhibition will be displayed in the Presidential Complex Exhibition Hall for a period of six months.

Ersoy noted that the event reflects Türkiye’s shift from being a country that only collects artifacts to one that produces meaning, sets narratives and exports culture.

The Presidential Complex will host the International Archaeology Symposium on August 6 with the participation of 250 scholars, along with the opening of the “Golden Age of Archaeology” exhibition, where the Marcus Aurelius statue, returned to its homeland after 65 years, will also be on display for visitors, Ankara, Türkiye, August 3, 2025. (AA Photo)

Marcus Aurelius comes home after 65 years

The highlight of the exhibition will be the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius, a second- and third-century Roman emperor and philosopher.

This rare artifact was illegally excavated in the 1960s from Boubon, an ancient city in Burdur’s Golhisar district, and later entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio.

Following a collaborative effort involving Türkiye’s Culture Ministry, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the statue was officially returned to Türkiye this April—65 years after it was smuggled abroad.

The statue will now greet visitors from a specially prepared space inside the Presidential Complex.

"Unique and colorful" Scylla group sculptures from the ancient city of Laodicea in Denizli, Türkiye, August 3, 2024 (AA Photo)

Exhibiting hidden heritage of Anatolia

“The Golden Age of Archaeology” exhibition will feature artifacts spanning millennia of Anatolian history, over 80% of which have never been displayed before. Highlights include:

• A 3,500-year-old clay tablet unearthed in Hatay
• A millennium-old set of perfume bottles recovered from the Mediterranean off Antalya
• A Neolithic-era bowl from Karahantepe, described as a discovery of the century
• The detailed Scylla head from Laodicea, depicting a mythological sea creature
• A rare silver coin of Orhan Gazi, found in Karacahisar Castle and kept at the Eskisehir Eti Museum
• A Roman-era Kybele statue and sphinx from Gordion

The exhibition is part of the “Heritage to the Future” project, which combines archaeology, mythology, and diplomacy in one narrative.

An international stage for cultural diplomacy

The International Archaeology Symposium will convene both Turkish excavation leaders and foreign experts, with 33 academic presentations planned, including 17 from international scholars.

Discussions will explore the artistic and historical significance of the Marcus Aurelius statue and its role in Anatolian archaeology.

Officials expect the event to draw global media attention, with international archaeology editors and foreign correspondents observing the program in Ankara.

Minister Ersoy emphasized that this dual event is not only a scientific meeting but also a strategic declaration of Türkiye’s cultural leadership.

August 04, 2025 10:52 AM GMT+03:00