Egyptian goddess statue unveiled in İzmir’s Red Basilica

IZMIR - Doğan News Agency

Photocredit: DHA photo

An almost nine-meter long lion-headed Egyptian goddess Sekhmet has been revived in the Red Basilica (Kızıl Avlu) in the largest structure of the ancient city of Pergamon in İzmir’s Bergama district, and opened to visits on Sept. 26. The statue has already drawn great interest from tourists in the area. 

German Excavation Institute Chairman Ferix Pilson said it would contribute to Bergama’s inclusion in the UNESO Cultural Heritage list in June next year. 

The Egyptian statue pieces found during the excavations since 1930 in the Red Basilica are among the most important statues from the Roman Empire. Among them, the lion-headed goddess statue was reconstructed thanks to the support of the Studiosus Foundation. The statue was raised last year for trial purposes and with further works, and it reached an impressive height of 8.5 meters.

Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/egyptian-goddess-statue-unveiled-in-izmirs-red-basilica.aspx?pageID=238&nID=55259&NewsCatID=375