Türkiye museum restores rare Mars statue to preserve Roman legacy

2,000-year-old bronze sculpture undergoes careful maintenance in Türkiye’s Gaziantep province

GAZIANTEP, Türkiye (MNTV) — Türkiye’s Zeugma Mosaic Museum has launched a meticulous restoration of a 2,000-year-old bronze statue of the Roman god Mars, aiming to preserve the unique artifact for future generations.

Discovered in 1999 during excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma, the statue has been a centerpiece of the museum since 2011, reported Daily Sabah. 

Measuring approximately 1.5 meters in height, it portrays Mars holding a spear in one hand and a flower in the other, with its eyes crafted from gold and silver. Known for its sharp and intense expression, the statue has drawn global visitors and acclaim.

Restorers at the museum are conducting detailed maintenance to ensure the statue’s longevity. 

Esra Nur Bilici, a restorer with the Gaziantep Museum Directorate, told Anadolu Agency that the team inspects the statue every three to six months, monitoring for signs of corrosion or calcification.

“If any deterioration is observed, we begin restoration immediately,” Bilici explained. “We prioritize protective measures using minimal chemicals to avoid damaging the statue, ensuring it can be preserved with surgical precision.”

Özgür Çomak, director of the Gaziantep Museum, highlighted the statue’s international significance, noting it is the only known example of a bronze Mars statue of this size. 

Positioned on a column, the sculpture was historically illuminated by nearby oil lamps placed to reflect its shadow — a design that allowed it to double as a light source in ancient times.