Hierapolis Archaeology Museum goddess statues

Hierapolis, one of the prominent cities in the Lycus Valley, has been a significant center in Asia Minor since ancient times due to thermal springs, the Plutonium, and its travertine formations. During the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus, there were construction activities in Hierapolis, leading to the production of numerous sculptural works. Some sculptural materials discovered during excavation indicate the presence of a specific group of sculptors working in different parts of the city, although there is no evidence of the existence of a sculpture school. Similar sculptural styles have been found in the cities located in the valley, suggesting that sculptors may have been itinerant workers moving between different cities or that artists from other regions came to the valley to produce art. The main theme of the thesis is formed by a total of 12 goddess statues depicting Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, Cybele, Leto, Tyche, and Nymphe, preserved in the Hierapolis Museum, obtained through excavations, purchases, and collection from the surrounding area. Separate catalogs were prepared for each statue in the thesis, and the origins, mythologies, known types in sculpture art, and origins of the statues under study were evaluated, along with similar examples. In this way, attempts have been made to understand the interactions between the Lycus Valley, neighboring cities, and sculpture art, including similarities and differences. Ultimately, the stylistic, technical, and periodical characteristics identified regarding the studied sculptures support the notion that the region has a great diversity in terms of political, cultural, social, and religious belief.