Two figures of the mosaic, which was smuggled 36 years ago from the ancient city of Belkıs Zeugma, located on the banks of the Euphrates River and a part of which will remain under the Birecik Dam lake built within the scope of GAP, were mounted on a piece in the museum, brought from the USA. The two figures of the mosaic, which were brought from the USA, where it was kidnapped, on June 19, were mounted in the vacant places of the Gaziantep Archaeological Museum, which was located in the ancient city of Belkıs Zeugma in 1993 and were preserved with a large question mark, and made ready for the exhibition, with the work done by the experts of the Ministry of Culture. was brought. The mosaic of the love heroes Partenope and Metiox, brought as a result of long-lasting and persistent efforts by the Ministry of Culture, is planned to be opened to visitors with a ceremony to be held in the coming days with the participation of the Minister of Culture İstemihan Talay.
THE STORY OF THE BRINGING OF THE MOSAIC Prof. from Gaziantep Archeology Museum and Australian University. Dr. During the rescue excavation carried out by David Kennedy in the ancient city of Belkıs Zeugma in 1993, it was determined that a part of the floor mosaic floor of the first Roman villa reached on the hill east of the Kelekağzı location was stolen by smugglers. After examining the letters on the displayed part of the mosaic, with a sign (?) placed on the dismantled part, it was understood that the paintings taken abroad belonged to two immortal lovers, Partenope and Metiox. According to the statements of local residents, it was revealed that the torso parts of the two figures inside the border of the mosaic floor were stolen in 1964.
THE SENSITIVITY OF THE CANADIAN ARCHAEOLOGIST While the whereabouts of the stolen part of the mosaic were being investigated, information coming from an unexpected place drew attention to the Rice University Menil Collection in Houston, USA. Canadian mosaic expert Sheila Campbell, who thought that the two mosaic pieces exhibited in the Menil Collection might be of Turkish origin, took a photo of it and sent it to the Ministry of Culture, starting the process that would end the years-long separation of Partenope and Metiox. Gaziantep Museum experts, who examined the photographs sent by Campbell, determined that the mosaics exhibited in the Menil Collection were mosaics smuggled from Belkıs Zeugma and reported the situation to the Ministry. The file prepared on this subject, consisting of scientific data, was presented by the General Director of Monuments and Museums at the time, Prof. Dr. In the USA, where it was taken by Engin Özgen, Menil Collection Scientific Director Bernard Davezac examined it. Davezac, who came to Gaziantep in 1997 and compared the piece in the museum with the photographs he brought, accepted that the mosaic they had was a part of the Belkıs Zeugma mosaic. The suggestion of Menil Collection Manager Paul Winker and Davezac to give the mosaic, "give us your piece, we will combine it, restore it, display it for a while and then return it in its entirety" was not accepted by Turkey and the return process began.
RETURN The mosaic, which was smuggled from Belkıs Zeugma, was received by Esra Akça, one of the archaeologists of the General Directorate of Monuments and Museums of the Ministry of Culture, who went to Houston, and was brought to Turkey on June 19. The mosaics, which were brought to Gaziantep in 2 chests, were reunited with their soil and the piece in the museum. Partenope and Metiox, the two heroes of a love story, returned to their living spaces, albeit after many years. Archaeological circles consider the attitude of Canadian mosaic expert Sheila Campbell and Menil Collection managers as an exemplary and admirable move in terms of "academic honesty, discipline and professional ethics". Meanwhile, the vivid colors and cleanliness of the mosaics brought from the USA, as well as the quality and technique of the restoration, differ significantly from the mosaics remaining in Turkey, attracting attention.
Mosaic Work
Two figures of the mosaic, which was smuggled 36 years ago from the ancient city of Belkıs Zeugma, located on the banks of the Euphrates River and a part of which will remain under the Birecik Dam lake built within the scope of GAP, were mounted on a piece in the museum, brought from the USA. The two figures of the mosaic, which were brought from the USA, where it was kidnapped, on June 19, were mounted in the vacant places of the Gaziantep Archaeological Museum, which was located in the ancient city of Belkıs Zeugma in 1993 and were preserved with a large question mark, and made ready for the exhibition, with the work done by the experts of the Ministry of Culture. was brought.
