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In the Colosseum discovering Göbeklitepe

The exhibition “Göbeklitepe:The Enigma of a Sacred Place ” was inaugurated at the Colosseum, the world-famous symbol of Italy and Rome.

The exhibition “Göbeklitepe: The Enigma of a Sacred Place” opens at the Colosseum, a major event promoted by the Colosseum Archaeological Park. Curated by Alfonsina Russo, Roberta Alteri, Daniele Fortuna, and Federica Rinaldi, it was born in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and the Türkiye Embassy in Rome. The exhibition will be open to visitors from 25 October 2024 to 2 March 2025 on the second level of the Flavian Amphitheatre, forming part of the visit itinerary.

Located in southeastern Türkiye, Göbeklitepe dates back to the Neolithic period, between 9,500 B.C. and 8,200 BC, and is considered one of the oldest settlements with monumental structures, marking a milestone in understanding the transition from nomadic to sedentary life.

Göbeklitepe is part of the Taş Tepeler project, directed by Professor Necmi Karul of Istanbul University, and represents a real revolution in understanding human history. The site’s majestic T-shaped pillars, decorated with stylised depictions of animals, geometric patterns and human figures, offer insight into the complexity of early settled communities and their religious belief systems. Thanks to this exhibition, visitors can explore a distant and mysterious past, immersing themselves in a culture that has left profound marks on the origins of civilisation.

The theme is not “classical” but highlights one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the world, Göbeklitepe, the Neolithic site (between 9,500 BC and 8,200 BC), which investigates what is perhaps the most ancient expression of religious monumental of human beings. This UNESCO World Heritage site’s symbolic element is the famous “T-shaped pillars”, decorated with stylised figures of men and animals and other geometric signs. It is around functional and symbolic interpretations that scholars are working to understand the meaning and context of Göbeklitepe. An exhibition was born with international contacts, the Turkish government, the embassy, and “cultural diplomacy” (starting with Professor Necmi Karul, director of the excavations), and it will remain open until 25 March 2025.

Naturally, unable to move the “T” pillars, the exhibition plays on the immersive effect and reproductions. For those who cannot visit the site, not exactly around the corner (south-east of Turkey), it is an opportunity to get closer to one of the most debated topics in archaeology: the birth of organized religion and the way of understanding it in very ancient times. An exhibition is also included in the communication of the Taş Tepeler project, which puts various Anatolian sites in context.

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