Roman-era 'House of Muses' to open to visitors in Turkey

By Mehmet Akif Parlak

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) – The House of Muses, discovered after 14 years of excavations in southeastern Turkey's Zeugma Ancient City, will be open to visitors after the work is completed by the end of the year.

Zeugma is home to Roman houses, believed to belong to nobles, dating back to the 2nd and 3rd B.C.

Located in the Nizip district of Gaziantep province, the House of Muses, was discovered in 2007.

The ancient Roman house was named after a mosaic on its floor depicting the nine muses of ancient Greece, who, according to legend, rule over the arts and sciences and inspire those who pursue them.

Kutalmis Gorkay, the head of the Zeugma excavation team, told Anadolu Agency that works on the House of Muses will be completed soon.

"The excavations of this well-preserved building took a long time. We worked under a very large fill earth. We are now at the final stage," he said.

Gorkay noted that the excavation team aim to complete ongoing works by the end of the year and open the House to visitors in 2022.

"We will have brought a new Roman house to Zeugma," he added.

The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the world’s largest mosaic museums, is home to unique ancient artifacts, such as mosaics, Roman-era fountains, a bronze sculpture of Mars – the god of war in Roman mythology – and the famed Gypsy Girl.

Opened in 2011, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum received Turkey's Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards in 2012.