Archaeologists in Turkey have been conducting excavations in the Konuralp region for the past four years, with the support of the Düzce Municipality. Recently, a significant discovery was made in the upper part of a Roman theater—a head that has been identified as belonging to Alexander the Great. This remarkable artifact has now been entrusted to the Konuralp Museum.
Dr. Faruk Özlü, the Mayor of Düzce, has been a staunch supporter of these excavations, providing both labour and equipment. Over the course of a year, Düzce archaeologists have diligently uncovered a substantial portion of the ancient theater. Among the other historical treasures unearthed are an ancient statue of the Greek god Apollo and a head representing the dreaded Medusa.
Within the excavation site of the Konuralp Ancient Theatre, archaeologists conducted meticulous and intricate work to extract what was identified as a portrait head of Alexander the Great. They promptly notified the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism as well as the Konuralp Museum, which took charge of its examination and cleaning. Experts from the Department of Excavations and Research concluded that this portrait head indeed belonged to the renowned Greek king, Alexander the Great.
In an official statement, the Konuralp Museum declared, “This head of Alexander, which dates back to the 2nd Century A.D. and measures 23 cm, was discovered during the excavation of the Prusias ad Hypium Theatre, located in the Terzialiler area of Düzce, the ancient city of Bithynia.”
The head, crafted from marble, features deep, upward-looking eyes and a slightly open mouth that doesn’t reveal his teeth. The long, curly hairstyle, parted to either side, along with the two tufts of hair (Anastoli) at the center of his forehead, which sweep back and to the sides, closely resemble the mane of a lion. This hairstyle is a distinctive characteristic associated with Alexander the Great.”
The Department of Excavations and Research, overseen by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has shared a photograph of the Alexander the Great portrait head found in Düzce on its social media platforms, stating, “Roman imperial period (2nd century A.D.) Alexander the Great portrait heads from our excavations: Düzce, Prusias ad Hypium Ancient City 2023 excavations and Amasra, Stoa structure 2023 excavations.”
