Archaeologists Uncovered This 2,000-Year-Old Treasure – And What They Found Is Incredible
The sound of lapping waves fills the air as Professor Kutalmış Görkay frantically sweeps away some eye-stinging dust. He and his team are hoping to uncover a wondrous archaeological find – but it’s a race against time. If they don’t work fast, after all, the treasure they’re trying to retrieve may be lost forever.
Görkay and his crew are archaeologists tasked with sifting through the ruins of ancient Zeugma. This is an old city, the remnants of which are today situated within the borders of modern Turkey. The group’s work got under way back in 2007 – but the possibility of flooding in the area has brought a sense of urgency to proceedings.
The city of Zeugma was first established by the ancient Greeks in around the third century B.C. Over time, the location became fantastically rich – and it still carries considerable historical significance to this very day. All things considered then, it’s no wonder that Zeugma is a favorite of contemporary archaeologists.
The city’s founder was Seleucus I Nicator, a man who once acted as one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Following the legendary ruler’s death in 323 B.C., Seleucus was one of those vying for power over parts of Alexander’s domain. Eventually, he went on to rule over an empire of his very own.
Throughout his 77-year life, Seleucus managed to establish a variety of different cities across his Seleucid Empire. One of these was Antioch, the remnants of which are today situated quite close to modern Antakya in Turkey. At its peak, ancient Antioch was an important urban center of the Near East region.