Five New Roman-Era Theatrical Masks Unearthed in Turkey
Five new theatrical reliefs hint that the ancient city was once a center for art and ideas.
Archaeologists in southern Turkey have uncovered five new theatrical mask reliefs from the ancient city of Castabala — once called Hieropolis during its Hellenistic period, or “sacred city.” The find adds new depth to our picture of life in this crossroads of Greek and Roman culture.
The stone masks, nearly 2,000 years old, were discovered in the ruins of the city’s grand theater in Osmaniye Province. With the new additions, the total number of theatrical masks found at the site has reached 36.
The most striking of the new finds depicts an elderly philosopher, his face weathered by time yet still expressive.
“These reliefs show us that the theater wasn’t solely a place for entertainment,” said Associate Professor Faris Demir of Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, who leads the excavation team.
“It functioned as a cultural hub where philosophical and literary dialogues were held,” he added during an interview with Anadolu Agency.
A Stage for Thought as Well as Drama
The theater, built in the first century A.D. under the Roman Empire, once seated about 5,000 people. It wasn’t just a place for laughter and tears — it was a kind of ancient public square. In an age before libraries and universities were widespread, theaters like Castabala’s could double as arenas for civic debate and intellectual exchange.
Demir and his team also uncovered architectural fragments that once belonged to the stage building. “Recovering these architectural fragments allows us to envision the original structure of the stage building,” he said. The layout of these fragments is already giving researchers clues about how the theater originally looked. Perhaps, one day, this will allow for a faithful reconstruction.
Castabala’s story stretches back 2,700 years. In the Hellenistic period, it was known as Hieropolis, famous for its sanctuary of Artemis Perasia. Here, priestesses were said to walk barefoot over hot coals during rituals.
The city later flourished under Roman rule. Tarcondimotus, a local ruler backed by Rome, reshaped it into a provincial capital. So, colonnaded avenues, public baths, and massive city walls rose alongside its theater, turning the settlement into a cultural and political hub of the minor kingdom of Cilicia.
Given the cultural heritage of the site, it makes sense that the carvings — some depicting tragic heroes, others comic performers — embody a place where Greek drama, Roman architecture, and Anatolian myth intertwined.
“The newly discovered masks also highlight the artistic blend of Eastern and Western traditions that shaped Castabala,” Demir said.
Demir now hopes to one day restore the stage to its former glory. “By the end of this project, we will be able to restore the stage building and hand it down to future generations,” he said.
By Tibi Puiu.