Restoring mosaics in the ancient city of Metropolis

Ancient Metropolis is located 40 kilometers from the western Turkish city of Izmir and 45 kilometers from the world-renowned ancient city of Ephesus. These mosaics were unearthed in the 1990s, but restored just a few year later by applying newly developed conservation practices and modern methods.

Among mosaics restored are Greek deities, also fish and bird figures describing the fertility of the region. According to the excavation head, love is emphasized in the mosaics. “Dionysus and Ariadne are looking at each other in the mosaics. There is Eros between them. This is actually a message of love transmitted from about 1,800 years ago.”