Can the site of Göbeklitepe be visited at the Coliseum? Yes! Presented the exhibition in the Flavian Amphitheater.

From Oct. 25, 2024 to March 2, 2025, the exhibition Göbeklitepe: The Enigma of a Sacred Place, sponsored by the Colosseum Archaeological Park and curated by Alfonsina Russo, Roberta Alteri, Daniele Fortuna, and Federica Rinaldi, will be on view at the Colosseum in Rome. The initiative benefits from the collaboration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey and the Embassy of Turkey in Rome. The event will be inside the second level of the Flavian Amphitheater, along the tour route. The exhibition is part of international cultural celebrations and aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving global archaeological heritage, representing a major event. For the first time, visitors will have an immersive experience to discover one of the oldest and most fascinating archaeological sites located in the southeastern region of Turkey-Göbeklitepe. The Neolithic site, dated between 9,500 and 8,200 B.C., is part of the Taş Tepeler project directed by Professor Necmi Karul, Director of the Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe Excavations (Istanbul University).

Göbeklitepe is considered the first settlement with a monumental structure ever discovered, contributing to a new understanding of human history in the crucial transition from hunter-gatherer to settled societies. The T-shaped monumental pillars, adorned with stylized depictions of animals, geometric patterns and human figures, testify to the complexity of early communities and their religious beliefs. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a unique and immersive experience, thanks to an exhibit enriched with multimedia content and three-dimensional reconstructions, which will allow them to explore the life of this ancient civilization. The specific layout fits perfectly with the elliptical profile of the Colosseum, while reproductions of the columns and detailed reconstructions of the circular complexes of Göbeklitepe complement the monumental pillars of the Amphitheater’s ambulatories, using the latest visualization technologies. Lectures and thematic seminars will be held during the exhibition, involving international experts in archaeology and art history.

“Göbeklitepe and the wider Taş Tepeler region to which it belongs present the earliest monuments ever built by humankind. This area, with its various building structures, witnesses the beginnings of sedentary life, one of the most significant transformations in human history. We are pleased to exhibit some of the region’s artifacts at another majestic World Heritage Site, the famous Colosseum. I would like to sincerely express my gratitude to our Italian counterparts for their vision in promoting and preserving the historical heritage of humanity,” said Gökhan Yazgı, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

“The exhibition hosted at the Colosseum represents an important piece in the field of research, scientific popularization and enhancement of cultural heritage that the Colosseum Archaeological Park has always pursued, also with an expanded look at the European and Mediterranean dimension,” said Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park. “The cultural collaboration with Turkey is part of this path and lays the foundation for further fruitful activities that can reflect on the world heritage and with it the roots of humanity.”

Can the site of Göbeklitepe be visited at the Coliseum? Yes! Presented the exhibition in the Flavian Amphitheater.

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.