Turkey's rock-cut Hercules damaged.

In the Iznik district of Turkey, a rock-cut bas-relief depicting Hercules, dating back two thousand years, has been vandalized.

The life-size portrait depicted the world’s strongest man, but now his face has been found damaged.

The bas-relief, probably made to ask for protection of workers in the nearby stone quarry and possibly the object of some religious rituals, had already suffered the effects ofpollution and a wild landfill nearby .

The area had been declared protected in 1990; however, residents called for greater protection and cleanup of the area, as the presence of the illegal landfill would contribute to the erosion of the work due to the salty and chemical waste thrown in. Because of this, a feeling of indignation has spread among people, as the Hercules carved into the rock has now become a symbol of that area.

In addition, Iznik, ancient Nicaea, is often the target of treasure hunters who destroy to extract remains for resale on the international black market.

Turkey's rock-cut Hercules damaged.

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