It is perhaps best to go view the mosaic in person if you’d like to see how this treasure of Zeugma, who has made it through all these centuries with that melancholy in her eyes, has brought light to the star of the Southeast. You might witness first hand how her solemn eyes have brought joy to this region’s residents.
The doors to the Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaics Museum have finally opened up to the public. This museum is important for a number of reasons, not least being that it is now the largest mosaic museum in the world, stealing that title from the Bardo Museum in Tunisia. This new museum was completed through efforts by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, working in cooperation with the Gaziantep Municipality. The museum looks set to increase the already notable presence of tourists in the city.
Though there are currently 1,500 square meters of mosaic on display in this new museum, there will be 2,500 square meters when the mosaics under restoration are added six months from now. Its collections from the eastern Roman Empire era are stunning and visitors can see mosaics found near the Euphrates River on the bottom floor of this new museum. Mosaics are arranged according to chronology and geographic location and, located at the entrance to the Poseidon and Euphrates villas, this museum’s first floor boasts mosaics found during various excavations.
A delegation of 30 diplomats recently visited the Gaziantep Zeugma Museum. The group was particularly affected by a mosaic depicting the Greek God Dionysus at a wedding scene, although a piece of this mosaic has been stolen. Gaziantep Mayor Asım Güzelbey sums up the situation, saying: “When people tour this museum, they will note that parts of some of the mosaics have been stolen. This is especially visible in the Dionysus wedding scene. If anyone knows the whereabouts of these stolen mosaic pieces, which could be anywhere in the world, it is important that they bring them back and put them in their original place out of respect for culture and history.” A photograph showing the stolen piece of the mosaic is the best way to get the message across to those viewing this ancient art.
Witness the melancholy of the Gypsy Girl
On the second floor of the Zeugma Mosaic Museum is a special room built for the “Mainad Mosaic,” etched into people’s minds as the “Gypsy Girl” for the image it portrays. This special room is laid out like a labyrinth and the melancholy gaze of the “Gypsy Girl,” who has become the symbol of Gaziantep in recent years, immediately draws viewers in. Visitors to this unparalleled museum can learn more about these beautiful mosaic pieces watching informational clips about them on a 3D display monitor. Potential visitors should also note that this museum has not forgotten children; there is a monitor where kids can watch fish swim. They also have also a puzzle game where visitors can complete the missing pieces of a mosaic.
