‘Romani Bambino’ returns home to Gaziantep after 85 years
GAZİANTEP – DHA
A Roman-era child statue, which was unearthed in the ancient city of Zeugma in Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep in 1931 but then sent to the southern province of Adana, was brought back to the city after 85 years. The opening of the statue called the “Romani Bambino” was held at a ceremony at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
The statue, which was sent to Adana in 1931 as Gaziantep did not have a museum to hold it, shows a girl carrying a bunch of peanuts in one hand and a bird in the other.
It was brought back to Gaziantep with the initiation of Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Şahin.
“Our child had said goodbye to us. But now I am so proud and happy that it is back home, in Zeugma,” said Şahin in a speech at the opening.
“The whole of Gaziantep is an ancient site,” she added. “We are the world’s 8th city in gastronomy in UNESCO. We are continuing on our path by restoring five ancient cities and opening them to the public.”
Yalçın Kurt, the head of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Cultural Heritage and Museums department, said the artifacts were kept in Adana as Gaziantep had no museum.
“With the demand of the mayor, the statue was returned to its home over two days under security measures. I hope it will add value to the Zeugma Museum,” Kurt said.
The statue, which was sent to Adana in 1931 as Gaziantep did not have a museum to hold it, shows a girl carrying a bunch of peanuts in one hand and a bird in the other.
It was brought back to Gaziantep with the initiation of Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Şahin.
“Our child had said goodbye to us. But now I am so proud and happy that it is back home, in Zeugma,” said Şahin in a speech at the opening.
“The whole of Gaziantep is an ancient site,” she added. “We are the world’s 8th city in gastronomy in UNESCO. We are continuing on our path by restoring five ancient cities and opening them to the public.”
Yalçın Kurt, the head of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Cultural Heritage and Museums department, said the artifacts were kept in Adana as Gaziantep had no museum.
“With the demand of the mayor, the statue was returned to its home over two days under security measures. I hope it will add value to the Zeugma Museum,” Kurt said.
