2,000-Year-Old Medusa Mosaic at Kibyra Reopens to Visitors in Türkiye

In the ancient city of Kibyra, located in Burdur’s Gölhisar district, one of the most remarkable surviving works of Roman stone craftsmanship has been revealed once again. The 2,000-year-old Medusa mosaic, protected throughout the winter months, has now reopened to visitors with the arrival of the new season.

Seasonal conservation and reopening

Each year, the mosaic is carefully covered to protect it from harsh weather conditions, including moisture, frost, and temperature fluctuations. This conservation strategy ensures the long-term preservation of one of Kibyra’s most iconic features.

With the end of winter, the protective layers have been removed. Excavation director Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özüdoğru confirmed that both the Medusa mosaic and the Odeion Stoa floor mosaics are now accessible and will remain open to visitors until the end of November 2026.

A rare example of opus sectile technique

What distinguishes the Kibyra Medusa mosaic is its technique. Unlike traditional mosaics made from small tesserae, this piece was created using opus sectile—a method that involves cutting and assembling large pieces of colored marble to form detailed compositions.

This approach required a high level of precision and planning, making such works relatively rare. The Kibyra example stands out as one of the finest preserved representations of this technique in the ancient world.

At the center of Kibyra’s odeion

The mosaic is located at the very center of the city’s odeion, a multifunctional public building that served as a concert hall, council chamber, court, and theater.

Its placement is not merely decorative. In ancient belief, Medusa functioned as an apotropaic symbol, believed to ward off evil. Positioned at the heart of a civic structure, the figure likely carried symbolic meaning, protecting both the building and the activities within it.

Water flows again in the monumental fountain

Alongside the reopening of the mosaic, another element of the ancient city has been reactivated. Water has begun flowing once again through the monumental circular fountain, supplied from its original source.

This subtle restoration adds a dynamic layer to the site, offering visitors a more immersive sense of how Kibyra may have once functioned as a living urban space.

A limited-time encounter with antiquity

The Medusa mosaic is not accessible year-round. Its seasonal unveiling adds a sense of rarity to the experience, as visitors have only a limited window to see it in situ.

More than a decorative feature, the mosaic reflects the intersection of Roman artistry, symbolic belief, and public architecture—all preserved within the fabric of Kibyra.