The Statue of Hestia, the Guardian Goddess of Aigai, from the Hellenistic Period, is Now on Display at the Manisa Museum

A 2.7-meter-tall marble statue of the goddess Hestia, discovered in 2005 during excavations at the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye, is now on display for the first time. Believed to be the only known Hestia statue from the Hellenistic period that has survived to the present day, it is showcased in a specially designed hall at the newly opened Manisa Archaeology Museum.

Goddess of Order, Now Back at the Heart of the Polis
The statue represents Hestia, the revered protector of homes and cities in ancient Greek religion. In antiquity, statues of Hestia were commonly placed in council buildings (bouleuteria), symbolizing civic order and unity. As Aigai excavation director and Celal Bayar University archaeology professor Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin explains:

“In ancient times, decisions in the council were made while looking directly into the eyes of Hestia. She stood for unity, stability, and the moral compass of the city.”

An Ancient Council Hall Recreated Inside the Museum
The museum’s newly built hall replicates the architectural layout of Aigai’s original council chamber. Hestia now stands exactly where she once did 2,200 years ago — alongside other honorific statues recovered from the site.

“Visitors can feel as if they’ve stepped into an ancient assembly,” says Prof. Dr. Sezgin.

This immersive setting bridges the distant past with the modern viewer.

A Rare and Singular Survival from Antiquity
The statue was unearthed in two large fragments during the 2005–2006 excavation seasons. It remained in storage for years, awaiting the opening of a museum equipped to display it properly.
While statues of Vesta (the Roman equivalent of Hestia) exist in several global collections, Prof. Dr. Sezgin notes:

“This is the only surviving example of Hestia from the Hellenistic period that we know of today.”

About Aigai Ancient City

Located in the Yunusemre district of Manisa Province in western Türkiye, Aigai was one of the twelve ancient cities of the Aeolian League. Founded as early as the 8th century BCE, the city reached its architectural and political peak during the Hellenistic period.

Built on a mountainous terrain, Aigai features exceptionally well-preserved public structures, including a bouleuterion (council house), agora, theater, stoas, and temples. The ongoing archaeological work continues to shed light on urban planning, religious practices, and civic life in Hellenistic Anatolia.