1,800-Year-Old Vase with Masked Actor Depiction Unearthed in Aigai Now on Display

A rare terracotta vase featuring a depiction of an ancient theatrical mask has been unearthed during excavations at the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye. Dated to around 1,800 years ago, the artifact is now on display at the Manisa Archaeological Museum and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Anatolia.

Located in Yunusemre district of Manisa, Aigai is one of the twelve ancient Aiolian cities of western Anatolia, with a history stretching back 2,700 years. Excavations have been carried out at the site since 2004 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin of Manisa Celal Bayar University.

During the 2025 excavation season, archaeologists uncovered an extraordinary terracotta vase in a chamber adjacent to the city’s bouleuterion (council house). The vase, decorated with the face of a masked performer, is believed to have been used in libation rituals, where liquid offerings were poured during ceremonies.

Prof. Dr. Sezgin explained that while the figure on the vase may appear as a grotesque human face at first glance, it actually represents the masks worn by comedic actors in antiquity:
“This vase is a rare libation jug. The figure shows a comic actor wearing a terracotta mask. It is highly sculptural and exceptionally well-preserved. It was most likely produced in the workshops of Pergamon. Normally, such finds survive only as small fragments, but in this case, dozens of pieces were carefully restored to form an almost complete vessel.”

The vase was discovered within a rock-cut pit next to the bouleuterion, suggesting it may have been deliberately placed there as part of a ritual deposition. According to Sezgin, while similar vessels appear in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, this example stands out for its earlier date, larger size, and remarkable preservation.

The artifact has now been placed on public display at the Manisa Archaeological Museum, where it offers new insights into the role of theater and ritual in the cultural life of ancient Aigai.

Cover Image: The 1,800-year-old terracotta vase depicting a masked comic actor, discovered in Aigai, is now exhibited at the Manisa Archaeological Museum. Credit: DHA