A bust of the Egyptian goddess Isis was found in Gümüşhane.

Excavation Director and Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Letters Archaeology Department Dr. Lecturer Elif Yavuz Çakmur told an AA correspondent that a 20-centimeter bronze bust of the Egyptian goddess Isis was found during excavations in the necropolis area.

Çakmur, stating that they came across a surprising and very important find during the excavation, said, "A statue of the Egyptian goddess Isis was found broken off its pedestal. We know that the legions believed in Mithra and the 12 gods. It was also a very important find in terms of indicating their belief in a goddess in Eastern cultures."

Çakmur emphasized that the discovery of the bust has revealed new information about the religious beliefs of the Roman legions, and continued:

"This find is important because it demonstrates the religious diversity of the legion soldiers. It is also a very important find because it is the first bust to be unearthed since the bust of Aphrodite, which was unearthed in the 1870s."

Çakmur shared the following information about the bust of the Egyptian Goddess Isis:

The bust was found with the goddess's base, placed on three legs and emerging from a three-leaf calyx. At the head of the bust, two ears of corn, the left side of which has been preserved, symbolize fertility and abundance. The statue wears a tasseled shawl tied in a knot in front. Restoration work on the statue is ongoing, and upon completion, it will be exhibited at the Gümüşhane City Museum. Our team will also date the bronze bust through scientific studies.

AA