Philosopher’s Mask Found in Ancient Theater – History Blog

Five theatrical mask reliefs, including a rare depiction of the philosopher, have been discovered in the Roman theater in the ancient city of Kastabara in southern Türkiye. The mask was discovered during excavations at the theater site in previous seasons. With the addition of five this year, the total has now risen to 36.

Excavation leader Associate Professor Faris Demir said the newly discovered masks provide important clues into the artistic practices of the period. One of the latest discoveries is a startling discovery by an elderly philosopher, who says it reinforces the importance of Castabala as a cultural crossroads between East and West.

DeMille notes that depictions of philosophers are rarely seen in theatrical mask reliefs. “This figure is a strong testament to the fact that the Castabala Theater is not only a place for tragedy and comedy, but also a space for philosophical and literary discussions,” he said.

It was built in the late Hittite period, about 2,700 years ago. From its earliest origins, it has been a sacred city. An excavation in 2023 uncovered the remains of a 6th-century BC temple dedicated to the Luvian goddess Kubaba, the first Kubaba temple ever discovered (although they are known from ancient texts). During the Hellenistic period (around 2nd century BC), the city had a temple to Artemis Pellacia, unique for its ritual of walking barefoot on burning coals by the priestess.

Castabala became part of the Roman Empire’s province of Cappadocia in the first century AD. The history of the Roman Theater dates from approximately this period. It can accommodate approximately 5,000 people. Excavation of the theater area unearthed numerous architectural features from the stage structure. There are large, well-preserved sections that have survived, allowing archaeologists to understand the original design of the stage and possibly even reconstruct parts of it.