Rare Roman mosaic of river god uncovered near Apostle Paul's historic route
Archaeologists in Aspendos, Turkey, have revealed a large Roman mosaic depicting the river god Eurymedon, located close to sites linked to Apostle Paul’s early missions.
Excavations at Aspendos, an ancient settlement near Antalya in southern Turkey, have uncovered a sizable Roman mosaic floor measuring roughly 20 by 25 feet. The design features the river deity Eurymedon, portrayed with reed leaves and a water-flowing amphora, surrounded by geometric patterns and marine imagery. Researchers date the mosaic to the early third century AD and suspect it formed the base of a pool that likely continues into unexcavated sections, possibly restructured after the 262 AD earthquake.
Such depictions of river gods are exceptionally rare in mosaic tradition, making the piece a valuable addition to the limited corpus. Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy called the discovery of great scientific importance for the study of Roman-era Anatolian art. The site lies near Perga, a city mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles where Apostle Paul traveled during his first missionary journey.
Why it matters
The mosaic offers rare insight into Roman art and religious symbolism in a region tied to early Christian history.
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