Journal of Mosaic Research (Nov 2012)
Herakles’in On İki İşi Betimli Mozaik Hakkında Tespitler
Abstract
Three pieces of mosaics depicting the labors of Heracles are exhibited in Istanbul Archeological Museum. These are the scenes of Heracles slaying the Nemean Lion, capturing the Erymanthean Boar and fetching the golden apples of the Hesperides. They are here on one and the same scene, but the actual site of the pieces of the nine other labors of Heracles is unknown. The mosaic mentioned above was captured and the traffickers of antiquities were arrested in Istanbul. In 1879 the German orientalist K.E. Sachau payed a visit to the village of Belkis which is situated about 10 km. north-west of Birecik while he went from Aleppo to Urfa. He witnessed how a floor mosaic. The hunting of the Erymanthean Boar of the labors of Heracles was uncovered during illegal excavations, and he wrote to his diary of seeing the depictions. Depictions of Heracles are also seen on the mosaics of Antioch. But the depiction of the mosaic of Heracles in Zeugma is unknown, except for Sachau´s observation and mentioning of the Zeugma mosaics. The depic- tions of Heracles are common in sculptures and seal engravings (glyptik) of Zeugma. The dexiosis relief (stele) showing the King of Antiochus I shaking hands with Heracles and the relief of resting Heracles were found at the rescue excavations in Zeugma. In addition, there are many depictions of Heracles on the seal impressions found in Zeugma. Max von Oppenheim pointed out that there had been found in-situ mosaic in Birecik. It was the only one in-situ mosaic ever found in Birecik city. Other mosaics that are on the tresholds and the ground of the windows in the old house of Birecik were bought there from Zeugma according to the information given by the residents. The mosaic in Istanbul Archaeological Museum is similar to the mosaic that was seen by Sachau in Belkis Village. It is also similar in style and period to the Zeugma mosaics. Owing to illegal excavations carried out in Zeugma since 1873, many mosaics were scattered to many museums and private collections. The pieces of mosaics that are depictions the labors of Heracles in Istanbul Archaeological Museum were probably stolen from Zeugma. The mentioned pieces of mosaic are only among a few of the mosaic which are Zeugma has been waiting the return path.
