MISSING PART OF ARTEMIS EPHESIA FOUND

UNDERWATER investigations near Gazimağusa have retrieved a missing part of the AD200 Artemis Ephesia statuette which was discovered off the coast of Salamis by an Italian tourist diver in August 1980.

Sergio Galloni found the ancient goddess while snorkelling and returned with his wife last year to visit her at the Güzelyurt Museum where she is on permanent display.

Pieces including a part of one of two stags which decorated the image of the Ephesus cult goddess were discovered last year and are documented in a paper by Gazimağusa Antiquities Department archaeologist Emine Sivri.

Ms Sivri speculated in her report that the 67cm white marble statuette could have been lost at sea or have remained on land now flooded by rising sea levels. It could indicate an Artemis cult at Salamis, brought back from a pilgrimage to the Artemision temple at Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world where votive statues of the revered goddess were produced.

An identical marble statue of the goddess with two stags still stands at Ephesus today. She concluded that underwater research was required to fully understand and protect the area.

After months of painstaking work by state conservator Pembe Özen, the goddess and her stag were finally reunited and returned to the museum.

Sergio Galloni and his wife view the Artemis Ephesia statuette with Fuat Azimli, 27 years after Mr Galloni found it while diving off Salamis. Far right, the statuette pictured by Kadir Kaba.