This is a piece of history that comes to be damaged, in the vicinity of Iznik, province of Bursa, northwest of Turkey. A bas-relief representing the mythical character of Hercules has been the victim of vandals, and his face is now damaged, says the Hurriyet Daily News in an article spotted by Le Figaro. It would have been engraved in the rock, there is about 2 000 to protect the workers of the stone quarry nearby.
This bas-relief, which would have been at the heart of religious rites in the area, had already been the subject of other damage in the past. His club or even his beard had already been the target of degradation. But, this time, a hole was made at the level of the face of Hercules with an object piercing, as can be seen in a photo released on social networks. In addition, the left arm of the sculpture was already damaged when the discovery of the original of the work.
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open dumping
Officially, the bas-relief is located in a ” protected zone “, established by the Council of Turkish monuments in 1990. But, the place has turned into a real dump wild over the years. The monument has also been damaged by waste, salt and chemicals that are thrown in, particularly from the processing of olives produced in the region. The inhabitants now require measures for the protection and the cleanliness of the area and, in particular, of the work to which they are attached.
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The town of Iznik, formerly known under the name of Nikaia (Nicaea in French) was founded in 315 bc J.-C., by Antigonus the one-Eyed, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. Over the centuries, it is then passed under the domination of the roman and then byzantine, before being captured by the ottoman Empire in 1331. As noted by Le Figaro, the region is an important centre of early christianity is often the target of treasure hunters.
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