Part of Greek god Pan statue unearthed in Istanbul

By Hasan Huseyin Kul

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish archaeologists in Istanbul unearthed a fragment of the statue of Pan, which is known in ancient Greek mythology as the shepherd and the god of herds, authorities said.

The part-human-part-goat marble figure shows the Greek god holding a panpipe flute. It was found during the excavation work carried out in the Sarachane Archeology Park in Istanbul’s Fatih district on the European side, said a statement from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The excavations have been carried out since June 2022 in the Sarachane Archeology Park, where the St. Polyeuctus Church was previously located.

The 20 cm high and 18 cm wide ancient Pan statue was found from about 2.6 meters below the surface, and its left arm and underbody were broken.

“It is thought that the statue is dated to the Roman period and it will be dated after the necessary expert examination,” the statement added.

The word panic is also derived from the name of the Greek god of Pan, who is known for shouting angrily in his nap, causing people to panic and flee.

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums Directorate places the part of the Pan statue in the museum warehouse for storage while it awaits further examination.