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| Belkız (Zeugma) |
Belkis / Zeugma covers an area of 20.000 square meters, and is located next to a village bearing the same name near the river Euphrates. It is 10 km East of Nizip.
Selevkos Nikador, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, founded the city Selevka Euphrates in 300 BCE. Belkis/Zeugma was included in Roman Empire's borders in 64 BCE, and it was named Zeugma at this time. Zeugma means passage or bridge. Sapur, a Sasanian King, conquered Belkis/Zeugma and destroyed the city in 256 A.D. After Sapur, Zeugma could not pull itself together and could not reach its magnificence of the the Roman Era. Belkis /Zeugma was then ruled by Late Roman domination in 4th Century A.D. During 5th and 6th centuries, howewer, it was ruled by Early Byzantine domination. As a result of the Arab raids, Belkis /Zeugma was abandoned. During 10th and 12th centuries, a small Abbassid residence settled in the area and Belkis village was founded.
 Belkis /Zeugma is one of the four important cities of the Kingdom of Commagene. The city, which was called "Seleukeia of Euphrates" during the Hellenistic era, was an antic city having a quay on the river Euphrates and an important commercial potential because of the Silk Road stretching from Antioch to China. During Roman era, a military unit consisting of Anatolian soldiers called "Sikitia Legion" was positioned here. This unit then acquried a Roman character and carried out duty under the name of "Fourth Legion," and causing a trend of Neoporolis sculpturing to be launched, in which military character is dominant. In this respect, samples in various forms such as steles, rock relieves, statues and altars made the newly-formed Zeugma character felt. Zeugma became considerably rich, thanks to the liveliness caused by being a regional center during the Roman era.There was a bridge connecting Belkis/Zeugma with the city Apemeia on the other side of Euphrates, constructed on wooden drafts made of, most probably, logs. Further more, it has been established that Belkis/Zeugma was a border town with customs and had a high level of trade which came with the positioning on the border. As a result of the excavations performed on the hill called "Iskele Üstü," 65,000 stamp printings were found in an archive room called "Bulla." These stamp-printings used in sealing papyrus, parchement, moneybags and customs bales show that there was a powerful communication network as well as a trade to a considerable extent. The uneven and rough slopes, starting from the side of Euphrates, raising up to 300m towards the West, are residential areas to the skirts of Acropal. Southern and Western parts of these slopes were Necropolis, Eastern and Northeastern parts were quarters and the Northern parts were city's administrative and social sections as well as legion area. The temple Thyke, found frequently on the Zeugma coins minted in the name of the city, was located over the acropolis. Now, the city is under a soil 4-5 meters in depth and all the area is covered by nut trees.Only a few building traces as well as a couple of architectural pieces can be seen. Richness of the of region, which had been subject to unlicensed excavations as well as smuggling, become evident in the excavations performed by Gaziantep Museum under the supervision of Archeologist Dr. Rifat Ergeç. A Roman villa was discovered during the first excavation. Terrace mosaics of two villas were removed and brought to Gaziantep Museum. A number of archeological excavations have been made in Belkis/Zeugma between 1987 and 1999. Groups from foreign universities have joined digs. As a result of such excavations high quality bronze items and statuettes (winged-feet made of bronze), coins, statues, and reliefs have been found.These treasures are exhibited in the Belkis/Zeugma Room of the Gaziantep Museum.The Villas district, which is understood to be settled by elite layer of the city such as notables, riches and high-ranking officers, has a complete command of Euphrates view and open to the Northern winds.
In a Roman villa, dating back to 2nd century BCE, discovered during the excavations performed in 1992, a main room with mosaics of very high artistic value in its front gallery was found. Floor mosaics (7.5m X 3.7m) detail the wedding cerenomy of Dionysus, the god of wine, and his wife Adrienne. 13 colors with different tones were used, ornamented by stones from the river Euphrates. But like most of the similar treasures, a high portion of these artworks were stolen in June 1998. Upon theft of this unique mosaic showing the wedding cerenomy of Dionysus, the rest of the pieces were removed from the site to prevent further damage and brought to the Gaziantep Museum.
In 1995 The Ministry of Culture taking into consideration that the dam-project is just about start, permitted a French archeological team from The University of Nautes under the leadership of the Gaziantep Museum to begin active rescue excavations. In the autumn of 1999, Zeugma became world famous with its first excavations in the "Mezar Üstü" area. This was followed by rescue works under the chairmanship of archelogist Mehmet Önal were started in the parts of Zeugma to remain under the dam waters. These digs were funded by Gaziantep Governorship and private sources of the region. Thanks to the support of members of Province Council chaired by Mr.Muammer Güler and Governor of Province of Gaziantep, two Roman villas have been brought into the daylight.
Parts of these villas burned and destroyed by the Sasanian attacks, were covered by the disintegrated adobe walls as well as the eroded soils reaching 3 meters in hight which have survived to this date Many coins, bronze candlesticks as well as candles and pottery works, mosaics and frescos were found in the rooms. Also a MARS statue lying on its back was found. The rescue excavations continue. All the historical works and mosaics found in the excavation sites have been saved and brought to Gaziantep Archeological Museum. The Birecik Dam Consortium and SANKO Holding (with headquarters in Gaziantep), have made contributions for such recue excavations. The river Euphrates allowes only two crossing points; doorways to Anatolia. One of them is Samosata and the other is at Belkis/Zeugma. As if all the curses made on them for centuries have come true, both remained under the waters of the river Euphrates. Samosata was submerged under the waters of the Atatürk Dam. As soon as water-accumulation process in the Birecik Dam Lake is completed, 1/5 of this antic city will be submerged. With the financial support of Packard Humanity Institute of the USA and efforts by the Presidency of the GAP project (the South-East Anatolian Project) an international team under the chairmanship of Gaziantep Museum continues excavations, documentation and rescue works.
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