Istanbul: 19th November 2018:      Missing mosaic pieces to be returned to Turkey:

Since the day the famous "Gipsy Girl" mosaic was found in the ancient city of Zeugma, attempts have been made to find the missing pieces of the work, which has become a symbol of southeastern Turkey's Gaziantep. The “Gipsy Girl” named after its resemblance to gypsies, is in fact believed to be GAIA, the ancestral mother of all life, according to Greek mythology.

The mosaic is among the most famous pieces of work on display at the 30,000 square meter Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, which has attracted visitors from around the world since it opened in 2011. The Gypsy Girl’s disheveled hair, prominent cheekbones and haunting eyes have become somewhat the face of Gaziantep since it was unearthed in the ancient city. The mosaic is displayed in a special section on the museum‘s second floor and is considered to be the most important artifact of the museum.

The Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality has attempted to make this important work whole again, as there are many missing pieces, which have been stolen and sold by smugglers. Some of the pieces are currently on display in the U.S. at the Wolfe Arts Center of Ohio Bowling Green State University.

Now, twelve ancient Zeugma mosaic pieces looted during illegal excavations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep nearly 50 years ago will be returned to the country from the U.S. on Nov. 26, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on Nov. 19.

The twelve pieces. currently on display at the Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio, were purchased for $35,000 in 1965 from antiquities dealer Peter Marks at the Peter Marks Works of Art, a now-shuttered New York gallery. The pieces were restored and installed under thick protective glass in the floor of the Wolfe Center for the Arts at the university, which opened in 2012.

In May, the BGSU signed an agreement with the Turkish culture and tourism ministry at the time to return the ancient pieces. BGSU President Rodney Rogers, during the signing ceremony, said they took it as a legal and ethical duty to return the tile fragments to Turkey.

Since then, Turkish authorities have been in continuous contact with the BGSU for the relevant returning procedures to take place.

The ancient city of Zeugma was founded in present day Gaziantep by one of Alexander the Great’s generals in 300 BC and was conquered by the Roman Empire in 64 AD. It is known for its wealth of ancient Greek mosaics, frescoes, and artifacts.

The city became one of the major cities of the Roman eastern frontier with a garrison of over 6,000 soldiers. The city’s bridge over the Euphrates river made it one of the most critical and wealthy trading centers in the region, on the silk routes to the East. ...... Read Update: