Lost panel of ‘Gypsy Girl’ mosaic returned to Türkiye
A missing panel of the world-renowned “Gypsy Girl” mosaic from the ancient city of Zeugma has been returned to Türkiye from the United States following coordinated scientific and diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy confirmed the repatriation, stating,“Following the 12 panels we previously secured, the 13th piece of the large composition has also returned to its rightful lands as a result of scientific studies and diplomatic efforts.” He noted that the fragment shows strong stylistic and compositional similarities with works exhibited at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
The panel belongs to the large Roman-era floor mosaic discovered in 1998 during rescue excavations at the ancient city of Zeugma in Türkiye’s southeastern province of Gaziantep. The composition, measuring approximately 9.25 by 13.5 meters, is among the most significant surviving artworks from the site and is widely known for the expressive Maenad head motif, popularly referred to as the “Gypsy Girl,” associated with Dionysian iconography.
The fragment was identified after appearing in an online auction listing. The alert was first reported by Zeugma excavation head Kutalmış Görkay, prompting further academic review. Comparative analyses of tessera colour, geometric borders, cutting patterns and overall composition confirmed that the piece belonged to the original mosaic ensemble.
