2,400 year old wrestler’s tomb discovered at Aspendos - Milliyet

Milliyet AppUygulamayı AçWebWeb'de Devam Et EN2,400 year old wrestler’s tomb discovered at AspendosNews2,400 Year Old Wrestler’S Tomb Discovered At Aspendos2,400 year old wrestler’s tomb discovered at Aspendos10.08.2026 - 13:52 | Last Updated: 10.08.2026 - 13:52

Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery during ongoing excavations at Aspendos, where archaeologists have identified the ancient city’s Eastern Necropolis for the first time.

The tomb, dating back approximately 2,400 years, is a cist-style burial and contains findings that suggest its occupant may have had a connection to sports and possibly been a wrestler from Aspendos.

According to the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the discovery provides important new evidence about life in Aspendos during the Classical period, as well as burial practices and the social structure of the ancient city.

Officials said the findings will expand the limited archaeological knowledge currently available about Aspendos during the Classical period and contribute to further scientific research into the history of the ancient city.

The discovery is expected to shed new light on the lives and traditions of the people who lived in Aspendos more than two millennia ago.