Gobeklitepe exhibition in Rome draws 5 million visitors
The exhibition titled "Gobeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place" has opened for visitors at the world-famous Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The exhibition features exact stone replicas of three artifacts from Gobeklitepe, along with shortened versions of films shown at the Göbeklitepe Welcome Center with Italian subtitles, October 24, 2024. (AA Photo)
Rome’s Colosseum has been hosting an exhibition on Gobeklitepe, one of the world’s most significant archaeological discoveries, since Oct. 24, 2024.
The exhibition, “Gobeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place,” has already attracted an astonishing 5 million visitors, according to Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
UNESCO treasure at heart of Rome
Gobeklitepe, often referred to as the zero point of civilization, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. Dating back 11,000 years, this ancient site in southeastern Türkiye has reshaped our understanding of human history, challenging previous theories about the origins of settled life and religious practices.
Now, this monumental discovery is being introduced to an international audience in one of the world’s most iconic landmarks—the Colosseum. The exhibition is a collaboration between Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish Embassy in Rome.
A Journey into dawn of civilization
“Gobeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place” offers a captivating experience through multimedia content, 3D reconstructions, and virtual tours. Visitors can explore life in early human communities, uncover the rituals of ancient societies, and admire replicas of the site’s massive T-shaped pillars—some of the oldest known monumental structures created by humankind.
Since its opening, the exhibition has drawn international scholars, historians, and archaeology enthusiasts, eager to witness the legacy of Gobeklitepe in an immersive setting.
A call to explore history’s oldest monument
Minister Ersoy emphasized the exhibition’s impact in a recent social media post, stating:
We have brought the unique history of Gobeklitepe to the heart of Rome. The cradle of civilization meets the world at the Colosseum. Since its opening, the exhibition has welcomed 5 million visitors, proving the timeless allure of this archaeological marvel. Gobeklitepe’s 11,000-year-old mystery continues to captivate audiences with its monumental pillars and virtual reconstructions. This extraordinary journey through history remains open until the end of April, inviting all who wish to explore the world’s oldest known monumental site.
The exhibition will remain open to visitors at the Colosseum until April 30, 2025.
