Culture and Tourism Minister Ersoy emphasized the process of taking back the statue and the importance of preserving our historical and cultural riches at the meeting held at the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.
The statue of Kybele, which was smuggled from Turkey to Israel in the 1960s, is dated to the 3rd century AD by experts. By examining the typological features, marble type and inscription of the statue, it was stated that it was of Anatolian origin. The 'mother goddess' Cybele has been depicted as a symbol of fertility and abundance in Anatolia since the prehistoric period.
