Göbeklitepe Exhibition in Rome Draws Over 6 Million Visitors, Boosting Global Awareness of Ancient Site

Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy attended the closing ceremony of the exhibition "Göbeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place" held at the iconic Colosseum in Rome, Italy. The exhibition, which opened on October 24, 2024, attracted more than 6 million visitors from around the world, significantly enhancing the global recognition of Göbeklitepe — a 12,000-year-old archaeological site in southeastern Türkiye widely regarded as the world's oldest known temple complex.

"This exhibition has reached wide audiences on a global scale and significantly increased Göbeklitepe's visibility," Minister Ersoy stated during the ceremony. "It brought together two symbols of ancient civilizations — the transformative influence of Göbeklitepe on human belief systems and the grandeur of the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman Colosseum. It was a truly historic encounter."

The exhibition was made possible through a collaboration between Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Embassy in Rome, Turkish Airlines (THY), and Italy's Ministry of Culture, with contributions from the Directorate of the Colosseum and Roman Forum Archaeological Park.

During his remarks, Ersoy emphasized Türkiye's commitment to protecting and promoting world heritage sites like Göbeklitepe. He highlighted the "Legacy for the Future" initiative, which aims to establish Şanlıurfa — home to Göbeklitepe and several other Neolithic sites — as a global center for Neolithic Age research.

"This exhibition was a key component of the 'Taş Tepeler: The Land of Great Transformation' project. The strong interest shown confirms the value and impact of our joint efforts with Italian institutions and scholars," Ersoy noted. "We will continue to bring humanity's shared heritage to audiences around the world through future exhibitions."

Minister Ersoy also announced upcoming cultural projects between the two countries, including a new "Magna Mater" exhibition this June, which will feature artifacts from Turkish museums. In addition, plans are underway to launch a Trojan-themed exhibition in Rome, a project that aims to celebrate the deep historical ties between the two ancient civilizations.

"These initiatives reflect the profound responsibilities of our countries bear as heirs to magnificent empires and stewards of human civilization," said Ersoy. "We are determined to strengthen our cultural collaboration with Italy."

Speaking at the event, Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum and Roman Forum Archaeological Park, described the exhibition as a remarkable success. "We brought together Göbeklitepe — the starting point of history — with one of the most iconic structures of antiquity, the Colosseum. In doing so, we also brought our two nations closer," Russo said. "The exhibition welcomed millions of visitors from all over the world, and we are proud to have showcased this powerful partnership."

Türkiye's newly appointed Ambassador to Rome, Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, echoed Russo's sentiments. "It's an exciting beginning to my tenure," she said. "The positive tone of our cultural diplomacy is clear, and I'm filled with optimism for the future of Türkiye–Italy relations."

As the curtains close on Göbeklitepe: The Mystery of a Sacred Place, it leaves behind not just awe-inspired visitors, but a legacy of international cooperation in celebrating and preserving the roots of human civilization.