Ertugrul statue causes stir in Turkey for uncanny resemblance to lead actor

A statue of the famous father of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Ertuğrul Gazi, caused controversy in Turkey’s Black Sea coastal province of Ordu after the bust was found to bear an uncanny resemblance to the actor who plays the titular character in the renowned Turkish TV series Resurrection: Ertugrul.

The bust had been commissioned within the scope of Ordu Municipality's “Project to Commemorate Turkish History’s Most Important Figures.”

However, the statue’s near identical resemblance to Engin Altan Düzyatan ignited a debate on social media, and the controversial bust was removed by the municipality. Additionally, an investigation was launched and two top figures were dismissed from their posts for “negligence.”

The statues of founder of modern Turkey Atatürk, Osman Bey, Suleiman the Magnificent and Mehmed the Conqueror were also commissioned and placed in the July 15 Commemoration Square.

Often described as the Turkish Game of Thrones, the series depicts the 13th century Anatolia and tells the story before the establishment of the Ottoman Empire. It illustrates the struggle of Ertugrul Gazi, father of the empire's first leader.

The series illustrates the struggle of Ertuğrul and his warriors against a plethora of adversaries from the Knights Templar to Mongol invaders.