A 2,400-year-old terracotta mask honoring Dionysos

Dascylium, the capital of Hellespontine Phrygia, is not often in the news, and is hardly mentioned in Alexander’s expedition in Asia Minor (see: Heading for Dascylium and Sardes). In fact, Alexander never went that far since he sent his general Parmenion to take the city. Less than one hundred years before Alexander, Xenophon and what remained of his Ten Thousand marched through this countryside. This means that Alexander was well aware of its role and its importance.

[Picture from Archaeology News Network]

As the king pressed south, Parmenion took Dascylium without trouble as the guards had abandoned the town. A new satrap, Calas, was quickly put into place. From then onward, the tribute Dascylium used to pay to Persia would come to Alexander. 

Recent excavations around the city’s acropolis have exposed a terracotta mask of the ancient Greek god Dionysus. It is thought to be a votive mask and according to the legends it is believed that whoever wore such a mask would pay homage to the god, the patron of the arts.

Archaeologists also unearthed a nearby cellar belonging to a Lydian kitchen. They hope that the seeds and other organic elements will give a better understanding of the eating habits of the Lydians - maybe even of the later Greek settlers.