Aizanoi Ancient City Renewed with the Sponsorship of Gürok Group

1.     First, could you please give us some information about Aizanoi ancient city? What is its significance for both Kütahya, Gürok Group, and society?

The archaeological excavations within the historic settlement, which has been recognised as the second Ephesus and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012, are conducted by the Department of Archaeology of the Faculty of Science and Letters at Kütahya Dumlupınar University (DPU). With a history dating back to 3,000 BC, Aizanoi Ancient City is considered to be one of the significant Roman metropolises. It contains several notable structures, including the best-preserved Temple of Zeus in Anatolia, a stadium, two baths, the first trade exchange building in history, a colonnaded street, five bridges over Kocaçay—two of which have survived—two agoras, a gymnasium, the Metre Steunene sanctuary, necropolises, an ancient dam, waterways, and gate structures.

2.      As Gürok Group, what is the primary driving force underlying your choice to support the Aizanoi Ancient City excavations?

Contributing to Kütahya's and our nation's cultural legacy is essential for  Gürok Group. In this regard, we have been supporting the Ancient City of Aizanoi excavations since 2020. Our actions are guided by the goal of giving back what we have earned and transforming Kütahya into a city that is not only successful in the industrial sector but also well-known for its cultural and touristic diversity. With the knowledge that growth is achievable by reaching our potential in all areas, not just one, we continue to support culture and the arts. The archaeological findings, which provide insights into the daily life and urban culture of that era, are of immeasurable worth to our city's cultural heritage and tourism industry.

3.     How do you believe the Gürok Group's overarching business mission is supported by these significant investments in cultural heritage?

The principles of "Think Unlimited, Act Brave, Do Good" guide the Gürok Group's actions in all that we do. For a more sustainable future, we are constantly focused on performing our jobs well and adding value to life, the environment, and our country. We can learn from the growth and transformation processes of the people who inhabited these lands thousands of years ago and apply them to our own lives with the help we provide here.  It has always been difficult to make visionary predictions about the future in everyday life. In this regard, statistics and comparisons to prior years are commonly utilised. Archaeology provides an exceptionally favourable environment in this regard. We can investigate every facet of a civilization, from its beginnings to its end, including its agricultural practices, commercial activities, religious beliefs, and life stories. Our understanding of them deepens our respect for the ancient peoples from whom we inherited these lands, and we learn valuable lessons for the future.

Gürok Group, an established organisation that recently completed its 75th anniversary and recognises the significance of experience transfer and corporate culture, places great value on the contributions of our shared past and the civilizations that have come before us.

4.     How do you consider the potential for cultural tourism in the area and throughout Türkiye stems from your efforts to promote the Ancient City of Aizanoi?

It is evident that local development is encouraged by cultural heritage protection in certain regions. The inhabitants of a city are content when its historical buildings, customs, scenic views, distinctive identity, and modern architecture coexist alongside one another. Those who want to experience this happiness, even for a short time, help to develop such cities by visiting them as tourists. The UN World Tourism Organisation estimates that 1.3 billion people travel overseas each year.  In 2023, foreign travel generated $1.4 trillion in revenue overall. Türkiye saw a 16.9% increase in tourism-related revenue in 2023 over the previous year, totaling 54 billion 315 million 542 thousand dollars. Hence, it is essential to speed up efforts to take a larger portion of the revenue generated by tourism and travel, which is a massive industry and source of revenue not only in our country but also in the rest of the world. Taking this into consideration, we are working towards the goal of transforming Kütahya into a city that is not only a centre of industry but also a brand city that is well-known for its cultural and touristic diversity. We are helping to restore the Aizanoi 5 Roman theatre and stadium in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

5.     Could you tell us about the significant discoveries made during the Aizanoi excavations, particularly the two-thousand-year-old statues?

In the ancient city of Aizanoi, excavations have uncovered a male statue dating back 2,000 years and measuring 2 metres 10 centimetres in height. Additionally, statue heads of "Dionysus," the god of wine, "Heracles," and "Heracles," the deity associated with love in Greek mythology, have been discovered.

The male statue, discovered in 2022, is essentially the only complete statue discovered to date. The male statue, standing 2.10 metres tall, is completely intact aside from the loss of one leg and half of its pedestal. The statue head of "Dionysus," which is roughly forty centimetres high, is the most notable of the many heads from Greek mythology. 'Heracles's' head was discovered in 2022, and his body was discovered in 2020. As a result, extremely valuable statues and statue heads can still be discovered.  

During the excavations last year, items used by Roman women for makeup and perfume were discovered. Two-thousand-year-old stores were discovered in the agora (bazaar) during the excavations supervised by Prof. Dr. Gökhan Coşkun, Head of the Department of Archaeology at DPU Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The information about the centuries between the establishment and use of these areas can be found in the inscriptions found in the shops. Roman women's cosmetics and perfume bottles were discovered in one of the stores that provided insight into the city's economic and social structure. Various beads from items like hair pins and necklaces worn by women in the past, as well as makeup paints like blush and eye shadow, were discovered in what is believed to be a store selling cosmetics and perfumes. A significant number of oyster shells, which were used to hold makeup products like blush and eye shadow in the Ancient Roman Empire, were also discovered in the excavations, which yielded ten distinct colours of makeup paint, the majority of which had red and pink tones.

6.      In what ways do you believe that the broader goal of Kütahya's tourist and cultural richness is supported by your efforts to preserve and promote cultural heritage?

Our sponsorship support is still ongoing, with the goal of restoring Aizanoi to its former glory so that it can become a global icon and add value to the city. We believe that the economic and cultural development of Kütahya, the city where our company was founded, are inextricably linked. A comprehensive evaluation of development and prosperity necessitates an additional consideration of social and cultural dimensions. With the knowledge that growth is achievable by reaching our potential in all areas, not just one, we continue to support culture and the arts. In this context, we take cultural heritage preservation and promotion seriously, and since 2020, we have provided support for the Aizanoi ancient city excavations. As the innovative product delivery company Gürok Group, which was founded in Kütahya, investing in our country's and our city's cultural heritage is a very important mission for us.

7.     What are the future objectives of Gürok Group in keeping with its mission to establish Kütahya as a leading destination for cultural tourism?

We have been the primary sponsor of the excavations in the ancient city of Aizanoi since 2020, and we have scheduled our support for a 6-year project. Our intention is to reassess the trajectory of the excavations in 2026 and extend our assistance through the initiation of new projects.

8.     What are your thoughts on the private sector's role in preserving and advancing cultural heritage?

Tourism and the economy grow considerably in nations that invest in the arts and culture. Along with significant museums, tourists also want to see historical, cultural, and architectural landmarks in the nations they visit. Cities in Europe that are notable for their museums attract an increasing number of young visitors annually and remain centres for the arts and culture. In this sense, our country is extremely wealthy, and there are many hidden values. It would be unfair to expect local governments and the public sector to handle this work alone. NGOs and the commercial sector both have significant roles to play. It is crucial to assist in the promotion of these historical sites and to provide sponsorships and communication support for excavation sites.

9.      What are the contributing factors to the 113.5 percent rise in Aizanoi tourism? What impact will this increase have on the marketing initiatives of Gürok Group?

Even over a medium and long period of time, it is possible to observe the positive outcomes that result from investments in the arts and culture. As Gürok Group, we see that our efforts to promote Aizanoi are paying off. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of visitors to the ancient city of Aizanoi increased by 135.1 percent. We view such an increase over three years, including the pandemic period, as a very positive development. We anticipate that when new discoveries and marketing initiatives are made, this number will rise significantly.

 

06.03.2024