A goddess from Sagalassus
The Burdur Archaeological Museum is just fine. You will find all sculpture from Sagalassus over there, plus some objects from minor sites. Among the latter is a frieze that was probably part of the tomb of a man who trained gladiators, originally in Cibyra. There are also statues from Cremna, and upstairs, there’s a collection of prehistoric finds and ancient coins.
But the main reason to visit the Archaeological Museum of Burdur is the sculpture from Sagalassus. To see the heroon on the Upper Agora is one thing, to see the actual sculpture is much better. Imagine a square tomb decorated with garlands – except that the garlands have been replaced by the arms of dancing women. It is a beautiful work of art that will soon grace textbooks of art history. There are colossal heads of Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius, statues of deities, including two almost identical Dionysi.
Heracles
I did not expect the Hercules in the garden. It is the best one I have ever seen. One reason is that sandstone is better than marble, because it stresses our macho’s masculine nature; but that’s just one aspect. In the end, I cannot explain why I like it.
Final remark: I have been traveling for seven days now through the ancient Roman provinces of Asia and Lycia et Pamphylia. It is remarkable that I still haven’t seen any Roman military object, not even an inscription mentioning that Mr. X served in legion Y prior to embarking on a civil career in the town of Z. (I am aware that the Celsus Library in Ephesus does in fact contain this type of inscription, but I haven’t been there.) The same impression I have from a comparison of the Gospels and Acts: in Galilee and Judaea, we meet Roman officers, but Paul only met civil officials. This region experienced the Roman peace.
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