Turkish police units seized several historical artifacts, including a relief and column fragments depicting the figure of a baby Eros during a house raid in western province of Manisa.
A security source requesting anonymity told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Gendarmerie forces raided the home of suspect SB home in the Sart district in the Salihli district after receiving a tip.
Three pieces of a relief with the figure of the Roman period Eros, the mischievous deity of love, five column capitals and three rooms of calculation with patterns were discovered during research of the house.
The detainee was released after his declaration to the security forces. Historical artifacts were handed over over to the Direction of the Museum of Manisa.
The village today of Sar is right next to the ancient city of Sardis, which served as the capital of Lydians, an Iron Age kingdom that ruled over Anatolia between the 12th and 6th centuries BC. and known for invent coins as a medium of exchange.
Excavations or drilling to locate artifacts or historical treasures are not permitted in Turkey and those found guilty face varying prison Sentences.
