Giant Sarcophagus Unearthed in Alanya Back in the Spotlight

Alanya’s rich history is once again in the spotlight after a giant sarcophagus, unearthed from the sea years ago, resurfaced on social media. In 2012, Hakan Güleç, while diving near Okurcalar town in Alanya, made a remarkable discovery. Near the ancient city of Justinianopolis, he encountered a large object buried under sand and rocks on the seabed, which he initially thought was a sunbed. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was an invaluable Roman-era sarcophagus (2nd or 3rd century AD) adorned with Medusa and Eros figures.

Güleç immediately reported the finding to the Alanya Museum Directorate. His accidental discovery revealed the rich underwater heritage of the region. Years later, images shared on social media brought this fascinating artifact back into the public eye.