Efsuncu Orpheus – Orpheus, The Magician

The monography studies the Orpheus mosaics found in Anatolia or those which are currently being exhibited in museums in Turkey. The eight pavements examined come from Milet, Seleucia ad Pamphylia, Cos, Kayabaşı, Adana, Tarsus, Urfa, and Jerusalem. The study discusses the formal and stylistic characteristics of these mosaics focusing on the transformation of Orpheus’ iconography from the shepherd taming wild animals to Jesus the saviour. Among the parallels used to discuss the mosaics in the monography are the Orpheus statue from Istanbul Archaeological Museums as well as a recently excavated Orpheus statue from Parion.