Badly Labeled Artifacts: The Mystery of the Seated Women of Didyma

Welcome back to Badly Labeled Artifacts, the series where we delve into the enigmatic world of museum exhibits that leave us with more questions than answers. Today, we're focusing on the Miletus Museum in Turkey and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, two institutions that, despite housing remarkable artifacts, provide minimal context for their displays.

Our spotlight is on a collection of seated, headless marble figures, lined up in rows like forgotten chess pieces, yet accompanied by scant information. Who were these individuals? Why were they depicted in this manner? And why, despite being found along the Sacred Way to Didyma’s Temple of Apollo, do the museums offer little explanation regarding their purpose?

Let's explore.