Olba, sa.29, ss.245-268, 2021 (AHCI)
The ancient city of Parion is located within the boundaries of the Province Çanakkale (Kemer Village of Balıklıçeşme, in Biga). Excavations have been carried out in many areas including the South-Tavşandere Necropolis, Theater, Agora, Roman Bath, Slope Bath, Chamber Tombs; furthermore drilling works have been undertaken in various areas of the ancient city since 2005. In the southeast of the area called Bodrum Burnu Mevkii is another excavation area including the Odeion, which is located on a natural slope in the west of the shallow valley where the Roman Imperial Period public buildings are to be found. The statue which is the subject of this study was found in a very fragmented condition within the fire layer in the southern part of the scenae of this building. This fire which caused the end of the building to be used in its original function is dated to the end of the 4th century AD - the beginning of the 5th century AD. According to the obtained pieces that give a distinct profile, this statue reflects the Hunter Artemis type depicted as she is hunting. She has the bow in her left hand and she is drawing an arrow from the quiver with her right hand, whilst her left foot is placed foreward in a running position. Other figures within the composition of the statue are a beagle and a deer-gazelle, which are here placed next to her left foot. An important part of the statue is missing. In addition, traces of intense destruction caused by the fire of the building are clearly visible on the existing fragments of the statue. The data obtained from the pieces belonging to the statue which are discussed in detail in this study reveal the effect of the classical sculptural style. In this scope, it is suggested that this statue is the closest copy of the bronze original belonging to the Late Classical Period as the processing of the goddess is in accordance with the composition in which the deer hunt is depicted, furthermore all animals included in this hunting composition appear here as well, finally the features of the goddess's dress and hair structure are well comparable. The similarity of the hair structure of the goddess with the knot bow and the hair structure of the Belvedere Apollo strengthens the possibility that the originals of these two sculptures may belong to the same sculptor and to the Late Classical Period. The stylistic criticism made on the head and hair structure of the statue and archaeological data obtained from Odeion reveal that the Parion Hunter Artemis sculpture belongs to 135-150 AD.