The Sabancı Foundation has been supporting the Lovers of Metropolis Association (MESEDER) since 2003 to aid scientific excavations in the region, a commitment continued into 2023. The archaeological site known as the “City of the Mother Goddess,” Metropolis, opened its doors to visitors in 2015. Throughout the ongoing excavations, remarkable discoveries have been made, including a 2,500-year-old headless woman figurine, a Roman Bath and Palaestra, a cult site dedicated to Zeus, a Dionysus mosaic, corridors, cisterns, over 11,000 small artifacts, and evidence of a grand public building adorned with mosaics, along with the agora.

To mark 30 years of excavation efforts, a book titled “Metropolis: A City, Its People, Their Way of Life” was published in 2023 with the support of our Foundation. The book presents the outcomes of the city’s excavation efforts in a straightforward and accessible narrative, shedding light on the diverse civilizations that inhabited the area. The book comprises 444 pages across 30 chapters, representing the culmination of five years of dedicated effort. The book features contributions from 22 esteemed local and international researchers, each recognized as an expert in their respective fields. A press trip was arranged to the ancient city as part of the book’s promotional efforts.