Ancient Anatolian Philosophers Meet the Present at Yeşilova Mound

Considered one of İzmir’s earliest Neolithic settlements, the 8,500-year-old Yeşilova Mound hosted a special event that brought Anatolia’s millennia-old intellectual heritage together with contemporary audiences, under the auspices of Bornova Municipality. The “Ancient Anatolian Philosophers Exhibition,” prepared by the Aktiffelsefe Cultural Association, was opened to visitors with a grand ceremony.

A journey of thought through reliefs and life stories

The exhibition features reliefs and brief biographies of philosophers who were either born in Anatolia or carried out philosophical activities in these lands during antiquity. It offers visitors a historical journey of thought, highlighting Anatolia’s significant place in the history of philosophy and aiming to build a cultural bridge from the past to the present.

The opening ceremony was attended by Aktiffelsefe Cultural Association President Oya Uysal, Yeşilova Mound Excavation Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zafer Derin, and Ege University Philosophy Department Founder Prof. Dr. Ahmet Arslan, along with many invited guests. Speeches emphasized the importance of Anatolia’s intellectual heritage and the necessity of passing it on to future generations.

Where art and philosophy meet

Held at the Yeşilova Mound Visitor Center, the launch went beyond a standard exhibition opening and turned into a cultural celebration. A mini concert by artists from the İzmir State Opera and Ballet added elegance to the evening, while a dance performance from the “8500 Musical” by the İzmir Aşkına Association received great appreciation from the audience.

First step toward the Anatolian Philosophers Museum

Launched under the slogan “Philosophy Rising from Anatolia,” the exhibition also serves as the foundation for a planned Anatolian Philosophers Museum. In this sense, it stands out not merely as a temporary exhibition but as the beginning of a lasting cultural project.

Open to visitors free of charge until the end of the year

Hosted by Bornova Municipality and realized in cooperation with the Aktiffelsefe Cultural Association, the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ege University, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İzmir State Opera and Ballet, and the İzmir Aşkına Association, the exhibition will be open to visitors free of charge until the end of December 2026.