Turkish officials recently announced the discovery of a 2,100-year-old shipwreck off Turkey’s coast containing thousands of luxury ceramic dishes dating back to Roman times. The wreck, located between 138 and 180 feet underwater, includes 122 different forms of plates and bowls used for various dining purposes. Experts believe the ceramics originated from Rhosus, a production center mentioned by Cicero in his writings, connecting ancient artifacts with historical documents. Professor Taco Terpstra calls this find "quite rare" due to its well-preserved condition and historical significance, noting that these items were luxury goods indicative of high-end trade during Roman times.
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Story summary
Turkish officials recently announced the discovery of a 2,100-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Turkey, revealing thousands of luxury dishes that were once highly prized by Cicero, an influential Roman statesman. The wreck includes 122 different forms and sizes of plates, bowls, and trays used for various foods like nuts, soup, and fish. Researchers believe the ship was heading from Rhosus to Rome when it sank during a storm in shallow waters around 138 to 180 feet below sea level. This discovery is significant because Rhosus, mentioned in Cicero’s writings as a production center for these ceramics, provides rare evidence of Roman trade routes and cultural influence. Though there's no indication the recovered dishes belonged directly to Cicero, his works influenced America’s Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson.
Written for “Roman Giant Treasures Discovery” on 2026-10-09,
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A 2,100-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Turkey has revealed thousands of luxury dishes of a type once prized by Cicero, the famed Roman statesman whose writings later influenced America's Founding Fathers — with an expert calling the find "quite rare."
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expert → reveal → find
The recovery was recently announced by Turkish officials, the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported Sept. 28.
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Agency → announce → officials
Pictures show divers working among piles of ancient pottery, with ceramic plates and bowls scattered across the sandy seabed.
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divers → show → seabed
The artifacts include 122 different forms and sizes of plates, bowls and trays, including dishes used for nuts, soup and fish.
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artifacts → include → nuts
Researchers believe the ship was traveling from Rhosus to Rome when it struck a shallow area during a storm and sank, according to AA.
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it → believe → AA
The wreck lies about 138 to 180 feet below the surface.
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wreck → lie → surface
The discovery is particularly significant because the ceramics are believed to have originated in Rhosus, a production center mentioned in the writings of Cicero — though there's no evidence that the recovered dishes belonged to Cicero himself.
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dishes → believe → Cicero
Cicero, one of ancient Rome's most celebrated orators and politicians, significantly influenced the U.S.' Founding Fathers, especially Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
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Cicero → influence → Fathers
In a letter to his friend Atticus in 50 B.C., the statesman wrote that he had ordered ceramic vessels from Rhosus for him, according to AA.
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he → write → AA
Taco Terpstra, a professor of classics and history at Northwestern University, told Fox News Digital that the discovery offers an unusual opportunity to connect ancient artifacts with historical writings.
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discovery → tell → writings
"It's unusual that we have so much of this type of ceramic," Terpstra said.
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Terpstra → have → ceramic
He explained that coins found aboard the ship help researchers date the wreck, while the pottery can be traced to a production region in what is now southern Turkey and northern Syria.
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what → explain → region
"This is for a high-end market, which is one reason why Cicero talks about these.
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Cicero → talk → these
"
The combination of archaeological evidence, ancient coins and historical writings makes the discovery especially rare, he said.
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he → make → evidence
Terpstra also described the ceramics as "the equivalent of fine china" today.
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Terpstra → describe → china
"This is not ordinary tableware," he said.
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he → say → ?
"This is not the kind of stuff that ordinary Romans would have on their table."
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Romans → have → table
"This is for a high-end market, which is one reason why Cicero talks about these."
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Cicero → talk → these
Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said the ceramics were remarkably well-preserved because clay had been packed between them before they were placed in wooden crates — a detail that caught Terpstra's attention.
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that → say → attention
The historian suggested the material may have been unfired clay, although he noted that the report did not specify its exact form.
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report → suggest → form
"I imagine they meant unfired soft clay, which, when the ship went down, preserved the ceramics to a very high degree," Terpstra said.
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Terpstra → imagine → degree
Terpstra added that, while Roman shipwrecks in the Mediterranean are "quite common," the convergence of historical evidence makes this find exceptional.
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find → add → evidence
"It's quite rare for all of it … [all] the lines of evidence to come together, like monetary, archeological, literary," Terpstra said.
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Terpstra → come → literary
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