19 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Ancient ‘Cancer-Treating’ Magical Amulet Discovered in Türkiye’s Antioch of Pisidia

An intriguing artifact was discovered during excavations in the ancient city of Pisidia Antioch in Isparta province in western Türkiye: “A magical amulet against cancer.”

The ancient Antioch of Pisidia is located only 1 km north of Yalvaç, Isparta İn southern Türkiye. The city was founded by Antioch I in 280 B.C. Among 17 antique cities named ‘Antioch’ in Türkiye, only two of them are remembered well by scholars, one is called ‘Antakya’ (the ancient Antioch in Hatay) and the other is Antioch of Pisidia. Both of them are renowned for their remarkable architecture and have significant roles in the early phases of Christian history.

An intriguing artifact believed to have been used against cancer has been unearthed in the ancient city of Pisidia Antioch. The artifact, described as an amulet featuring a crab motif and inscriptions wishing for healing, is thought to date back to the Hellenistic period.

The most intriguing discovery of 2024 was a gemma, used as a pendant amulet. This amulet is one of the most unique artifacts ever found in the Antioch of Pisidia excavations. It was discovered during excavations on Aedilicus Hill near the site’s church.

A father had commissioned this amulet for his ailing daughter, wearing it as a pendant for healing. One side of the amulet depicts a crab, while the other side features inscriptions meant to cure her ailment.

Magical amulet made against cancer from Antioch of Pisidia excavations, Isparta, Türkiye, Oct. 30, 2024. Photo: Antioch of Pisidia Archive
Magical amulet made against cancer from Antioch of Pisidia excavations, Isparta, Türkiye. Photo: Antioch of Pisidia Archive

Galen, an ancient physician famous for his cancer research, said that the black veins that surround cancerous tumors look like a crab’s legs: “Just as a crab has legs that spread around its body, the veins in this disease are similar in shape. They spread from the abnormal tumor shaped like a crab.” The term “cancer” actually originates from the Greek word “karkinos,” meaning crab, highlighting the visual similarity. 

The Hellenistic era through the fourth century A.D. saw the widespread use of these kinds of talismanic stones. The specimen found in Antioch of Pisidia represents one of the best-preserved examples in Anatolia, showcasing significant imagery and inscriptions. They are thought to have originated in Egypt, Anatolia, and Mesopotamia.

The amulet predates the church at the site, and most likely came to this location in the 10th century A.D. Its significance has endured over time due to its value as a precious stone. For many years, it was likely used by a variety of people due to the belief that it could cure cancer.

Further analysis of the artifact is underway, with researchers believing that the findings will contribute significantly to the field of archeology and deepen our understanding of ancient health practices.

Cover Image Credit: Antioch of Pisidia

Related Articles

New Study Disproves Roman Massacre at Maiden Castle, Revealing Complex Iron Age Conflicts

30 May 2025

30 May 2025

Bournemouth University Archaeologists Challenge 90-Year-Old Roman Conquest Narrative at Maiden Castle with Fresh Forensic and Radiocarbon Analysis A landmark study...

Archaeologists Discovered a New Pyramid Resembling Teotihuacán in Tikal

17 April 2021

17 April 2021

Researchers discovered a new pyramid complex in the Tikal in Guatemala. About 65 km south of El Mirador in the...

Unveiling a Roman Settlement Beyond the Empire: New Discoveries in Delbrück-Bentfeld, Germany

6 April 2025

6 April 2025

Recent archaeological excavations in Delbrück-Bentfeld, located in northwestern Germany, have revealed significant evidence of a Roman settlement that existed beyond...

9 Synagogues in Izmir to Reopen as Museum

26 March 2022

26 March 2022

As part of a Jewish heritage project in Izmir, Turkey, nine historic synagogues will be reopened as museums. Built by...

Found in Spain a poem by Virgil engraved in a Roman amphora

22 June 2023

22 June 2023

Archaeologists have deciphered a verse by Virgil, the greatest poet of Rome’s Golden Age, carved into the clay of a...

Archeological study shows unearthed Byzantine warrior had gold-threaded jaw

30 September 2021

30 September 2021

A Byzantine warrior who was beheaded after the Ottomans captured his fort in the 14th century had a jaw threaded...

Archeologists Unearth Spectator snacks from the Roman Period in Colosseum

28 November 2022

28 November 2022

An excavation of the Colosseum’s sewer systems has uncovered a selection of spectator snacks from the Roman Period. It appears...

Bronze belt of Urartian warrior found in the ancient city Satala

29 May 2022

29 May 2022

During the excavations in the ancient city of Satala, located in the Kelkit district of Gümüşhane province in Turkey, a...

Amateur divers discover ‘enormously valuable’ hoard of Roman coins

27 September 2021

27 September 2021

Two amateur free divers have found one of the largest collections of Roman coins in Europe off the east coast of Spain. Luis Lens...

Scotland’s oldest tartan discovered in Highlands bog

1 April 2023

1 April 2023

According to new research, a piece of fabric discovered in a bog in the Scottish Highlands may be the oldest...

An unexpected discovery in Pompeii: A Roman Tomb Reveals the Existence of an Unknown Imperial Position in Hispania

17 July 2024

17 July 2024

Work to create a functional air chamber to evacuate moisture from the underground spaces of the San Paolino building, the...

In the ancient city of Syedra: a unique mosaic with the 12 labors of Heracles depicted on a single panel found

25 July 2022

25 July 2022

During the excavations in the ancient city of Syedra in the Alanya district of Antalya, approximately 164 square meters of...

Evidence of Rare Romano-Celtic Temple Near Lancaster Castle -may be only the second of its type –

10 March 2023

10 March 2023

A study exercise for students from Lancaster University has uncovered a Romano-Celtic temple, only the second of its type in...

2,000-Year-Old Artifacts Found at Swat’s Butkara Site in Pakistan, Including Coins and Kharosthi Inscriptions

14 February 2025

14 February 2025

Excavations at the Butkara Stupa, located near Mingora in Swat, Pakistan, have uncovered significant findings, including two-thousand-year-old coins, pottery, and...

A New Late Ancient Necropolis Discovered on Hvar Island

10 June 2021

10 June 2021

The protective investigation in the garden of the Radoevi Palace in the town of Hvar on the Croatian island of...