A team of international archaeologists working in the ancient city of Perge, Turkey, has discovered a remarkably well-preserved 2,200-year-old sanctuary dedicated to a previously unrecorded Hellenistic deity associated with astral navigation. The "Temple of the Star-Navigator" contains stunning blue-glass floor mosaics that depict celestial constellations and ancient maritime routes used by sailors in the Mediterranean.
The temple's unique layout suggests it functioned as both a place of worship and a sophisticated astronomical observatory. Researchers recovered silver-alloy nautical instruments and votive offerings shaped like merchant galleys, underscoring the vital link between religious devotion and maritime trade during the 2nd century BCE. This finding is expected to reshape our understanding of how ancient navigators integrated religious practice with stellar science.