Three beautiful women
There is a small Mosaic Museum in Narlikuyu, a few
metres within the sea. The mosaic remnants of a structure having a great art
value which are dated AD IV centrury, are preserved there. In the mosaic floor
depicting the “kharits”; a mythologic story was told by using natural colourful
stones. From the Poimenos Bathhouse which was restructured in the initial eras
of the Christianity; only those floor mosaics were able to survive today. The frame
of the mosaic floor was enriched with geometrical shapes. In the bathroom
bedecked with the local bird and flower shapes with white, black and golden
coloured stones; the girls of the Heaven are dancing. Some of the people living
there call this bathouse remnant as Cleopatra Bathhouse; just as the remnants
in Tarsus are called as Cleopatra Door; through an anology. Poimenos who was
mentioned on the mosaic inscription was the just and honourable administrator
of Prince Islands in Marmara Sea, which is located in today’s Istanbul and who
had good relations with Roman emperor Archadius and Honurius. The translation
of the inscription is as follows: “O, the guest friend! If you want to know who
re-invented – the Beautiful Bath Water – which was thought to be lost; know
that it is Poimenos who establishes friendship with the Empires, who get on
well with them and who administers the Holy Islands.” The girls depicted in the
mosaics on the floors of Poimenos Bathhouse which has been turned into a museum
in Narlikuyu are called as “Kharits” in Classical Mythology and among the people
they are defined as “Three Beautiful Girls.” They are the most famous among
the thousand daughters of main god Zeus.
Their mother is Eurynome. The Kharits: Aglia, Talia and Euprisina - reflect
brightness, beauty, attractiveness, pleasantness and cheer. These three young
maidens which we frequently meet in art works in the paintings, mosaics or
sculptures – are always depicted together. Fairy Maidens, “Kharits…” Here is
their home. They live in the mosaics, in Narlikuyu, in one of the most
important quays of the world, which you all know.
A chorus of three maidens chant:
We are three daughters of Zeus, the three beuatiful
girls. We are the inspiration fairies of the art.
Then they call one by one:
I am Agliye… I am the glitter and brightness of the art.
I am Talya… I am the
creator of cheer and laughter.
I am Oprosina… I am the inspiration of the art, the
cheer of the heart; the beauty and enthusiasm in the soul.