Current:Home > Contact-usArcheologists discover a well-preserved Roman statue in an ancient sewer in Bulgaria-InfoLens
Archeologists discover a well-preserved Roman statue in an ancient sewer in Bulgaria
View Date:2024-12-23 17:01:58
Archeologists have discovered a well-preserved statue in an ancient sewer in Bulgaria, and it is believed to date back to the 2nd century A.D. The team, lead by Dr. Lyudmil Vagalinski, says the statue likely depicts the ancient Greek god Hermes and is the first of its kind found in Bulgaria.
The statue was discovered during the team's third day of excavations in Heraclea Sintica, an ancient city on the slope of the volcanic hill Kozhuh near Petrich, according to a post on the group's Facebook page.
Vagalinski and the Petrich Historical Museum have been leading excavations of this area since 2007 and found the urban city was modern for its time and built with great elegance, according to the official tourism site for the area.
The newly discovered statue stands taller than 6'5'', Vagalinski said in a social media post. The archaeologists say the statue matches others that depict Hermes, but very few similar statues are preserved in the world and many are missing their heads.
During the Roman Empire, Christianity became the official religion and pagan symbols like these deities were banned. The archeologists believe people buried statues like this one, which is a Roman copy of a Greek statue, to preserve them, according to Reuters.
Vagalinski said on social media the town's former inhabitants may have put the statue in dirt after an earthquake hit the area.
The team posted several images from different intervals of their dig. They believe the statue was carved from an entire marble block by a master sculptor. A plan was in place to lift the ancient artifact with a crane and transport it to the Petrich Museum and display it after it is restored.
CBS News has reached out to Vagalinski for more information.
Caitlin O'KaneCaitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.
veryGood! (8391)
Related
- NFL Week 10 injury report: Live updates on active, inactive players for Sunday's games
- Going local: A new streaming service peeks into news in 2024 election swing states
- No. 1 Swiatek shakes off tough test, Naomi Osaka wins impressively in her return to the US Open
- Prosecutors seek death penalty for 3 Americans implicated in alleged coup attempt in Congo
- Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
- Chipotle may have violated workers’ unionization rights, US labor board says
- California police recover 'abandoned' 10-foot python from vehicle after police chase
- An injured and angry water buffalo is on the loose in Iowa
- Karol G addresses backlash to '+57' lyric: 'I still have a lot to learn'
- Nationals' Dylan Crews makes MLB debut on LSU teammate Paul Skenes' heels
Ranking
- A $1 billion proposal is the latest plan to refurbish and save the iconic Houston Astrodome
- Bachelorette Jenn Tran Slams One of Her Suitors for His “Blatant Disrespect” to the Other Men
- Wisconsin judge rules governor properly used partial veto powers on literacy bill
- CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys reach four-year, $136 million contract to end standoff
- 13 escaped monkeys still on the loose in South Carolina after 30 were recaptured
- 'I was trying to survive': Yale Fertility Center patients say signs of neglect were there all along
- RHOC's Vicki Gunvalson Details Memory Loss From Deadly Health Scare That Nearly Killed Her
- Planned Parenthood challenges Missouri law that kicked area clinics off of Medicaid
Recommendation
-
Get Your Home Holiday-Ready & Decluttered With These Storage Solutions Starting at $14
-
Cornel West survives Democratic challenge in Wisconsin, will remain on state’s presidential ballot
-
Joe Jonas Denies He's Going After Ex Sophie Turner in Post-Divorce Album
-
Video shows Grand Canyon park visitors seek refuge in cave after flash flood erupts
-
California teen pleads guilty in Florida to making hundreds of ‘swatting’ calls across the US
-
Edwin Moses documentary to debut Sept. 21 at his alma mater, Morehouse College
-
Kentucky dispute headed to court over access to database that tracks handling of abuse cases
-
Noel and Liam Gallagher announce Oasis tour after spat, 15-year hiatus