MARBLE STATUE OF GREEK GOD HERMES UNEARTHED IN ANCIENT ROMAN SEWER IN BULGARIA

Sun 07 July 2024:

Bulgarian archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable treasure during a dig in an ancient Roman sewer: a well-preserved marble statue of the Greek god Hermes.

The 6.8-foot (2-meter) tall statue was discovered at the site of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica in southwestern Bulgaria, near the Greek border.

Bulgarian archaeologists stumbled upon unexpected treasure this week during a dig in an ancient Roman sewer — a well-preserved marble statue depicting the Greek god Hermes https://t.co/SAZCD18M3j pic.twitter.com/uCtjGGeQwl

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 6, 2024

Archaeologists believe the statue was placed in the sewer and covered with soil after an earthquake devastated the city around A.D. 388, which explains its excellent condition. Lyudmil Vagalinski, the lead archaeologist, noted that the statue, a Roman copy of an ancient Greek original, has a well-preserved head and minor fractures on the hands.

Heraclea Sintica, founded by Macedonian King Philip II between 356 B.C. and 339 B.C., was a significant city in the region now known as Pirin Macedonia. Despite the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, the inhabitants of Heraclea Sintica appear to have taken steps to preserve their pagan deities.

“Everything pagan was forbidden, and they have joined the new ideology, but apparently, they took care of their old deities,” Vagalinski explained.

The city experienced a rapid decline after the earthquake and was abandoned by around A.D. 500.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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