New fragments of antiquities discovered under Athens

A few days after the discovery of an impressive ancient Greek statue during work to expand the natural gas network in Athens, near the Acropolis, new findings came to light from ongoing excavations at the same site, as announced by the Ministry of Culture on December 11.

According to the announcement, the new findings include statue fragments, possibly connected to the recently discovered statue, the bust of another life-size male statue found lying on its side, as well as figurines and a large number of lamps dating to the 5th century BC.

Νέα δημοσκόπηση: Οι Βρετανοί επιθυμούν τον επαναπατρισμό των Ελγινείων Μαρμάρων

All the finds have been transferred to the conservation laboratories of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens for restoration and preservation.

«The research will exhaust every possibility to identify new findings", stated the Ministry of Culture, emphasizing that special attention is required from the scientific team to complete the restoration work as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Culture announced on December 9 the discovery of an impressively preserved male statue at the same spot, at the intersection of Erechtheion and Kallisperi streets, near the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, below the Acropolis.

The statue, which depicts a naked man in the form of the god Hermes in the style of Hermes Ludovisi, was found inside a rectangular brick structure and was in fairly good condition.

This area, south of the Acropolis, was known during the roman imperial period (1st-5th centuries aD) for its luxurious residences and villas. these Buildings were often decorated with mosaic floors and statues, many of which were the work of famous neo-Attic workshops.

The Ephorate of Antiquities has already recorded and insured the statue, which was transferred to conservation laboratories for further care.

The Hermes Ludovisi is an excellent example of the precision and artistic craftsmanship of hellenistic marble sculpture. The statue depicts the god Hermes as the guide of souls To The underworld, according to mythology.

Statues of this type were created mainly between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, as Roman reproductions of older Greek bronze originals from the 5th century BC. Their style was greatly influenced by Phidias and his workshop.

The original form of the Hermes Ludovisi, depicting a young, hairless Hermes with a pensive expression, is currently housed in the Palazzo Altebs in Italy, as part of the collection of Cardinal Ludovisi.