1700-Yr-Old Marble Statue of Hercules Depicting His Heroism Found in Italy with Severed Head Stuns Archaeologists
Multiple Roman figures are larger-than-life personalities that have had a hold on human civilization for centuries. People have captured these figures in writings as well as beautiful art. Experts continue to discover brilliant reimaginings of these figures worldwide, stated Greek City Times. Recently, archaeologists unearthed an ancient artifact depicting one of the most legendary characters to have graced Roman culture in Italy.
The character in focus was Hercules, who was supposedly so outstanding that after his death, he was taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus, just so that he could spend his afterlife amongst the gods, stated Perseus. Archaeologists unearthed a statue depicting the fabled figure in Montaione, stated Greek City Times. Excavations at the site have been going on since 2012. The exploration was conducted by representatives from the Valdelsa Fiorentina Cultural Association, the University of Florence’s SAGAS Department, and students from a summer school program. Over the years experts have found many precious items from the site. Some of the previous findings include valuable ceramic items, a thermal bath annex constructed from marble, and vivid mosaics. The multitude of findings helps researchers understand the life of ancient civilizations who inhabited the region.
The statue was small, measuring around 1.64 feet (50 centimeters) in height. The statue was made of marble with examinations claiming it is 1,700 years old. In total three fragments of the statue were spotted at the site. The available parts show Hercules wielding a club and wearing a lion's skin. Both of these facets are typical symbols that grace the heroic personality. Another eye-catching aspect of the artifact was the presence of a bull’s head at Hercules' feet. This was unique, because typically this reflection of Hercules’ seventh labor, the capture of the Cretan bull is not incorporated in the mythological figure's reimaginings. Researchers could not locate the statue's head in the area.
The artifact was spotted by Alexander Cooper-Bohler, an archaeology major from Cornell, stated Popular Mechanics. "Thankfully, I noticed the strange shape of the statue’s abdomen before my pick could cleave it in half," Cooper-Bohler said. "I spent the rest of the day carefully removing the dirt from around the statue with dental tools. It is the first statue found in over a decade of excavations at the site and made the weeks of digging in the hot Tuscan summer worth it!"
The presence of the bull's head made the statue one of its kind. "It’s a discovery that excites us and reminds us how archaeology constantly surprises us with new objects and insights," said Antonella Ranaldi, Superintendent of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Florence, stated Greek City Times. "The statuette is nearly complete, made of three fitting pieces, and the bull at Hercules’ feet is an unusual and fascinating detail."
Experts were ecstatic to observe the exquisite craftsmanship employed in the statue. Authorities have named the discovery "Hercules of Valdelsa," and it is currently in the process of preservation. After all the steps are complete, the plan is to put it on display temporarily at the University of Florence and then permanently at the Civic Museum of Montaione.