Excavations in Greece have unearthed a statue of Hercules believed to date back to the 2nd century. This Roman-era statue was used as an ornament in the Eastern Roman Empire.
In Greek mythology , Heracles (Hercules) , a divine hero and son of Zeus and Alcmene, daughter of Mycenae , is in the news today with a major discovery. The Greek Ministry of Sport and Culture announced the completion of excavations in the city of Philippi, revealing a 2,000-year-old statue of Heracles.
According to the details shared, the statue was unearthed during excavations on the east side of one of the main streets of the ancient city, from a richly decorated structure located at the junction of two streets. The structure housed not only decorations but also a statue of Hercules .
The Hercules statue that has been unearthed:
The statue is said to depict a young Hercules, and it was also shared that it is larger than life size. The statue was found in a damaged condition. Scientists stated that the original statue was designed to hold various objects . The Hercules statue was depicted holding items such as a wreath, a lion’s skin, and a staff.
Along with the Hercules statue, a club believed to have been held by the statue and a lion hanging from its left hand were also discovered at the same location. While the structure where the statue was found is estimated to date from the 8th or 9th century , the statue itself is from the 2nd century. Excavations will continue in the same area next year.