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Archeologists Discover Impressive Statue of Young Hercules in Greece, Reveal Size Is Larger Than Usual

Archeologists uncover a huge statue of the legendary Hercules at the ancient site of Philippi in Greece.
PUBLISHED NOV 22, 2024
Head of Hercules (Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Gabriel Constant Vaucher (1768-1814))
Head of Hercules (Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Gabriel Constant Vaucher (1768-1814))

Archeologists will never get enough of Roman epics and their larger-than-life characters. Hence, the discovery of the legendary Hercules statue at the ancient site of Philippi in northern Greece caused quite a stir amongst experts worldwide, Greek Reporter reported. The statue was not the only item spotted at the site by the team, they also found a heavily decorated building and a fountain.

Head detail of stone sculpture of Hercules - stock photo (Image Source: Getty Images/Photo by KenWiedemann)
Head detail of stone sculpture of Hercules (Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by KenWiedemann)

Hercules was portrayed in epics as a bold, strong, and courageous character, Smithsonian Magazine reported. As an infant, his stepmother Hera sent two snakes into his crib to kill him. The reptiles proved to be no competition for the baby, and he handily defeated them.

As an adult, he killed his wife Megara, and their children, in a fit of madness. To repent for his mistakes, Hercules put himself through a series of difficult tasks known as the '12 labors of Hercules.' The mythical figure's life journey depicted him as a character who got over his demons and became the 'champion of the weak' in the process.

Experts from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki excavated at the site and found the statue. The artwork was in pieces and depicted the Greco-Roman mythological figure with a 'youthful body,' as per the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports. According to archeologists the statue in the past stood holding a club, a wreath, and a lion skin. All of these items reportedly have a historical association with Hercules.

Though multiple statues of Hercules have been found throughout Greece, this statue drew a lot of eyes because of its larger-than-usual size, Greek Reporter reported. The statue focuses on capturing Hercules' physical beauty and accentuates his wavy hair and chiseled features.



 

The statue was found by experts at a location where two streets of the ancient city had intersected and as a result, widened into a square, Smithsonian Magazine reported. The statue was reportedly built in the second century C.E., as per authorities. They also added that the building alongside it dates back to the late Byzantine period of the eighth or ninth century C.E.

Even before this finding Philippi has been considered a site of great archeological importance by experts, Smithsonian Magazine reported. Thasian colonists settled in the area around 360 B.C.E., and some years later  Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, named the city after himself in a bid to gain ownership of its gold mines. Excavations continue on the UNESCO World Heritage site to this date, so that experts can find more information about the area.

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