In 1928, the bustling city of Cádiz in southern Spain witnessed a remarkable archaeological discovery that added to those already made in previous years. During the foundation work for the Telefónica building, five meters deep, a small bronze and gold figure emerged, soon to be known as the Priest of Cádiz, an extraordinary object now […]
Sculpture
Posted inArchaeology
A huge marble head of a monumental statue from the Ptolemaic period, found in a medieval house at Taposiris Magna
A remarkable archaeological discovery has been made at Taposiris Magna, a historic site located 45 kilometers west of Alexandria, Egypt. A French archaeological mission led by Dr. Joachim Le Bomin, in collaboration with the University of Lyon and the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology (IFAO), uncovered a massive marble head belonging to a monumental statue […]
Posted inArt, Stone Age Archaeology
The Enigma of the Absence of Figurative Representations in the Neolithic of Northern Europe: Where Are the Figurines?
For centuries, the Neolithic has been associated with a rich artistic heritage, particularly in regions like Southeast Europe, where clay figurines have been abundant and representative. However, a new study published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal reveals a stark contrast with northern Europe, where these visual expressions are practically nonexistent. The research, conducted by an […]
Posted inArchaeology, Art
Analysis of Fingerprints on Figurines Recovered in Heracleion Reveals Women and Children also Made them
An archaeological study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology by Leonie Hoff analyzes the fingerprints impressed on terracotta figurines found in the ancient city of Thonis-Heracleion in Egypt (located near Alexandria, with its ruins discovered 2.5 kilometers offshore and 10 meters underwater). This analysis, which combines advanced technology with traditional archaeological methods, reveals who […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Art
The Sanctuary of the Nympholyptos on Mount Hymettus, a cave filled with reliefs and inscriptions created by a sculptor possessed by the nymphs in the 5th century BCE
In the heart of the Attica region in Greece, nestled among the majestic hills of Mount Hymettus, lies an enigmatic place that has witnessed the passage of time and the devotion of ancient peoples. The Cave of the Nympholyptos is an archaeological site of exceptional historical and cultural importance. Surrounded by myths and sculptures carved […]
Posted inAncient Egypt, Art
The Two Statues of Himself Commissioned by Khasekhemwy Are the First of a Pharaoh and the Oldest to Represent a Historical Figure
Pharaoh Khasekhemwy ruled ancient Egypt during the 2nd Dynasty, in the 27th century BCE, between 2727 and 2700 BCE. He unified Upper and Lower Egypt after a period of turmoil and established his capital in Hierakonpolis, in the southern region of the country. Khasekhemwy was the first Egyptian pharaoh known to have commissioned statues of […]
Posted inModern Era
The Mystery of the Miniature Coffins Found in 1836 on an Extinct Volcano in Scotland
Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano towering over Edinburgh’s landscape at just 250 meters above sea level, is renowned not only for its geology and stunning views but also for a discovery as curious as it is enigmatic: a series of small coffins with miniature figures that, nearly 200 years after their fortuitous discovery, remain shrouded […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology
A lovely bronze figurine found in the Negev desert reminded its Middle Ages owner of its Roman origins
In the ruins of Shivta, an ancient and small Byzantine village located in the arid Negev Desert, researchers discovered a unique bronze figurine depicting a seated child. This seemingly ordinary find tells a fascinating story spanning centuries and reveals the cultural exchange between the Roman and Byzantine periods. Shivta, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site […]
Posted inArt, Classical Archaeology
A Roman Statuette from the 2nd Century Found in Braga Reveals a Case of Crouzon Syndrome in Antiquity
In a discovery that intertwines archaeology, art history, and medicine, a 2nd-century AD bronze figurine unearthed in Bracara Augusta, now Braga in northern Portugal, may provide evidence of a rare genetic condition known as Crouzon syndrome. The figurine, recovered during archaeological excavations on Mount Cividade, exhibits intriguing facial features, including exophthalmos (protruding eyes), exotropia (eye […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
A heroon with intact tombs filled with luxurious jewels and lions sculpted in Pentelic marble, found in the ancient Greek city of Ripes in Achaea
At the beginning of October, the systematic archaeological excavation season concluded on the Trapezá plateau, located eight kilometers southwest of Aigio, Greece. This site is identified with the ancient city of Ripes, a prosperous city in the Achaea region during the early historical period, known for its role in founding the colony of Croton in […]
