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Headline: Remarkable 'once-in-a-lifetime' pair of Roman statues discovered in Israel
Caption: BY MARK WORGAN Two remarkably well-preserved Roman marble statues dating back around 1,700 years have been discovered in Israel. The figures, described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” find by archaeologists, were discovered near Binyamina during excavations carried out ahead of the construction of Israel's planned high-speed coastal railway. The statues, depicting figures from the Greco-Roman world, are thought to have once adorned the home of a wealthy resident of nearby Caesarea. The discovery will be presented to the public for the first time at the seventh annual "Center VII – The Domestic House" archaeological conference on 18 June at MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. The statues will remain on display there throughout the summer. The marble sculptures, known as protomes because they depict a human head and upper torso, were found buried inside a wine-collection pit connected to a Roman-Byzantine winepress. One of the statues bears a Greek inscription preserving the name "Lycurgus". According to archaeologists, the circumstances of the statues' burial remain a mystery. "The statues date back to the Roman period, and interestingly, they were not discovered in situ where they once stood,” said Eliran Oren and Avishag Reiss, excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Mysteriously, they were found neatly laid, face down, inside a wine-collection pit of a Roman-Byzantine period winepress; meaning they were buried when it went out of use. At present, it is not known why the statues were hidden here – perhaps to preserve them." Michael Sorotskin, an archaeologist with the IAA, described the moment the discovery was made. "While digging the winepress, something was sticking out of the ground, and the workers called me," he added. "There was a feeling that we were about to discover something that really shouldn't be there. Suddenly we saw that this was not the usual pottery – it was marble! Then, slowly, slowly, the two statues were revealed. I'm still struggling to find the right words. It is simply wondrous." The excavation directors said the find came as a complete surprise. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery," added Mr Oren and Ms Reiss. "It was very unexpected, but somehow, the really big discoveries always turn up on the excavation's very last day." Dr Peter Gendelman, a Caesarea specialist at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said the statues add to a growing collection of Roman-era portrait sculptures found in the region. "These statues now join a series of historical figure portraits previously discovered in Caesarea. The last time such a figure was discovered here was in the 1990s. One protome bears a Greek inscription preserving the name of Lycurgus. Two significant people with this name are known from Greek history – Lycurgus of Sparta, its founder; and Lycurgus of Athens, a famed 4th century BCE statesman and orator. Possibly this statue may prove to be of one of these two historical figures, but our research is just beginning." He said statues of this type were commonly displayed in both public buildings and the homes of wealthy individuals during the Roman period. "During the Roman period, statues of this type were displayed both in public buildings and in the homes of the elite, who sought to connect themselves to the cultural and spiritual world of antiquity. Not far from the discovery site, remains of a bathhouse were previously uncovered, and it is possible that the statues decorated a luxurious villa of a Caesarea resident." Following their initial exhibition, the statues will undergo cleaning, conservation and further study in an effort to determine exactly whom they depict and where they originally stood. Gil Omer, Director General of MUZA – Eretz Israel Museum, said the institution was proud to host the first public display of the artefacts. "It is not every day that 1,700-year-old marble statues are uncovered in such an impressive state of preservation,” he continued. “We are proud to be the place where the public will be able to encounter this extraordinary discovery for the first time, and to continue seeing it after the conference as well. Presenting the statues in MUZA's Ceramics Pavilion is a rare opportunity to introduce visitors to an exceptional archaeological find shortly after its discovery, and to connect them with a fascinating story." Yelena Elgart-Sharon, curator of the museum's Ceramics Pavilion, said the exhibition would allow visitors to witness archaeological research as it unfolds. Israel's Heritage Minister, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, praised the discovery, saying: "This revelation is the kind of discovery that demonstrates to the public the power of archaeology – one moment we are working on a modern infrastructure project, and the next moment a window opens into the lives and cultural world of those who lived right here many hundreds of years ago.” The statues will make their public debut at the annual archaeological conference on 18 June 2026, whose theme this year is the domestic house, before remaining on display at the museum during the summer.
Keywords: feature,photo,roman statures,classics,archaeology,israel
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