A new find amidst the ruins of the historic city of Philippi: a rare head of Apollo, carved in marble and crowned by a wreath of leaves, has been unearthed. dated to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD, it was likely part of a giant, grand, ancient fountain, and has been found in exquisite condition.
Archaeologists working at the site suspect the statue was repurposed as an adornment and built into the fountain several centuries later, around the 8th or 9th centuries. Clearly the statue was too beautiful and important to go to waste.
Onwards From Last Year’s Dig
Professor Natalia Poulos, specializing in Byzantine Archaeology, led the excavation, comprising fifteen students from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (including 11 undergraduates, 2 master’s, and 2 PhD candidates), Assistant Docent Anastasios Tantsis, and Professor Emeritus Aristotle Mendzo, according to a press release.
The exquisite detail on the face of Apollo at Philippi (Greek Reporter / Ministry of Culture)
“The moment of the discovery was thrilling,” Anastasios Tantsis, an associate professor of Byzantine Art and Archaeology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a member of the excavation team, told All That’s Interesting in an email. “[The students] were really enthusiastic. We believe that even though these are moments of special importance for us too, sharing them with our students adds to the thrill.”
This year’s excavation focused on the eastern extension of the southern main road (decumanus),…
