Archaeologists have discovered the lost 1,800-year-old head of an ancient Greek god

In the Middle Ages it was converted into a fountain

Archaeologists from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki announced that they had discovered a well-preserved head of the ancient Greek god Apollo in the Greek city of Philippi.

< img src="https://static.mk.ru/upload/entities/2024/04/17/13/articles/detailPicture/b5/0c/f2/64/df6042073f167437b5104a490e9e5f8c.jpg" class="article__picture-image" alt ="In the Middle Ages it was converted into a fountain" /> Photo: ru.wikipedia.org

The head, found by 15 archaeology students, is believed to date back to the 2nd or 3rd century AD. According to scientists, the ancient marble head was remade in the Middle Ages and served as a decoration for the fountain in the main square in Philippi.

Let us explain: Apollo was the Olympian god of prophecies and oracles, music, songs and poetry, archery, healing , combating plague and disease, and protecting youth. He was depicted as a handsome beardless youth with long hair and such attributes as a wreath and laurel branch, a bow and quiver with arrows, a raven and a lyre.

“The opening moment was exciting,— said archaeologist Anastasios Tantzis in an interview with All That's Interesting. — The students were full of enthusiasm. We believe that while these moments are especially meaningful to us, sharing them with our students adds to the thrill of the experience.”

The excavation that led to the discovery by the team led Professor Natalia Poulos head, started by the university in the 1960s.

Unlike some Greek gods, Apollo did not have lasting symbolic significance in Christian Philippi. However, the continued presence of classical and Roman era statues in public places, including the head of Apollo, indicates both the city's appreciation of art and cultural continuity.

Located east of the city's southern main road, the head was found on a gradually revealing square with elaborately decorated buildings.

A bronze coin dating from the reign of Emperor Leo VI (886-912) was found next to the head. A year before this discovery, researchers discovered a nearby statue of the mythical hero Hercules.

«It is still very early to determine the meaning of both figures in a medieval urban context,— noted archaeologists in interviews, referring to both Apollo and Hercules. — It is safe to assume that they were viewed primarily as works of ancient art, indicating historical and cultural continuity.»

According to Smithsonian Magazine, the Philippines was founded in 356 BC. Its founder, King Philip II, was the father of Alexander the Great. Many associate the city with the founding of Christianity due to the unique artifacts that survive within it.

The city was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 620 AD before being forced to abandon the city by the Ottomans in the 14th century. Along with Apollo, sculptures of Hercules were also found at this site.