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Archaeologists unveil marble female statues inside huge ancient tomb in northern Greece
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In this photo released on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 by the Greek Culture Ministry, excavation staff work between two approximately life-sized female statues on a wall leading to a yet unexplored inner room of a huge underground ancient tomb, in Amphipolis, northern Greece. The tomb dates between 325 B.C. — two years before the death of ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander the Great — and 300 B.C. Archaeologists have also discovered two large marble sphinxes on the facade of the barrel-vaulted tomb, which was originally topped by a marble lion on a high plinth. It is not yet known who the tomb was built for, although Alexander himself was buried in Egypt. (AP Photo/Culture Ministry) (The Associated Press)
A Culture Ministry statement says the statues show "exceptional artistic quality." Their upper sections were discovered last week, but their bodies — in semi-transparent robes — emerged after part of a blocking wall was removed Thursday.
The excavation, on a hillock near ancient Amphipolis, 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of Athens, has gripped Greece for a month, since Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visited it and pre-empted archaeologists by releasing details on the findings.
A media frenzy ensued amid speculation that the tomb may contain buried riches and the remains of an eminent figure.
Less than half the tomb has been explored so far.
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| Fox News | - |
This
photo released on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 by the Greek Culture
Ministry shows two approximately life-sized female statues on a wall
leading to a yet unexplored inner room of a huge underground ancient
tomb, in Amphipolis, northern Greece. The ...
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