Europe

Alexander-era sculptures unearthed in Greece

Two sculpted female figures discovered by archaeologists in vast ancient tomb

A handout image provided by the Greek Ministry of Culture shows a statue of Caryatid inside at Kasta Tumulus in ancient Amphipolis, Serres region, northern Greece. The continued excavations at the ancient tomb of Amphipolis have uncovered two Caryatids. Archaeologists discovered the two half-bodied female statues. Photograph: EPA
A handout image provided by the Greek Ministry of Culture shows a statue of Caryatid inside at Kasta Tumulus in ancient Amphipolis, Serres region, northern Greece. The continued excavations at the ancient tomb of Amphipolis have uncovered two Caryatids. Archaeologists discovered the two half-bodied female statues. Photograph: EPA
Mon Sept 08 2014 - 09:05

Archaeologists have unearthed two sculpted female figures, known as Caryatids, as they slowly make their way into an ancient tomb recently discovered in Greece’s northeast, the country’s culture ministry has confirmed.

They mark a significant new finding in the tomb on the Amphipolis site, about 100 km (65 miles) from Greece’s second-biggest city Thessaloniki, which archaeologists have hailed as a major discovery from the era of Alexander the Great.

The figures made of Greek marble were unearthed on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement.

The Caryatids, made of marble from the island of Thasos, have long, thick hair covering their shoulders and are wearing a sleeved tunic. Photograph: EPA
The Caryatids, made of marble from the island of Thasos, have long, thick hair covering their shoulders and are wearing a sleeved tunic. Photograph: EPA

The Caryatids, with thick curls covering their shoulders, support an inner entrance into the tomb and feature the same sculpting technique used for the heads and wings of two sphinxes found guarding the main entrance of the tomb in August, according to the statement.

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"The structure of the second entrance with the Caryatids is an important finding, which supports the view that it is a prominent monument of great importance," the Culture Ministry said.

The face of one of the Caryatids is missing, while both figures have one hand outstretched in a symbolic move to push away anyone who would try to violate the tomb.

Archaeologists have said that the Amphipolis site appeared to be the largest ancient tomb to have been discovered in Greece.

Excavations, which began in 2012, have not yet determined who was buried in the tomb but culture ministry officials have said that the monument appeared to belong to a prominent Macedonian from the 300-325 BC era.

Reuters