(Photo: REUTERS / Spasiyana Sergieva)
In a remarkable archaeological discovery, a marble statue of the Greek god Hermes has been unearthed in an ancient Roman sewer in the Bulgarian village of Rupite. Standing nearly seven feet tall, the statue was found in an impressive state of preservation during excavation work at the former city of Heraclea Sintica.
Historical Context
Heraclea Sintica, founded by Philip II of Macedon between 356 BCE and 339 BCE, was a thriving city near the Greek border until an earthquake destroyed it in 388 CE. Following this calamity, the city experienced a rapid decline and was ultimately abandoned by 500 CE. The unearthing of the Hermes statue sheds new light on the city's history and the cultural transitions that occurred during its decline.
Significance of Hermes
Hermes was one of the most important gods in the Ancient Greek pantheon, a messenger of the gods who exercised its representations mainly in the Hellenistic and Roman world. The fact that the statue was placed in the sewer has raised various questions among experts. Whether the statue was buried for preservation or as a reaction against paganism, the statue's discovery leaves many questions about the religion in that period, particularly as the Christians began to flourish.
Lyudmil Vagalinski, a Bulgarian archaeologist heading a team from the National Archaeological Museum in the country, gave specific details about the statue's state and implications. 'Its head is preserved,' Vagalinski told CNN. Although the statue is a Roman copy of the Greek original in 'very good condition,' the arms were fractured.
Religious Sentiments
Vagalinski suggested that the deliberate burial of the statue might reflect the complex religious sentiments of the era. "Everything pagan was forbidden, and they have joined the new ideology, but apparently they took care of their old deities," he said. This statement highlights the possibility that while the populace was transitioning to Christianity, there remained respect and care for their ancestral gods, even if it meant hiding them.
Also Read: Sulawesi Cave Paintings Revealed As World's Oldest Figurative Art at 57,000 Years
Thus, the statue's find is of historical importance and symbolic meaning as relics of the cultural and religious transformations that were going on during the late Roman Empire. During this period, Christianity was on the rise, and therefore, many of these pagan activities were either given up or integration was accompanied by suppression. The careful burial of the Hermes statue could indicate a transitional phase where old beliefs were still respected despite the new Christian ideology taking precedence.
Future Research
A closer look at the statue and its environment will help establish more facts that could shed some light on the view of society during that time. That such a large and valuable piece was concealed rather than demolished implies another modality of responses to transforming religious practices. It portrays a society in a maturing process, having a conflict of new ideas, and at the same time, experience has to cling to traditions and history.
As excavation and research continue, the Hermes statue is believed to provide a deeper understanding of the daily life of the inhabitants of Heraclea Sintica after further excavation and research processes. More specifically, this artifact symbolizes the eternal inspiration of the ancient world and its gods, so at least people will always have a fragment of the existence of gods like Hermes.
The discovery of the Hermes statue in such an unusual location offers a unique glimpse into the ancient world and its evolving spiritual landscape. With further exploration and research, this statue can become a more significant source of understanding the people's lives and beliefs of those who once inhabited Heraclea Sintica. The subsequent piecing together and analysis of the statue promises to play an enormous role in furthering our understanding of this compelling epoch and the integration and antagonism of the elders' and the new world's beliefs.
Related Article: Cambodia Celebrates the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Repatriation of 14 Ancient Statues Looted During Past Turmoil
