A statue depicting Hercules from Roman mythology has been discovered during pipe repairs on a famous street in Rome, Italy.
The head of the Hercules statue unearthed in Rome, Italy. (Photo: Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica).
The marble statue, life-sized, was discovered during repairs to collapsed water pipes causing erosion on the Appian Way, a famous ancient road, as reported by The Guardian on January 27.
The statue dates back to the Roman Empire (from 27 BC to 476 AD). Based on its depiction of a figure holding a club and wearing a lion skin, archaeologists have identified the statue as Hercules, a demigod from ancient Rome.
The Hercules statue unearthed in Rome, Italy. (Photo: Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica).
Although the statue was partially damaged during excavation, it has been well-preserved.
This marks the second time the Appian Way has made headlines recently. On January 11, Italy’s Ministry of Culture officially supported the nomination of the Appian Way for UNESCO World Heritage status.
This road played a crucial role in trade and military activities during Roman history. The Roman poet Statius referred to the Appian Way as “the queen of long roads.”
This is the first time the Ministry has directly supported a nomination for UNESCO heritage status. If approved, the Appian Way, which is 550 km long and connects Rome to the city of Brindisi in southern Italy, will become the second longest World Heritage site, after the Great Wall of China.
Previously, in November 2022, dozens of bronze statues dating back 2,300 years, older than the Hercules statue, were discovered in baths in Tuscany, Italy.
