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Wooden statue unearthed during work to extend Attiko Metro's line 3

Wooden statue unearthed during work to extend Attiko Metro's line 3

A wooden statue depicting a standing clothed male form was unearthed during work to extend line 3 on Athens 'Attiko Metro', in the section from Haidari to Piraeus, it was announced on Tuesday.

The statue was found at a depth of 14.17 metres from the surface, as an archaeological dig to explore ancient wells discovered during construction of 'Dimotiko Theatro' station in Piraeus was nearing completion. The statue was found resting against the north wall of the well, with its rear side looking up and the upper section facing west. It was in a layer of grey mud that also contained many pieces of stone, within the water table. In the same level were pieces of pottery and parts of clay vessels dated to the end of the Hellenistic era (100-86 B.C.), in addition to other domestic refuse like roof tiles, metallic objects and small pieces of wood.

At roughly the same level as the wooden statue, archaeologists also found a fragment of a marble statue showing a female form sitting on the back of a deer, possibly of the goddess Artemis.

The wooden statue is missing its head, as well as the upper and lower limbs. The maximum height of the surviving sections is 0.47 m and the maximum width is 0.21m. It is standing and the legs are shown moving in opposite directions, as if taking a slight step, with the right bent forward and the back leg extended behind. It wears a short robe and has the elbows bent at the waist, with the arms extended forward.

It was transferred immediately to the Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities conservation laboratory, in accordance with all rules for the safe transfer of antiquities.