Day: October 13, 2009

Temple of Nemesis Found

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

From Thaindian:

Archaeologists have found traces of a temple built for the Greek goddess of divine retribution, Nemesis, during excavations in the ancient city of Agora in the Aegean port city of Izmir in Turkey.

According to a report in Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review, Akin Ersoy of Dokuz Eylul University’s archaeology department and heading the archaeological excavations in the ancient city, said that there might be a temple built for Nemesis in the area.

“We found traces of such a temple during our excavations in Agora,” he said. “We want to concentrate our work to unearth the temple in the future,” he added.

This year’s archeological excavations have unearthed many important findings that belonged to the Ottoman era, including many pieces of Ottoman ceramics.

“There are several layers to be worked,” said Ersoy. “We will work on the Ottoman era first, followed by the Eastern Roman, Roman and then the earlier ages,” he added.

Ersoy said that it was during the excavation work when they found clues of a temple to Nemesis built in the ancient city.

“We think the temple is situated on the western side,” he said. “It might be under the Hurriyet Anatolian High School building. We hope to unearth it in coming years,” he added.

In Greek mythology, Nemesis was the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris, vengeful fate, personified as a remorseless goddess.

Asterix at 50

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

The incipit of a piece in the Independent

A map of France is cracked by a Roman standard driven into the ground. To one side a magnifying glass focuses on a “Gaulish village” surrounded by four Roman outposts: Aquarium, Totorum, Laudanum and Compendium. Who would have thought – given such adverse circumstances – that one of that village’s most famous denizens, namely, Asterix the Gaul, would live to reach the grand old age of 50?

Alexander Statue from Alexandria?

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ Leave a comment

The Egyptian State Information Service reports:

A statue of Alexander the Great has been discovered in the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria, Governor Adel Labib said on Wednesday 7/10/2009.

Archeologists have suggested the statue was of Alexander the Great and it was uncovered during excavations at el-Shalalat Park in the city, he said.

The discovery was made by a Greek mission working in the city.

The statue is a “unique discovery” as it dates back to the Ptolemaic dynasty, said the head of the Greek mission during a ceremony at Alexandria National Museum.

Such a discovery will lead to the tomb of Alexander the Great, she ascertained.

Alexander the Great is widely credited with spreading civilization as he marched across what was then the known world.

The discovery draws controversy among archeologists, where some say the statue is of Alexander the Great and others believe it is a royal figure that requires further studies, said an aide to the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Hmmm … sounds suspiciously like this previous announcement about a find in the same location… here’s a few more details on that one …

Priapus on Krk?

~ David Meadows ~ rogueclassicist ~ 1 Comment

From something called Croatian Villas:

Tourism on Krk Island, Croatia, could receive a boost after the discovery of a 2,000-year-old statue, reports the Croatian Times.

A figure of Priapos, a fertility god and protector of livestock and nature in ancient Greece, was found by two fishermen off the island’s southern coast.

Ivan Barbalic Gunga and Izidor Cubranic, who found the statue, said: “We do not want to keep it just for ourselves or to earn money from it. We want our little Priapos to become a real tourist attraction on Krk Island.”

Mr Gunga and Mr Cubranic took the 20 cm sculpture to the Croatian Conservation Institute in Zadar where it was cleaned and valued.

The bust, which is in the shape of a lamp, is thought to have been previously used as a symbol of luck for men who were told if they touched it their fertility would improve.

The Croatian Times version of the article includes a photo, but I’m not sure if it’s the item in question.