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 …

• Statue of Alexander the Great found in Alex

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.

• Ancient Greek statue could tempt tourists to Krk Island
• A 2,000-year-old statue of Priapus may promote tourism (Croatian Times)

2010 theme: “Olympians 2.0”

• Medusa Mythology Exam

The incipit of an item in the Antiques Trade Gazette:

SPECIALISTS at Bonhams have just announced that they have identified a magnificent Roman cameo glass vase, which may be the most important of its kind in the world.

Strikingly similar to the Portland Vase, one of the British Museum’s greatest treasures, it is larger, in better condition and with superior decoration, say Bonhams.

Chantelle Rountree, head of antiquities at Bonhams, said: “It is of major international importance. Academically and artistically it is priceless. Scholars will be evaluating this find for decades.”

The vase dates from between late First Century B.C. to early First Century A.D and stands 13in (33.5cm) high. Only 15 other Roman cameo glass vases and plaques are known to exist today.

These very rare vessels were highly artistic, luxury items, produced by the Roman Empire’s most skilled craftsmen. They are formed from two layers of glass – cobalt blue with a layer of white on top – which is cut down after cooling to create the cameo-style decoration.

Items of this kind were produced, it is thought, within a period of only two generations. They would have been owned by distinguished Roman families.

Until now, the most famous example has been the Portland Vase, held by the British Museum. This is smaller, standing at only 9in (24cm) high. It is also missing its base and has been restored three times.

The recently identified vase is also more complex than others of its kind, being decorated with around 30 figures and a battle scene around the lower register. By comparison, the Portland vase has just seven figures.

Bonhams’ experts believe that this magnificent artefact could rewrite the history books on cameo vases. Unlike the Portland Vase, it still has its base and lower register and will therefore add significantly to the archaeological understanding of these vessels.

The vase is thought to have resided in a private European collection for some time. The collector is a long-term client of Bonhams.

I can’t find a photo at Bonham’s or any more details (yet) but the description gives the impression that this is a hitherto unknown piece. Is it?

• Roman treasure – Bonhams unveil rival to British Museum’s Portland Vase

• Grander rival to Portland Vase unveiled (Financial Times)