World News | Italian Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Dolphin Statue

ROME, April 15 (AP) – A terracotta bull’s head and figurines of the Greek god Cupid riding a dolphin have been unearthed during excavations in southern Italy, providing insight into the ancient city’s religious life and rituals, culture ministry officials said Saturday. new perspective.

These are the first artifacts to be found from the sanctuaries of the ancient Greek city of Paestum, which dates back to the 5th century BC and is famous for its three colossal Doris Famous for its Pillar temples, it is near the archaeological site of Pompeii, but further down the Amalfi River to the coast.

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The small temple was first discovered along the ancient city walls in 2019, but excavations have been stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy’s culture ministry said in a statement.

Several small terracotta figurines were unearthed during the first few months of restoration work, the ministry said. Archaeologists have discovered seven bull heads around a temple altar, placed on the ground as if in consecration.

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A dolphin statue found among the first artifacts appeared to be from the Avili family of potters whose presence had never been recorded in Paestum, the statement said.

Limited excavation work at the temple began in the 1950s, and the department believes more treasures can be found in the area.

Around 275 BC, the ancient Romans took control of the city and renamed it Paestum from the Greek word “Poseidonia”, formerly known as Magna Graecia. (Associated Press)

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