Head of ancient statue found just metres under the ground in Athens

A large head of an ancient statue has been found just meters below the ground during some routine infrastructure work being carried out as part of an upgrade of Aeolian Street on Agia Irini Square.

The marble head found just 1.4 metres (four feet) under the pavement on the busy Aiolou street on Friday, "depicts the god in a mature age and is obviously a part of a herm", the statement added.

Herms or Hermas are sculptures, usually of the head of Hermes, and sometimes a torso, which was set on a squared column erected at road crossings as signposts.

According to Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and the messenger of the gods, who also protected travellers and merchants.

Rich with cultural history, Athens is well known for its multitude of ancient archaeological sites from Classical and Roman times.

Of the amazing discovery, Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis said on his Facebook page;

“It is already under the responsibility of the Ephorate of Antiquities. Unique Athens! We are filled with pride and admiration.”

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1,700 year old statue of a female from the Hellenistic period in the ancient Greek city of Perge