At first glance, the narrow trench – just over a meter wide – gave little indication of the treasure it concealed. But on Friday afternoon, at the corner of Erechtheiou and Kallisperi Streets, archaeologists supervising the installation of a natural gas network uncovered an extraordinary find: a remarkably well-preserved white marble statue of a nude male figure in the style of the Hermes Ludovisi. The statue was discovered within a structure of rectangular bricks as if waiting through the ages to resurface and remind modern Athenians of the rich heritage lying beneath their feet.

According to Elena Kountouri, head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, the find dates from the Roman era, possibly the heyday of this once-vibrant Athenian district in Late Antiquity, and there are strong indications that this is just the beginning – other statues and sculptures are likely to follow.

Kountouri noted that the statue might have been part of a larger ensemble, potentially connected to one of the significant architectural complexes in the area, such as the House of Proclus. However, she also emphasized that the statue was not found in its original location. “It’s clear these artifacts were moved and carefully stored during antiquity, likely in Late Antiquity,” she said.

For now, certainty remains elusive. “We’re still at the very start,” Kountouri said. “It’s premature to draw firm conclusions. Our priority is to continue the excavation meticulously, to collect every fragment – no matter how small – that could prove crucial to documenting what we’re uncovering.”

The Location

The location of the find, just a short distance from the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and even closer to the remains of the renowned House of Proclus – a late Roman villa from the 5th century CE – immediately mobilized archaeologists from the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens. Senior members of the team quickly recalled a similar chance discovery in the area nearly seven decades ago, in 1955.

At that time, excavation work for the then-new Dionysiou Areopagitou Street revealed the ruins of a grand Late Antiquity building at the intersection with Parthenonos Street. This structure featured seven niches and intricately crafted mosaic floors. It was soon identified as the luxurious residence of Proclus, a villa that, from at least the early 5th century CE, served as the most significant center for Neoplatonic philosophy in Athens.

Detailed research was only conducted on the northern part of the villa; the rest is hidden beneath modern buildings, in whose courtyards fragments of mosaic flooring and other traces of the structure have been discovered.

A Glimpse into Imperial Athens

It is now clear that, contrary to earlier assumptions, the area south of the Acropolis was home to some of Athens’ most impressive urban villas during the Roman Imperial period (1st–5th centuries CE). “Thanks to the significant architectural remains and numerous findings, it is evident that Athens during the 4th and 5th centuries CE was not merely ‘the city of philosophers and beekeepers’ (Synesius, Epistles 136), but something far greater,” wrote the late Petros Themelis (1936–2023) in Archaeological Themes in 2018. His insights point to a flourishing Athenian district in Late Antiquity, a theory supported by discoveries at the “Makrygianni plot,” now displayed in the foundations of the Acropolis Museum.

The public works project that initiated the excavation has been paused, but archaeologists face a tight schedule due to safety concerns and the need to reopen the road to traffic. In the meantime, the Ministry of Culture has already arranged for the statue’s safe transfer to conservation laboratories, ensuring it receives the necessary care and preservation.

This discovery deepens our understanding of Athens’ architectural splendor during the Roman era and serves as a powerful reminder of the city’s rich and layered history, waiting to be uncovered beneath its modern streets.

This article was previously published in Greek at kathimerini.gr