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Nick Engeloff, a professor at California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt, spoke to Fox News Digital about recent excavations in North Macedonia.
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Archaeologists have made several “exciting” discoveries at an abandoned temple to an ancient Greek god, local authorities say.
The Cyprus Department of Antiquities posted on Facebook on April 28 about the latest excavations. According to the group, this sanctuary of Apollo at Phrangissa was first discovered in the 19th century and then lost.
Apollo, the god of archery and son of Zeus, was worshiped in both ancient Greece and ancient Rome. He was considered one of the 12 Olympian gods in Greek mythology and was said to have lived on Mount Olympus with his father Zeus and sister Artemis.
German archaeologist Max Ohnefalsch-Richter discovered the sanctuary in 1885, and the Department of Antiquities described it as “one of the most remarkable finds of its time.”
“[It was] a sumptuously decorated rural sanctuary of Apollo,” the account, translated from Greek into English, says. “It was richly decorated with a lavish number of votive statues, numbering in the hundreds, some of colossal size.”
Enormous statues and inscriptions dating back 2,700 years have recently been discovered at an ancient sanctuary in Cyprus. (Cyprus Department of Antiquities)
However, the 19th century excavations were carried out in a hurry – and Ohnefalsch-Richter filled the sanctuary with earth to preserve it. It was soon forgotten.
“Because the excavator completely covered the shrine, including the bases of the statues and the walls, its location was eventually lost,” the Facebook post said.
German archaeologists resumed searching for the site in 2021. It was eventually discovered, and the final excavations at the site were recently completed.
This year, archaeologists have found many statues of enormous size, as well as votive statues that were discovered in the area of the fill in 1885.
The site of the sanctuary was discovered in 1885, after which it was again filled in and forgotten. (Cyprus Department of Antiquities)
“During the excavations, the walls of the courtyard of remembrance and more than 100 statue bases, some of which were of colossal size, were uncovered over large areas,” the department reported.
“[The votive statues] were apparently hastily overlooked as artefacts in 1885,” the report said. “They add significantly to our knowledge of this sacred site.”
Archaeologists have also recently found “completely new types of statues” that were previously unknown. They plan to restore them to their original appearance.
“For example, the discovery of apparently larger-than-life feet indicates that the existence of colossal male limestone figures from archaic times can now be confirmed,” the press release said.
“This kind of huge terracotta figures were previously known only here in Phrygissa, including the famous “Colossus of Tamassos” on display at the Cyprus Museum.”
The press release stated: “In addition, evidence was found for other previously unknown types of votive objects, such as marble glass beads or Egyptian faience [tin-glazed ceramic] amulets.”
Archaeologists have found several statue heads on the site of the former sanctuary of Apollo. (Cyprus Department of Antiquities)
The statues also contained inscriptions in various languages, which provide historians with information about their age – they may be around 2,700 years old.
“Opening of two bases with over
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