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Sphinx with the face of a woman in Amphipolis

22 October 2014 / 11:10:21  GRReporter
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The marble head of the sphinx placed on the eastern entrance of the tomb is the latest discovery by archaeologists in Amphipolis. They found it in the third chamber of the tomb at a depth of 5.20 m from the top of the dome.

The head is almost intact, only a piece of the nose is broken. It is 0.60 m high and it is facing the entrance of the tomb. The incision in the lower part of the neck where the head was assembled on the body of the sphinx is fully preserved. The hair comprises curly locks with traces of red paint. They fall on the left shoulder, tied with a thin strip. According to archaeologists, the sculpture is a superb work of art. They also found pieces of the wings of the sphinxes.

The fact that the head was found at a great distance from the tomb entrance, where the sphinxes are located, raises additional doubts that it had been the subject of attacks by looters in antiquity.

In parallel, the team made a test opening, 2m x 2m in size, at the entrance of the fourth chamber and at a depth of 0.45 m, finding in front of it two parts of the west wing of the marble door.

The other discovery by archaeologists is the northern part of the marble threshold with the following dimensions: length 2.15 m, width 1.6 m and thickness 0.25 m. It has supporting grooves for the metal rails that facilitated the movement of the marble door wings. The longitudinal section found there indicates that the floor of the room was covered with white limestone coating. Parts of limestone were discovered on the marble threshold too. According to archaeologists, the eastern part of the floor looks demolished, the western is damaged, and limestone pieces have fallen in the section.

In the coming days the team will reinforce the roof support and continue the excavations in the rest of the third chamber, as announced in the message of the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Tags: HistoryTombAmphipolisSphinx headExcavations
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