Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed two well-preserved Roman marble busts dating to the 4th century CE during an excavation ahead of a railway expansion near Binyamina. The statues, discovered face down in an ancient wine vat, are thought to depict prominent Greco-Roman figures, with one bearing the name “Lycurgus.” The Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported the find on June 15, with experts noting the sculptures may represent the founder of Sparta or a 4th-century BC orator. The statues were likely hidden when the winepress went out of use, possibly for protection.
The discovery matters because statues of this quality and preservation are extremely rare, not only in Israel but globally. The busts offer insight into Roman-era elite culture in the region, suggesting the site may have been a wealthy suburban estate or villa associated with the nearby port city of Caesarea. The find also raises questions about why the statues were concealed, and if one indeed depicts the founder of Sparta, it would be an especially significant historical link, as he lived centuries before the sculpture was made.