Ancient Figurine unearthed

By JTA

article created on: 2009-02-01T00:00:00

JERUSALEM (JTA)—An 1,800-year-old figurine was discovered during an excavation in Jerusalem’s City of David.

The marble bust depicts a bearded man’s head and was probably a boxer; boxing was among the most popular fields of heavy athletics in Roman culture. The figurine likely dates back to the time of the emperor Hadrian or shortly thereafter, circa the second or third centuries, according to archeologists on site.

According to researchers, two holes that were drilled in its nape and which contained the remains of metal indicate that this is a suspended weight that was used with hanging scales that are characteristic of the Roman period.

A merchant carrying the figure was likely staying in the public building that is being excavated now when it collapsed.