Photo: Roman Statue from Ashkelon

According to the newspaper Ha’aretz, a Roman-era marble statue was discovered in the southern city of Ashkelon. The well-preserved statue is 1.2-meter high, and it was uncovered by the 10-meter waves slamming into a crumbling seafront cliff near Ashkelon.

This white statue of a woman is missing its head and part of a hand. According to archaeologist Yigal Israel of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the statue is dated between 1,600 and 1,800 years ago.

According to Israel, “The woman depicted in the statue is wearing a toga and leaning on a square stone column. Her clothing was chiseled meticulously, her toes are delicate, we see her sandals and her small emphasized bosom. Simply a stunningly beautiful statue.”

CBS News has a video of the statue. However, notice that the video begins with a short commercial for an alcoholic beverage.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary