The latest ancient Greek archaeological find to cause a stir is a Hellenistic marble workshop, discovered during a dig on Paros, part of the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea.
You might not know Paros, but the island was renowned in antiquity for supplying much of the marble used to create Greece’s famed temples, monuments, and statues. The island’s quarries were particularly sought after due to the marble’s pure white color, semi-translucence, and fine grain. It even had a name, Parian marble, and it was used in the creation of masterpieces like the Venus de Milo.
Paros wasn’t just rich in natural resources. It was also a hub for artistry and culture. At a dig on the site of Floga, Parikia, archaeologists found a large number of unfinished marble statues—evidence of the organized production of artwork in an ancient sculpture workshop, as reported by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
The Cyclades Archaeological Society Sofia, directed by Detoratou, oversaw the dig. The first contemporary excavations were conducted there in the mid-1980s, with more recent digs in 2008 and 2013.
The archaeological site of the ancient Greek sculpture workshop found in Paros. Photo: courtesy of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
The evidence suggests settlement as early as the late 5th century B.C.E., with fragments of eating and drinking vessels. But the residential nature of the settlement seems to have adapted to include the production of sculpture, around the end of the 3rd century B.C.E.
Archaeologists found many unfinished marble sculptures, mainly of Aphrodite, as well as clay heads of female figures, and other molds and seals. There was also a thick layer of marble fragments and dust, suggesting the byproduct of carving.
Head of a female figurine with elaborate hairstyle and earrings excavated on the island of Paros. Photo: courtesy of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
These findings suggest Paros didn’t just supply the raw materials for ancient Greek art—the island was also helping shape the aesthetics for which Greek civilization would be known for millennia.
The latest excavation also found a room with a pebbled floor and a mural. This was likely a gathering space for men in the home known as an andron.
