A stunning head of a larger ancient statue of the Greek goddess Tyche was unearthed recently in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Archaeologists made this spectacular discovery in Plovdiv when they managed to unearth the marble head of the goddess Tyche inside the Bishop’s Basilica of the city.
This stunning artifact was discovered by a team led by Bulgarian archaeologist Lyubomir Merdzhanov. This discovery is indeed a huge step forward in comprehending the secrets of the ancient city of Philippopolis, as Plovdiv was known in Greek antiquity.
The wonderfully made head dates from the late 1st to mid-3rd centuries AD. It is adorned with a remarkable corona murali, which is a crown displaying city walls with turrets. According to archaeologists, this symbolises the Greek goddess Tyche holding the city of Philippopolis upon her head.
The beautiful discovery is a great way for us to outstand the mastery of Hellenistic craftsmanship. The statue head features heart-shaped irises and is definitely a product of high-quality marble work.
The head of Greek goddess Tyche was found near the basilica’s pulpit and most likely belonged to a 2.5-meter-tall statue, according to estimates based on the size of the head.
Its presence implies that there is a link to an older, unknown sanctuary beneath the current Christian basilica structure. It has to be noted that it was not uncommon for early Christian communities to build churches on top of older pagan temples.
The head could have been recycled as building material or strategically positioned for symbolic purposes where it was found.
The discovery has understandably prompted enthusiasm amongst the archaeological community, with Merdzhanov calling it a “phenomenal find,” according to the Bulgarian News Agency.
The artifact is expected to be displayed in the Plovdiv Museum of Archaeology when it has been analysed and restored by archaeologists.
The excavation team is now hoping to get permission to lift the basilica’s mosaics in order to investigate the underground sanctuary and possibly find the statue’s remaining pieces in an attempt to recreate this ancient wonder.
Who was Greek goddess Tyche
Tyche was the ancient Greek goddess of fortune or chance, whether good or evil. She have been one of the twelve Olympians, but her abilities were so far-reaching that far exceeded those of the Olympians.
The ancient Greeks believed in supernatural reasons for practically all events, which they attributed to the goddess Tyche.
The Romans, heavily influenced by the Greeks, believed in her, too, and renamed her Fortuna.
The English term fortune is derived from Fortuna, linking it directly to the ancient Greek goddess Tyche.
Tyche was not the only one who determined someone’s life events. According to Greek mythology, Tyche worked in direct opposition to the goddess Nemesis.
They were thought to be in an ongoing divine war, trying to be the dominant figure in the fate of mortals. Tyche, like the Fates, possessed more power than Zeus himself and the other gods combined.
This is why she was behind every major event in the tumultuous lives of the gods as frequently as she did with the lives of mortals.
