Fragment of head of terracotta figurine of goddess Aphrodite found in Crimea

A fragment of the head of a goddess, most likely Aphrodite, from the late Hellenistic period was discovered. The find was discovered in a layer above the residential horizon of the second half of the 3rd century AD. The uniqueness is in the very high quality of the work. It was made in a workshop that existed on Artesian at that timeTASS quotes Nikolai Vinokurov.

He suggested that the find could confirm the opinion about the existence of a cult of Aphrodite among the inhabitants of Artesian, who, apparently, was in third place in the host of revered gods after the goddess of fertility Demeter and the mother of the gods Cybele.

Earlier, Vinokurov told TASS that during the current field season, archaeologists and volunteers of the Artesian Archaeological Expedition in Crimea found confirmation of the more ancient origin of the ancient settlement of Artesian. A fragment of a crater was discovered — an ancient vessel for mixing wine with water. This is the earliest ancient find at the Artesian settlement, dating back to the 7th-6th centuries BC. Coins from ancient to medieval were also discovered, corresponding to all stages of the settlement’s life.

About the settlement

The Artesian settlement is located in the Leninsky district of the Republic of Crimea. It is a large fortress with a complex layout of residential areas and defensive structures of different periods. The settlement was one of the advanced outposts in the system of Bosporan fortifications that protected the vital centers of the Bosporan Kingdom from nomads invading Crimea from Perekop.

Archaeologists have discovered many valuable finds in the Artesian area. Among the artifacts of recent years is a marble head, which presumably belongs to a statue of King Pharnaces in the guise of Zeus and dates back to the 1st century BC. Remains of the Temple of Zeus Genarchos were also discovered.