A stone head, believed to represent a bearded male deity, was discovered in the archaeological area of the Tombe di Via Latina in Rome, dating back to around the 2nd century CE. The head, larger than life, was found by a team of archaeologists conducting excavations at the Christian basilica of Santo Stefano, built in the 5th century, where it was hidden in the underground structures of the so-called Paleochristian Basilica.
Long wavy locks were the first detail that broke through the layers of earth and stones. Gradually, the profile of the sculpted marble began to suggest the shape of a head. “The whiteness of those artfully arranged hairs was still tangible, despite the crusted deposits from millennia of burial,” noted the team, according to Il Messaggero.
The stone head began a journey to the city of Matera, where the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR) will oversee its study and restoration. The restoration work will be carried out by experts from the ICR in collaboration with students from the Scuola di Alta Formazione per il Restauro, focusing on detailed documentation, technical analyses, and diagnostic studies. “The work is now entrusted to the Central Institute for Restoration,” said Simone Quilici, director of the Parco Archeologico dell'Appia Antica, as reported by Il Messaggero.
The features of the stone head—a carefully sculpted beard and a solemn expression—suggest it could be a Roman deity, possibly Jupiter, Apollo, Serapis, or even a philosopher. Researchers suppose that the head may have been reused as building material during the construction phases of the basilica, as it was found embedded in the foundations, indicating its reuse in medieval times.
The presence of several layers of mortar on the head hinders its identification, but with each layer removed, researchers are getting closer to confirming the identity of the character represented. The careful removal of the mortar might reveal inscriptions or symbolic marks that are currently obscured, aiding in its identification.
The stone head is considered a valuable link to Rome's past, and its unexpected discovery added to the surprise of the archaeological work. The finding could provide valuable insights into the cultural dynamics of Late Antique Rome (4th–6th centuries CE), a transitional period between the pagan world and Christianity. The basilica represents, in this corner of the archaeological park, a testimony of the transition from the ancient pagan world to the Christian era.
Researchers seek to answer questions such as whether the stone head was part of a monumental statue or whether it was venerated before being buried in the basilica. The goal of the study is not only to restore the stone head's legibility but also to clarify the historical context in which the statue was made. According to the researchers, each case of statue reuse must be studied independently. The reuse of sculptures in Christian buildings was not uncommon in Late Antique Rome, but each instance offers unique insights into historical practices.
The Via Latina, one of the main roads of Rome, runs almost parallel to the Appian Way and is lined with tombs mainly constructed in the 2nd century, reflecting the funerary monuments from the time of the Caesars. The tombs lining the Via Latina are distributed along a short stretch of the Roman road.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system