Israel Unveils 1,800-Year-Old Stone Sarcophagus
Israel on Thursday displayed a 1,800-year-old sarcophagus that construction workers had discovered at the site of a civil engineering project to the media.
According to the Associated Press news agency, officials from Israel’s Antiquities Authority described this sarcophagus as “one of the most important and beautiful historical objects ever found in Israel.”
This stone sarcophagus weighs approximately 2 tons and features a high-relief sculpture in life-size depicting a human figure wearing a draped garment on its surface.
Various other images and designs are also carved into its side walls, including the face of “Medusa,” one of the legendary figures from ancient Greek mythology.
In the report, the Associated Press quoted an archaeologist named Gabi Mazor, stating that the sarcophagus dates back to the third century AD and likely belonged to a wealthy Roman family.
According to Yuli Schwartz, spokesman for Israel’s Antiquities and Antiques Authority, the ancient sarcophagus was damaged in parts when it was discovered and extracted by construction workers.
The workers initially intended to hide the sarcophagus, and according to Schwartz, legal measures will be taken in this regard.
