JERUSALEM (JTA) — A nearly 1,800-year-old Roman statue of a woman was discovered near Ashkelon after it was uncovered by a severe storm.
The weekend storm caused a cliff near a seaside archeological dig to crumble, exposing the nearly 4-foot-high statue, as well as the remains of a large building believed to be part of a Roman bathhouse.
The statue, which is missing its head and a hand, is thought to have stood inside the bathhouse. The white marble statue is wearing a toga and sandals, and may have been imported from Italy or Greece, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Archeological sites all along the Mediterranean coast were damaged by the storm.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
