Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica near Petrich have uncovered a new fragment that may belong to a larger marble statue, with early indications suggesting it could represent the goddess Artemis. The discovery was made during ongoing excavations led by Professor Ludmil Vagalinski from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as reported by Archaeologia Bulgarica and BGNES.
The newly found structure consists of the steps of a marble figure placed on a base, located in front of the ancient temple of Heracles. Despite its position, researchers say it is unlikely to be connected to the Greek hero. Initial assessments instead point toward a female deity, with Artemis considered the leading hypothesis.
Professor Vagalinski described the moment of discovery with enthusiasm, saying, “Heraclea has erupted again!” while documenting the excavation process on site. The expression reflects the repeated pattern of significant finds emerging from the location.
One of the key arguments supporting the Artemis hypothesis is the presence of footwear details resembling those typically associated with depictions of the goddess, particularly hunter-style sandals. Researchers also note that Artemis had a strong cult presence in the Middle Struma region during antiquity, which strengthens the possibility of such an attribution.
