Excavations in Crete Reveal Animal Statue and Glimpse into Ancient Greek Life

Archaeologists have unearthed a statue of a suid, an animal from the pig family, during excavations in the ancient Greek city of Gortyna (Greek: Γορτύν) on the island of Crete. The discovery, one of the most striking of the season, offers new clues about Greek artistic traditions and the city’s urban life that bridged the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

The statue was found along the North Road, one of Gortyna’s principal ancient routes. Researchers also continued to uncover sections of its stone paving, preserved in remarkable condition after centuries.

According to the excavation team, the find highlights Gortyna’s Greek cultural identity, which persisted even after the city became the Roman capital of Crete and Cyrenaica.

The project aims to document how this major Cretan city developed around its civic and religious centers. It also plans to create visitor routes within the archaeological park to make the site more accessible and to enhance its cultural value for the public.

Mapping the ancient city

The fieldwork included topographical and mapping studies that documented the site in unprecedented detail. Researchers completed low-altitude orthophotographic mapping of the entire area, producing 35 panchromatic plates that capture the site’s terrain and structures. A drone photograph also recorded the broader layout of the excavation zone.

Study of monuments and mausolea

The mission further advanced research on the Mausolea, a group of large funerary structures discovered in 2011 north of the North Road, within the Praetorium district.

Work during the 2025 campaign focused on cleaning and reorganizing the area to clarify stratigraphic relationships among four monuments built between the Augustan and Middle Imperial periods.

Located within the city walls, these mausolea are visually connected to the stadium,gymnasium complex, an institution rooted in Greek civic and athletic life. Archaeologists say this connection provides new evidence of intramural burials and reflects the long-term evolution of Greek urban traditions at Gortyna.

Educational collaboration and research

The excavation was led by Rita Sassu and conducted by the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, in collaboration with UnitelmaSapienza and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion, under an agreement with the Italian Archaeological School at Athens.

The mission combined field excavation with laboratory study of materials such as amphorae, pottery fragments, sculptures, metal objects, and human remains. It also served as a training program for students, PhD candidates, and researchers from both universities, who gained hands-on experience in Greek and Roman archaeology and cultural heritage management.

A window into ancient Crete’s heritage

Researchers say the 2025 Gortyna mission highlights how Greek art and urban planning continued to shape life in Crete long after Roman rule began. The discovery of the animal statue and the renewed study of the city’s monuments underscore Gortyna’s role as a bridge between Greek tradition and Mediterranean cultural exchange — a legacy still visible in the ruins of this once-flourishing Cretan city.