Roman magistrate’s statue found at Heraklea Sintica in southwest Bulgaria

A Roman statue from the end of the first or beginning of the 2nd century AD depicting a local Roman magistrate has been discovered by the archaeologists excavating the Graeco-Roman city of Heraklea Sintica near Petrich in southwest Bulgaria.

The life-size statue of an Ancient Roman magistrate from around 100 AD has been discovered
beneath the steps of the Roman Forum of Heraklea Sintica, in Bulgaria’s very southwest
[Credit: Archaeology in Bulgaria]

Heraclea Sintica is thought to have been established ca. 300 BC by Kassandros, King of Macedon in 305-297 BC, who also founded Thessaloniki, in Greece. It is possible, however, that Heraklea Sintica was first settled even earlier.

The city was named ‘Heraklea’ after the mythical Greek hero Herakles, more popularly known today as Hercules, and ‘Sintica’ after the Thracian tribe of the Sintians who inhabited the valley of the Struma River at the time.

The statue was found at a depth of 4 metres (appr. 12 feet) beneath the steps of the Roman Forum of Heraklea Sintica.

It is life-size or very slightly larger than life-size, and very well preserved. The only part missing is the head

Next to the left leg of the statue – which depicts a male dressed in a toga – there is a box for papyrus scrolls, a clear indication that the man was a high-ranking magistrate.

It is thought the statue depicts a certain Tiberius Claudius Bachius, a wealthy benefactor of the city of Heraklea Sintica.

Source: Archaeology in Bulgaria [August 19, 2018]

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