A rare, 2,500-year-old marble statue has emerged from the ruins of Sardis, an ancient city immortalized in the Book of Revelation. The discovery, which dates to the fifth century B.C., was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism earlier in August.

Significance of the Discovery

The statue depicts a young man and measures around 7.2 feet tall. It was repurposed as paving along a colonnaded street during the Roman period and was positioned face-down, helping protect its features for centuries. The unusual details of its clothing bear traces of Lydian culture, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

The statue, which appears to be holding a fruit in its hand, provides important evidence that will contribute to our understanding of life, religious beliefs, and cultural interactions in Sardis during the period. Sardis was once the capital of the ancient Lydian Kingdom before later becoming an important center of the Persian Empire, the period to which the statue dates.

The city is named as one of the seven churches in Asia Minor addressed by Jesus Christ in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 3:1–6 begins, ‘To the angel of the church in Sardis write…’

Conservation and Display

Ancient marble statues were often painted, and researchers plan to examine the Sardis statue for any surviving traces of pigment. The artifact is covered in a thick layer of hardened deposits, which conservators will remove with care while protecting any remaining paint. Specialists will also examine the surrounding soil for traces of color.

Once conservation and restoration are complete, the statue will be displayed at the Manisa Museum in western Turkey. The discovery is the latest in a series of archaeological finds from ancient cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.