Two busts of figures from the Greco-Roman world were found buried in a wine collection vat of a Roman-Byzantine winepress. One of them had a preserved Greek inscription with the name “Lycurgus.”
A rare archaeological discovery has been uncovered at the entrance to Binyamina: two relatively intact marble statues, approximately 1,700 years old, were discovered in an excavation by the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted in preparation for work to double the coastal road. The statues, of the protomartyr type – that is, statues of the upper body – depict figures from the Greco-Roman world, and one of them has a preserved Greek inscription bearing the name “Lycurgus.”
The statues were not found in their original location, but carefully placed face down in a wine-collection pit of a Roman-Byzantine winepress. According to the excavation directors for the Israel Antiquities Authority, Eliran Oren and Avisag Reiss, the statues appear to have been buried there after the winepress fell into disuse. At this point, it is still unclear why they were hidden there – it is possible that an attempt was made to preserve or hide them.
“During the winepress excavation, we saw something sticking out of the ground,” said Michael Sorotzkin, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority. “There was a feeling that we were about to discover something that shouldn’t be there. Suddenly we saw that it wasn’t pottery but marble. Then, slowly, the two statues were revealed. I still have trouble finding the words. It’s just amazing.”
Who are you, Lycurgus?
According to Dr. Peter Gendelman, an expert on the Caesarea region at the Israel Antiquities Authority, the statues join a well-known group of finds of portraits of historical figures that have been discovered in the past in Caesarea. According to him, the last time a figure of this type was found in the area was in the 90s. The inscription “Lycurgus” may refer to one of two well-known figures from Greek history: Lycurgus, the legendary legislator of Sparta, or Lycurgus of Athens, a statesman and orator from the fourth century BC. However, the identification is still uncertain and the research is only in its early stages.
During the Roman period, statues of this type were placed in public buildings, but also in the homes of the elite. They served not only as decoration, but also as a means of cultural expression: wealthy homeowners sought to demonstrate a connection to the world of enlightenment, philosophy, and Greco-Roman heritage. Since the remains of a bathhouse were previously uncovered nearby, it is possible that the statues adorned a luxurious villa in the Caesarea area.
The statues will now undergo cleaning, conservation, and further research. Among other things, the researchers will try to more accurately identify the figures depicted in them, understand where they were originally placed, and find out why they were moved and buried within the winepress facilities.
The findings will be presented to the public for the first time at the archaeological conference “In the Center VII,” which will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Muza – the Land of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv. The sculptures will then be displayed at the museum during the summer months.
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