How did the archaeologists know that the statue was a goddess?
Some time ago, and interesting discovery was made by archaeologists on the Aegean
island of Kea. An American team explored a temple which stands in an ancient city
on the promontory of Ayia Irini. The city at one time must have been prosperous,
for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. Houses -- often three storeys
high -- were built of stone. They had large rooms with beautifully decorated walls.
The city was equipped with a drainage system, for a great many clay pipes were
found beneath the narrow streets.
The temple which the archaeologists explored was used as a place of worship from
the fifteenth century B.C. until Roman times. In the most sacred room of temple,
clay fragments of fifteen statues were found. Each of these represented a goddess
and had, at one time, been painted. The body of one statue was found among remains
dating from the fifteenth century B.C. It's missing head happened to be among remains
of the fifth century B.C. This head must have been found in Classical times and carefully preserved.
It was very old and precious even then. When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments,
they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman. She
stood three feet high and her hands rested on her hips. She was wearing a full-length skirt
which swept the ground. Despite her great age, she was very graceful indeed, but, so far,
the archaeologists have been unable to discover her identity.