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Rains unearth ancient bull figurine in Greece

March 20, 2021

The idol was a rare find for archaeologists visiting a site that inspired the modern Olympic Games. It was likely an offering to Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods.

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An ancient bronze bull figurine that was found in ancient Olympia.
The bull is one of four principal symbols associated with Zeus, along with a thunderbolt, and eagle and an oak treeImage: str/picture alliance

A 3,000-year-old bronze bull idol was uncovered in Olympia, Greece, due to heavy rainfall. The Greek culture ministry said it was a "chance discovery."

The small bronze idol was found in a sacred enclosure near the temple of Zeus and Atli, as "one of its horns was poking out of the ground following recent heavy rainfall," the ministry said.

After rains had swept away parts of the ground in a sprawling ancient site that inspired the modern Olympic games, an archaeologist saw the figure sticking out of the mud. 

The little idol was cleaned and stored after its discovery, the culture ministry said. 

This undated photo provided by the Greek Culture Ministry on Friday, March 19, 2021 shows an ancient bronze bull figurine that was found in ancient Olympia.
Zeus was said to have transformed himself into a white bull to attract, kidnap and seduce Europa, the princess after whom the continent of Europe was namedImage: str/picture alliance

The bull has been dated to the geometric era between 1050-700 BCE, according to preliminary evaluation. 

It was likely part of thousands of votive offerings to the leading ancient Greek deity, Zeus, burn marks on the statuette suggest. People in ancient Greece often brought small statues to the temple as offerings.

The bull was one of the principle symbols associated with the king on the Mount Olympus, along with a thunderbolt, an eagle, and an oak tree. 

jm/msh (AFP, dpa)