AN OLYMPIAN’S BURIAL
Taranto
Museo Archeologico nazionale di Taranto MArTA - Via Cavour 10
The spoils of the body preserved in the National Archeology Museum are those of a millennial hero. He was about 5’6”, had an average build, blue eyes and dark hair: the description may well be that of a normal modern day young man, only the one found during construction work in 1959 has been buried in 500 B.C.
The skeleton, lying in his sarcophagus, was holding an alàbastron, a little jar for ointments used by athletes in ancient times.
Given his prestigious burial, the athlete must have surely stood out in numerous competitions, or maybe even won an Olympic game.
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