Archaeologists Find the "Helmet of Athena" in Italy

Scientists have unearthed a well-preserved ancient helmet in the ancient Greek city of Elea, located in modern-day Italy. It is believed that this helmet might have been an offering to the goddess Athena.

This discovery was reported by Heritage Daily.

Elea, founded by the Greeks between 538-535 BCE, is situated along the Tyrrhenian Sea coast in the present-day province of Salerno, Italy. The city was renowned as a center of philosophy and education and was home to prominent figures like Parmenides and Zeno of Elea, who were influential members of the Eleatic school to which they belonged.

Archaeologists have been conducting excavations at the necropolis of Elea, where in 2022, they discovered a sanctuary dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, craftsmanship, and warfare. She was often depicted wearing a helmet and wielding a spear.

This sanctuary was constructed following the Battle of Alalia, a conflict between the Greeks and their allies, the Etruscans and Carthaginians, that occurred between 540 and 535 BCE.

During their excavations in the sanctuary, archaeologists were able to unearth an ancient Greek helmet. This is the third such helmet discovered in Elea. It is believed that these helmets might have been offered to the goddess as tributes following battles or during times of conflict.

Researchers also found remnants of a painted brick wall, possibly an early form of a sanctuary, and polygonal blocks, a distinctive feature of ancient Greek architecture, found in significant locations like Delphi.

Archaeologists have pointed out the discovery of ceramics inscribed with the word "sacred," further emphasizing the significance of this region.

Previously, The Gaze reported that archaeologists had discovered an unknown ancient city in the village of Paleokastro on the Greek island of Crete. It is believed that this city, established around the 6th century BCE, thrived until the 6th century CE. The excavations indicate that this ancient city existed for an extended period. Moreover, the inscriptions found suggest the presence of political institutions during the Roman Empire era.

"We hope that the new findings, such as inscriptions and coins, will allow us to precisely determine the city's name. At present, there are many known cities that thrived in this region in antiquity, but most of them are impossible to definitively identify."