Archaeologists uncover mysterious face hidden for centuries in Book of Revelation city

A rare, 2,500-year-old marble statue has emerged from the ruins of Sardis, an ancient city immortalized in the Book of Revelation.The discovery, which dates to the fifth century B.C., was announced by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism earlier in August.Sardis is located in the Salihli district of Manisa, about 45 miles east of the major Turkish city of İzmir.Pictures show excavators carefully uncovering the monumental statue, which still retained well-preserved facial features, at the archaeological site.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH SECRET CHURCH TIED TO COUNCIL OF NICAEA, CHRISTIANITY'S DEFINING MOMENTThe statue depicts a young man and measures around 7.2 feet tall.In a translated social media post, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy described the find as an "extraordinary discovery."A rare 2,500-year-old marble statue depicting a young man was discovered in the ancient city of Sardis, which is mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

(Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images; Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)He noted that the statue was repurposed as paving along a colonnaded street during the Roman period and was positioned face-down, helping protect its features for centuries."The unusual details of its clothing bear traces of Lydian culture," said Ersoy.AUTHOR DINESH D'SOUZA CHALLENGES BIBLE SKEPTICS WITH 'STARTLING' ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES"The statue, which appears to be holding a fruit in its hand, provides important evidence that will contribute to our understanding of life, religious beliefs and cultural interactions in Sardis during the period."In a translated statement, officials described the statue as having "larger-than-life dimensions [that] make it a rare example from the period.""This type of clothing is not seen on comparable statues from Anatolia and Greece.""The young man is depicted wearing a thick himation, a thin chiton, and beneath them a distinctive garment featuring horizontal lin...