An Unknown Goddess

http://www.lizhi.fm/1372603/2502673971319985670

           Some time ago, an interesting discovery was made by archaeologist 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 even 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 the 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. Its 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. L.G. Alexander - Developing Skills (page 16)

Seorang Dewi yang Tak Dikenal

            Beberapa waktu yang lalu, sesuatu yang menarik ditemukan oleh arkeolog di Pulau Aegean, Kea. Sekelompok tim Amerika menyelidiki sebuah kuil yang berdiri di sebuah kota kuno di Tanjung Ayia Irini. Kota tersebut satu ketika pasti pernah berjaya, karena kota itu menikmati peradaban tingkat tinggi. Rumah-rumah yang kebanyakan mempunyai tiga lantai, dibuat dari batu. Rumah-rumah itu mempunyai ruangan-ruangan yang luas dengan dinding-dinding berdekorasi indah. Kota itu bahkan dilengkapi dengan sebuah sistem penyerapan air, karena banyak pipa-pipa tanah liat besar ditemukan dibawah gang sempit.

            Kuil yang ditemukan arkeolog digunakan sebagai sebuah tempat peribadahan sejak abad kelima sebelum masehi sampai jaman Romawi. Di ruangan paling suci kuil tersebut, pecahan-pecahan tanah liat lima patung ditemukan. Masing-masing mewakili seorang dewi dan telah, satu ketika, dilukis. Bagian tubuh salah satu patung tersebut, ditemukan diantara sisa-sisa peninggalan dari abad kelima sebelum masehi. Bagian kepalanya yang hilang kemungkinan berada diantara sisa-sisa abad kelima sebelum masehi. Kepala tersebut pasti telah ditemukan saat jaman Klasikal dan diawetkan dengan hati-hati. Benda itu sangat tua dan bahkan berharga. Ketika para arkeolog mereka-ulang pecahan-pecahan itu, mereka dibuat takjub menemukan bahwa dewi tersebut ternyata terlihat seperti seorang wanita modern. Dia berdiri setinggi 3 kaki dan tangannya berada di pinggulnya. Dia memakai rok panjang yang menyapu lantai. Meskipun terlihat berumur, dia sangat anggun, tetapi, sejauh ini, para arkeolog belum bisa menemukan identitasnya.