Archaeologists working at the Roman city of Deultum in Bulgaria have identified and begun reconstructing a large marble sculpture showing the mythological rescue of Andromeda by Perseus, a discovery pieced together from fragments unearthed over the past 40 years.
The sculpture depicts one of the best-known stories from Greek mythology. According to the legend, Perseus saves Andromeda from the sea monster Ketos by using the head of Medusa, whose gaze turned living creatures to stone.
Although the scene appears frequently in ancient paintings and mosaics, surviving sculptural groups are rare. Complex freestanding monuments were often broken apart, reused or destroyed, leaving only scattered fragments behind.
In Deultum, those fragments surfaced gradually. Twenty-one pieces have been recovered since 1986, but it was not until 2024 that researchers realised they belonged to the same monument. Bringing the sculpture back together has proved particularly challenging because it originally consisted of several figures arranged in a single composition.
The monument is thought to have stood between 2.2 and 2.5 metres high. Its remains were found in a layer associated with the destruction of the city following a major catastrophe.
The importance of the sculpture to ancient Deultum is reflected in the city’s coinage. Images of the group first appeared on coins struck during the reign of Emperor Macrinus, who ruled from AD 217 to 218. The design remained in use for decades afterwards, suggesting that the monument had become one of the city’s best-known landmarks.
Researchers believe the sculpture once stood in a public setting where it would have been seen by residents and visitors alike.
The work is carved from Proconnesian marble and displays a high level of craftsmanship. Details like hair, drapery and veins under the skin are still visible in its damaged condition.
The fragments have also preserved evidence of colour. There are traces of paint still on parts of the marble, and further laboratory studies are expected to reveal more about the pigments used and the sculpture’s original appearance.
For Deultum, the subject may have carried special significance. The city was connected to the Black Sea through Lake Mandren, and scenes associated with the sea were a familiar part of local life.
The sculpture is currently being studied in two research projects: From Deultum to DigiDeultum: Upgrading the Historical Narrative and Stone Sculpture from Roman Deultum and Its Territory. The work is being carried out by several Bulgarian institutions as part of a larger project to publish and document the surviving stone sculpture from the ancient city and its surrounding area.
