Last weekend's brutal winter weather brought with it an unexpected benefit along the coast of Ashkelon. The choppy waves that battered the shore uncovered an archaeological treasure: a white marble Roman statue of a woman clad in a toga and sandals. Journalists and photographers were invited to the site to see the finely-detailed work of art on Tuesday.
Standing 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall, the statue was found in the remains of a cliff that had crumbled under the gale-force winds. Discovered near the ancient port after the tides had returned to normal, an official with the Israel Antiquities Authority said the statue will be displayed in various museums.
Dated to approximately 1,800 to 2,000 years ago – the period in which the Romans occupied western Judea -- the statue weighed 200 kg (440 lb) and had no head or arms.
Fragments of mosaics and bits from a Roman bath house were also recovered at the site. (Israel news photos: Flash 90)
More photos of Ashkelon National Park
