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Archaeologists hollow a 2,800 - year - old tabernacle at a sanctuary in Greece have uncovered several artifacts , including statuette of a andiron , a cleaning lady and a snake , fit in to the Greek Ministry of Culture .

Some of these figurines may have been used as votive offerings , or gift to the graven image , intended for Poseidon , a Greek god of the sea .

An aerial view of an ancient temple with square rooms and stone walls.

An aerial view of the 2,800-year-old temple at a sanctuary in Greece.

The sanctuary , dedicated to Poseidon , is located in the ancient city of Elikis ( also known as Helike ) on the northerly coast of the Peloponnese in Greece . In addition to the artifact , the archaeologists analyzed sediments at the internet site , finding that the sanctuary flooded several sentence around 2,800 years ago , they say in atranslated financial statement . finally , the sanctuary fell into disrepair when Elikis was destroyed in an earthquake and tsunami that occur more than 2,300 years ago .

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The learn artifacts include a bronze figurine that seems to be a dog-iron and a clay statuette of a woman . They also find a snake nous crafted out of bronze , a Lucius DuBignon Clay wing that may have been part of a sphinx or mermaid , and part of a gold necklace .

A bronze figurine, likely of a dog, from the excavation in Greece.

A bronze figurine, likely of a dog, from the excavation in Greece.

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These artifacts may have been used as offering to Poseidon and any other God that may have been worshipped in the synagogue , Anastasia Gadolou , director superior general of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki , who is oversee the dig of the site , recount Live Science in an e-mail .

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A golden piece of a necklace unearthed at the temple.(Image credit: Greek Ministry of Culture)

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While the artifact may have been used as oblation , any deeper understanding of their spiritual purpose — for instance , why a dog - shaped statuette was used — is unsettled . " A exhaustive bailiwick have into retainer all evidence [ derived ] from the archaeological stratus cloud is more than essential , " Gadolou suppose .

A bronze serpent head, likely from a scepter, that archaeologists found at the site.

A bronze serpent head, likely from a scepter, that archaeologists found at the site.(Image credit: Greek Ministry of Culture)

The archeologist have been excavating the sanctuary for nearly 20 age . Its find and affiliation with Poseidon werenotedin aseriesofpaperspublishedbetween2011 and 2022 . Ancient text say that there was a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon at this web site and the discovery at the site endure this recognition , archaeologists noted in the composition .

A clay wing of a mythical form that was once part of an architectural relief, probably the pediment of a temple dating to 560 B.C.

A clay wing of a mythical form that was once part of an architectural relief, probably the pediment of a temple dating to 560 B.C.(Image credit: Greek Ministry of Culture)

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