2,000-year-old statue of Athena wearing Medusa armour unearthed in ancient city

Archaeologists recover the headless statue of Athena in Laodicea, found in a theatre at the ancient complex (Picture: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı/Cover Media)

A 2,000-year-old white marble statue of the goddess Athena has been uncovered during excavation work in the ancient city of Laodicea in Turkey.

The sculpture was found lying face down in rubble in a theatre and although the head and arms are yet to be recovered, archaeologists said the surviving structure is notable for both its size and craftsmanship.