20-Year Mystery Solved: Marble Portrait in Crimea Identified as Laodice, the Woman Who Secured Her City’s Freedom

SEVASTOPOL, CRIMEA – A decades-old archaeological mystery has finally been solved: a striking marble head discovered in 2003 at the ancient Greek city of Chersonesus Taurica has been conclusively identified as Laodice, a prominent woman whose political influence helped the Black Sea city gain free status under Roman rule.

A Sculpture With a Story

The marble portrait was unearthed in the fill of a Roman house near Chersonesus’ theater and agora. Unlike most ancient sculptures that are found without context, this piece was discovered alongside coins, pottery, and a ceramic altar depicting Artemis and Apollo, allowing researchers to date it with rare precision.

The head once belonged to a nearly two-meter-tall statue and shows signs of careful maintenance, including ancient repair work. Its Parian marble, sourced from Greece’s elite lychnites quarries, signals the prestige of both Laodice and Chersonesus.

Science Meets History

Researchers applied cutting-edge methods to unravel the artifact’s origin:

• Radiocarbon dating placed its deposition between AD 60 and 240.
• Isotopic and XRF analysis traced the marble to Paros, famed for its luminous white stone.
• Pigment studies revealed traces of red paint and meticulous restoration during antiquity.
• Toolmark examination identified 11 different carving tools, confirming elite craftsmanship.

A Woman Who Shaped a City’s Fate

Laodice’s identity came to light thanks to an inscription on a statue pedestal honoring her contributions to the city. She was the daughter of Heroxenos and wife of Titus Flavius Parthenocles, a wealthy citizen granted Roman citizenship under Vespasian.

Historians believe she played a pivotal role in securing eleutheria (free city status) for Chersonesus during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius in the 140s AD—a political triumph that safeguarded the city’s autonomy while strengthening its ties to Rome.

Her recognition with a public statue illustrates how elite women influenced diplomacy and governance even on the empire’s periphery.

More Than Art: A Political Portrait

Laodice’s portrait bridges Greek artistry, Roman power, and Black Sea civic identity. The combination of Roman realism and Greek idealism in her depiction—marked by subtle wrinkles, dignified features, and a refined hairstyle popularized by imperial women like Faustina the Elder—reflects her exceptional status.

“This discovery shows how interdisciplinary research can restore lost voices of antiquity,” the study’s authors note. “Laodice was not merely a spectator of history but an active participant shaping her city’s destiny.”

Today, the marble head stands as both a masterpiece of ancient sculpture and a testament to female political influence in the Roman provinces.

Klenina, E., Biernacki, A.B., Claveria, M. Zambrzycki, P. “An interdisciplinary study of an unknown Roman matron’s sculpture portrait from Chersonesos Taurica”. npj Herit. Sci. 13, 400 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s40494-025-01975-6

Cover Image Credit: The marble head at the stratigraphic level during the moment of uncovering, the view from the southeast (Photograph by A. B. Biernacki). Klenina et al., npj Heritage Sci., 13, 400 (2025).