Vita gazette – A “magnificent, pristine” marble head was found during work in Rome’s historic centre. The newly found head of “elegant workmanship” will likely belong to a female divinity, perhaps Aphrodite.

The city’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri shared details of the incredible find, along with a photo, on Twitter. “#Roma continues to return precious evidence of its past: a splendid intact marble head was found during the works in Piazza Augusto Imperatore supervised by @Sovrintendenza,” he wrote, referring to the organisation that manages, maintains and enhances the capital’s historical and archaeological heritage.

Capitoline superintendent Claudio Parisi Presicce explained the newly found head of “elegant workmanship” is likely to belong to a female divinity, perhaps Aphrodite.

“It shows a refined hairstyle of hair gathered at the back thanks to a ‘taenia’, a ribbon knotted on the top of the head,” he said in a statement.

The head, carved in Greek marble, was found intact in the foundation of a late antique wall on the eastern side of the piazza that is currently being worked on.

Sculpted in Greek marble and probably datable to the Augustan age, the head from the works for the redevelopment of the Mausoleum of Augustus and Piazza Augusto Imperatore is intact and of refined workmanship.Twitter/@Sovrintendenza

“Reused as a building material, it lay face down, protected by a clay bank on which the foundation of the wall rests,” Mr Parisi Presicce continued.