Sewer Workers Uncover An Ancient Artifact That Rewrites History
It's a job few people dream of doing: sewer cleaning. Trudging around in stomach-high waste through a dark, cavernous and creepy network of tunnels isn't exactly a day in paradise. In mid-November 2020, a sewage system in Athens, Greece — which for years has been plagued with a filthy infrastructure — was finally set to get a thorough cleaning from city workers. The heavy machinery was rolled out, and workers began the massive undertaking. However soon the project would come to a grinding halt, when one man spotted an undecipherable object lodged in the dirt. Things were about to take a turn for the bizarre.
A Hard Day's Work
This was a job that required the men to get down on their hands and knees to dig out sewage that was caked on inches thick from years of neglect. Once the outer pipes were clean, then began the journey into the belly of the underground tunnels. Though it was a dirty job, the workers also felt some sense of adventure.
Peek-A-Boo!
In European sewers, there's always the chance to stumble upon some lost relic. Imagine you were a sewer worker making your way through the underground abyss when suddenly your flashlight landed upon this menacing stare! Well, if you were a worker who lived in first-century Rome, it probably would have.
The "Mouth Of Truth"
This massive stone face is known as the Bocca della Verità, which translates to "Mouth of Truth." This old drain pipe is now a popular place for tourists to snap pictures when visiting the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
Stephen Halliday Chimes In
In historian Stephen Halliday's book An Underground Guide to Sewers, or: Down, Through, & Out in Paris, London, New York &c, he explained the massive Mouth of Truth was used “to give access to the sewers beneath the temple of Hercules.”
