2,400-year-old grave of possible ancient pro wrestler discovered in Turkey

2,400-year-old grave of possible ancient pro wrestler discovered in Turkey

two photos of a grave being excavated by three people in high-viz vests
A recently excavated grave in Aspendos, Turkey, reveals a human skeleton and silver coins depicting wrestlers. The left image shows the entire tomb, while the right image shows a zoomed-in look at the grave goods.
(Image credit: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey)

Archaeologists excavating near the ancient town of Aspendos in Turkey have discovered the grave of a person who may have been a pro athlete over two millennia ago.

“Coins with depictions of wrestlers and other artifacts found in the tomb indicate that the person buried here may have been involved in sports, perhaps even a wrestler,” Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkey’s minister of culture and tourism, said in a translated statement Monday (Aug. 10).

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