Six perfectly preserved statues dating from the third century have been discovered during an archaeological dig on the site of an ancient Roman villa in Anagnina in the south-east of Rome. Described as a "miracle find", archaeologists believe that the busts and heads represent the emperor Settimus Severus, his wife Julia Domnus, their sons Geta and Caracalla, one may be Eliogabalo, while the most spectacular find was a life-sized statue of Zeus.

The work of the archaeologists, which has the backing of Rome's archaeological superintendent, is being funded with about