Beneath the Tuscan soil, a student archaeologist uncovered a 1,700-year-old statue with a twist—its head didn’t belong, and its secrets were only just beginning to surface.

Not only were ancient sculptures multi-colored, they were also scented with perfumes, oils, and flower arrangements.

Archaeologists excavating a private property in Florence, Italy, discovered a 20-inch statue of Hercules missing its head, ...

But, in reality, ancient Greeks and Romans embraced bold colors, which archaeologists call “polychromy.” Brightly hued paints ...