The base of Sulla’s trophy stands among fallen pieces of the monument’s upper section. The 86 BC Battle of Orchomenos was fought close to the site of the March of 1311 Battle of the Copaic Plain, in which a Catalan mercenary army destroyed the might of Frankish Athens.

A farmer plowing his fields near the central Greek town of Orchomenos has stumbled across the marble trophy set up by a victorious Roman general following the defeat of a rebel army over 2,000 years ago, the Ministry of Culture announced yesterday.

A careful excavation turned up a large number of pieces from the monument set up on the 86 BC battlefield by Lucius Cornelius Sulla to celebrate his second victory in quick succession over Archelaos, a general of King Mithridates of Asia Minor. The fragments are in good condition, and experts believe the entire trophy — which originally stood up to 4 meters high — can be restored in situ.

The monument is a rendition in stone of the rough trophy set up by victorious ancient generals on the field of battle — which consisted of tree trunks festooned with the armor of their vanquished foes. This stood on a stone base decorated with relief sculpture. An inscription on the base includes the names of Sulla and Mithridates.

The find site is between Orchomenos and Pirgos.