2,000-year-old Greek statue discovered in trash bag

2,000-year-old Greek statue discovered in trash bag

A more than 2,000-year-old marble statue of a woman was discovered dumped in a garbage bag near the Greek city of Thessaloniki, police said on Wednesday.

Discovery of the ancient statue

A local resident found the 80-centimeter-tall (31-inch) headless statue next to a trash can in Neoi Epivates, not far from Greece's second-largest city. The man took the piece to local authorities, who immediately contacted archaeologists to assess the statue's significance.

Origin and meaning

Police said that after an initial assessment, experts determined that the artwork dates from the Hellenistic era, a period from around 320 to 30 BC. BC, which is characterized by a boom in art and culture after the conquests of Alexander the Great.

Further investigations

The statue was handed over to archaeologists for further study. Ultimately, it will be handed over to the responsible antiquities authority for conservation and research.

Investigations into the origin of the statue

Police have launched an investigation to find out who disposed of the statue. A man was briefly detained for questioning but was later released without charge.

Archaeological discoveries in Greece

Unwanted archaeological finds are relatively common in Greece, a country with a rich ancient heritage, and often occur during construction or public projects. In December, for example, workers laying natural gas pipelines near Athens discovered a Roman statue of Hermes buried upright in a brick-lined ditch near the Acropolis.

Antique finds in Thessaloniki

A few weeks ago, Thessaloniki showcased a variety of antiques found during the decades-long construction of its subway system, which officially opened in November. Key finds include a marble-paved Roman street and tens of thousands of artifacts from the Greek, Byzantine and Ottoman periods, now on display at subway stations.