In brief
A headless statue, over 2,000 years old, sparks intrigue as authorities investigate its origin after being found in a trash bag.
In a surprising turn of events, a 32-year-old man stumbled upon a headless and armless statue in a black plastic bag near trash bins in Thessaloniki, Greece, on January 18. This intriguing discovery is believed to date back to the Hellenistic period, around 323 B.C. to 31 B.C., after the era of Alexander the Great. Authorities announced the find, igniting an investigation into how an ancient artifact ended up in the garbage.Greece, a nation rich in history and archaeology, isn't new to these surprising discoveries, often unearthed during construction projects like the 2004 Olympics preparations. Vasilis Tempelis, a spokesman for the culture ministry, noted that civilians occasionally bring ancient items to police stations, showcasing a collective respect for their heritage.The statue, measuring about 31 inches high, was examined by the Ministry of Culture and deemed to fall under Greece’s antiquities protection laws. Dr. Bert Smith, a classical archaeology professor, explained that the statue likely represents a small figure of a goddess and reflects the common ancient practice of dedicating marble votives to deities in sanctuaries. The clothing style, a peplos, indicates its divine association, while the missing arms and head suggest it may have had specific attributes or actions now lost to time.
