2,000-Year-Old Greek Statue Found Abandoned in a Bag Near Trash Cans: Police

Greek authorities said the statue is from the Hellenistic period

By David Chiu

A statue dating back more than 2,000 years was allegedly found in a black bag near garbage bins in a part of the Greek city of Thessaloniki.

 2,000-year-old statue was found abandoned in a bag near trash cans, announced
the Greek Police on Jan. 22, 2025. PHOTO: greek police

In a Wednesday, Jan. 22 press release, the Greek Police said that a 32-year-old man went to the Thermaikos Crime Investigation and Prosecution Department on Saturday, Jan. 18, and handed over a bag containing the statue.

The Greek Police added that an archaeologist from Ephorate of Antiquities was alerted about the discovery. The archaeologist examined the find and “concluded that it falls under the relevant legislation.”

Afterward, said authorities, “the statue was seized by police officers from the Cultural Heritage Protection Office of the Department for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Persons and Goods, who are investigating the case.”

The Greek Police also said that the ancient statue will be handed over to the Forensic Investigations Sub-Directorate of Northern Greece for laboratory examination. It will then be transferred to Ephorate of Antiquities for safekeeping and study.

According to the authorities, the statue is from the Hellenistic period ,which covers between 323 B.C. and 30 B.C.

 

The loose drapery on the statue appears to indicate that it depicts a goddess, according to Estelle Strazdins, a classical studies expert at the Australian National University in Canberra, The Washington Post reported.

“The fact that it is marble suggests that it was probably dedicated in a temple,” Strazdins further told the newspaper.

 “Because of the size — around 30 inches — it would not be the main statue in the sanctuary, but it might be a gift that someone has given to the god either to thank them for something or in the hopes of getting some kind of grant.”

CNN reported that authorities launched an investigation to figure out who abandoned the statue. A man was briefly detained for questioning but was later released without charges, added the outlet. 

PEOPLE contacted the Greek Police for additional information on Thursday, Jan. 23. 

First published at People, January 23, 2025