Greek statueThe statue, recently discovered in the trash, is missing its arms and head. Photo courtesy Greek Police

Earlier this month, a man in Thessaloniki, Greece, noticed something unusual wrapped in a bag among garbage cans on the street. Unwrapped from the bag, it turned out to be a marble statue, missing its head and arms but draped in a beautifully carved robe characteristic of ancient Greek art. He took the statue to the police, who had it examined by an archaeologist. It was dated to the Hellenistic period, about 320 to 30 BCE.

The Hellenistic period immediately followed Alexander the Great’s conquests. Its art is known for its elaborate styles, especially marble statues of deities that were more detailed and expressive than the art of the earlier Classical period. The Winged Victory of Samothrace (also a draped figure with its head and arms now missing) may be the most famous example of Hellenistic sculpture.

According to the police report released on Jan. 22, the statue was turned over to authorities for preservation and investigation into where it came from, why it was discarded, and whether any criminal activity was involved.

Experts believe that the 31-inch-tall statue was likely a figure of a goddess made for a temple. Sculptures of humans were usually made of clay; marble was reserved for divinities.

Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Macedonia was founded in 315 BCE. Today, it is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it is not uncommon for construction projects to turn up more antiquities. Construction of a subway, completed last November, took over two decades, partly because so many ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman artifacts were encountered. Transport and infrastructure minister Christos Staikouras estimated there were “over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now showcased at various stations along the main line.”

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