2,000-Year-Old Hellenistic Statue Found in Trash Bag in Greece

A headless marble statue, likely depicting a goddess, was discovered near Thessaloniki and has prompted a police investigation.

A 32-year-old man found the 31-inch headless statue in a black bag near trash bins in Neoi Epivates, a suburb of Thessaloniki, on January 18, 2025.
Experts identified the statue as dating back to the Hellenistic period (323–30 B.C.), a time known for its artistic and cultural achievements.
The marble statue, believed to depict a goddess due to its flowing drapery, is missing its head and arms and was likely a temple offering or votive gift.
The artifact has been handed over to authorities for forensic testing and will eventually be preserved and studied by the local antiquities service.
Police have launched an investigation into how the statue came to be discarded, briefly detaining a man for questioning before releasing him without charges.