Ancient Greek statue found in goat pen
Athens police say goat herder and accomplice attempted to sell €12m marble sculpture of young woman for just €500,000
Greek police have unearthed an ancient statue of a young woman, which dates to about 520BC and belongs to the kore type. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Greek police have recovered an ancient statue worth €12m (£10m) that was illegally excavated and hidden in a goat pen near Athens, and arrested the goat herder and another man who were allegedly trying to sell the work for €500,000.
The marble sculpture of a young woman dates to about 520BC and belongs to the kore type, a police statement said on Wednesday. The 120cm (4ft) work was largely intact, except for a missing left forearm and plinth.
Although dozens of examples of the kore statue and its male equivalent, the kouros, are displayed in Greek and foreign museums, the type is considered important in the development and understanding of Greek art. New discoveries in good condition are uncommon.
Archaeologists who inspected the find estimated its market value at €12m. A spokesman for Athens police said: "They told us that this is a unique piece."
Still bearing traces of soil, the statue has the hint of a smile on its lips, elaborately braided hair and an ankle-length gown.
Police said it had been concealed near the village of Fyli, in the foothills of Mount Parnitha on the north-western fringes of Athens. The goat herder, 40, and a 56-year-old man were arrested.
Detectives are seeking to determine where the statue was excavated, which could potentially lead archaeologists to a previously unknown ancient sanctuary or cemetery.
Archaeological remains of civilisations spanning thousands of years are spread acrossGreece. By law all antiquities are state property, but pillaging is a lucrative business.
The spokesman said the suspects had tried to contact potential buyers and "would have sold the work for a relative pittance".
Two years ago, police in southern Greece recovered a pair of twin kouros statues and arrested two suspected looters.
Dozens of illegally exported finds have been returned to Greece in recent years, including works from the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
No comments:
Post a Comment