An ancient Greek statue has been discovered in a rubbish bag next to a bin near Thessaloniki, Greece. The incredible marble sculpture of a woman is believed to be more than 2,000 years old.
A local resident alerted authorities after finding the 31-inch statue in the Greek town of Neoi Epivates.
Following initial assessments from archaeologists, it has been confirmed the statue dates back to the Hellenistic period (320-30 BC). This era was of significant artistic and cultural growth as an increase of sculptures were crafted.
The statue has now been sent for further inspection and study before being transferred to the local antiques authority for preservation.
Following the resident alerting police, an investigation was opened to determine who threw out the statue. The authorities reportedly detained a man for questioning who was released shortly after without facing charges.
The new, discarded discovery can offer an insight into its vibrant historical period which followed Alexander the Great’s conquests.
Alexander the Great and his armies conquered much of the known world, creating an empire that stretched from Greece and Asia through Egypt and the Persian empire in the Near East to India. The Hellenistic period is believed to have begun following his death in 323 BC.
In the UK, a similar shocking discovery was made during 2013 when a 1,800-year-old carved stone head of a possible Roman god was found among a rubbish dump in County Durham.
However, accidental archaeological finds are common in Greece due to the country’s vast and rich ancient history, yet discoveries are usually made during building and public works.
Just last month, a Roman-era statue of Hermes was unearthed during pipeline works near Athens. The incredible uncovering saw the sculpture buried upright in a pit lined with bricks.
Prior to this, a plethora of artefacts were discovered during years-long construction of Thessaloniki’s underground system prior to its opening in November 2024.
Highlighted finds over the decades during the building process include a marble-paved Roman road and tens of thousands of antiques throughout the Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. Any uncovering made during the metro construction is now displayed at the stations.