Priceless ancient Greek statue rescued from goat-pen

ATHENS- Greek police recovered an ancient statue 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 ($667,000).

The marble statue of a young woman dates to about 520 BC and belongs to the kore type, a police statement said Wednesday. Police photos showed the 1.2-metre work to be largely intact, lacking the 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 very 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 €12 million ($16 million), a police official said. Read more.