Police investigate whether antique statue found in Brazil was stolen from Libya 30 years ago

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A marble sculpture representing a Greek god, apparently stolen more than three decades ago from a museum in Libya, was found by the Federal Police in Brazil, authorities said Thursday.

It is a bust of Eusculapius, also known as the bust of Asclepius, a Greek god of healing, and that, if it is the same object that was stolen from a Libyan museum in the 1990s as suspected by the authorities, the recovered sculpted piece would date back to 400 BC.

According to the police, the piece was found in residence in the city of Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul state.

The sculpture was purchased on the Internet, and upon arrival in the country, Brazilian customs held it between February and September 2020 at Viracopos airport in the city of Campinas, São Paulo.

After submitting the corresponding import documents, the piece was delivered to the buyer, so it was not possible to verify the alleged illegality of its origin.

A communication from the Interpol office in Tripoli to the Brazilian authorities activated the search for the piece since one with the same characteristics is included in the stolen works of art.

According to the Police, the sculpture will be submitted to expert examination to verify its origin and authenticity, and if this information is confirmed, the piece will be sent to Libya.

The authorities will also listen to the buyer to know if he was aware of the origin of the sculpture.