Alexander bust recovered from museum storage

It is beyond comprehension that museums, large and small, do not have a complete inventory of their collections. The storage rooms and basements are typically still filled with crates and boxes full of artifacts, which can be quite surprising at times.

[Picture from Art Net News by Angeliki Kottarid]

The latest news of such a “discovery” comes from the Archaeological Museum of Veroia, where a forgotten bust of Alexander the Great has been spotted. It could not immediately be identified as such because the piece was recovered from re-used building material in Veroia.

After analysis by Angeliki Kottarid, director of the museum and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the hitherto unknown portrait has been confirmed to represent Alexander. The work is believed to date from the 2^nd century BC and is one of the rare examples recovered from Macedonia proper.

The good news is that, after being cleaned and restored, it will be exhibited at the Museum of the Macedonian Royal Tombs in Vergina – probably by the end of 2020.