The Missing Arms of the Venus de Milo

On 8 April 1820 Olivier Voutier was digging on the Greek island of Milos (or Melos) when he spotted something extraordinary. A 23-year-old ensign in the French navy, he had a passion for archaeology and had come ashore that morning to explore the ruins of a theatre. He had already made a few interesting finds, but just then something made him look up. A farmer named Yorgos Kentrotas had been prising stones out of a nearby wall. Having stopped suddenly, he was now staring intently into an ancient niche he had uncovered. Strolling over to where the farmer was standing, Voutier was amazed to see a statue sticking out of the earth. He persuaded the farmer to dig it out and soon found himself standing before a marble torso. Some of its hair was missing, there was a big gap in the side and there were scratches and bumps all over. Even so, he could see that it was exceptional.