Gaza fisherman Jwdat Abu Ghrb hooked a life-size bronze statue from the sea, believed to be a 2,500-year-old depiction of the ancient Greek god Apollo.
Gaza fisherman's find: An ancient statue of Apollo —
Gaza fisherman Jwdat Abu Ghrb hooked a life-size bronze statue from the sea, believed to be a 2,500-year-old depiction of the ancient Greek god Apollo.
Talal Abu Rahma/CNN
"I thought it was made of gold; I was going to be rich," Ghrb said. "So I took it home to hide it." But then a local armed brigade took control of the statue, and someone listed it for sale on the online auction site eBay, with a starting price of about $500,000, according to authorities.
Gaza fisherman's find: An ancient statue of Apollo —
"I thought it was made of gold; I was going to be rich," Ghrb said. "So I took it home to hide it." But then a local armed brigade took control of the statue, and someone listed it for sale on the online auction site eBay, with a starting price of about $500,000, according to authorities.
CNN/Talal Abu Rahma
The posting raised suspicions among officials in the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Interior Ministry in Gaza, which is governed by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Gaza fisherman's find: An ancient statue of Apollo —
The posting raised suspicions among officials in the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Interior Ministry in Gaza, which is governed by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Talal Abu Rahma/CNN
Museum authorities in Geneva, Switzerland, have now offered to help repair and preserve the statue, and plan for its eventual display in Gaza, said Ahmad Al-Burch, from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Gaza fisherman's find: An ancient statue of Apollo —
Museum authorities in Geneva, Switzerland, have now offered to help repair and preserve the statue, and plan for its eventual display in Gaza, said Ahmad Al-Burch, from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
CNN/Talal Abu Rahma