The ancient Greek statue of Apoxyomenos, also known as the “Croatian Apoxiomenos,” is a remarkable ancient Greek bronze statue depicting an athlete scraping oil and dust from his body with a strigil, a tool used by ancient Greeks for cleaning themselves after exercise.
It dates back to the 2nd or 1st century BC and was discovered in 1996 by a Belgian tourist diving off the Croatian island of Lošinj in the Adriatic Sea.
This statue is significant not only for its artistic quality but also because it is one of the few large-scale ancient bronze statues to have survived largely intact.
It was found in 1996 by Belgian diver René Wouters near the Croatian island of Lošinj, submerged at a depth of 45 meters.
The discovery was a major archaeological find and sparked considerable interest in both Croatia and the wider world. It underwent a complex and delicate restoration process to preserve its delicate surface and is now displayed in the Museum of Apoxyomenos in Mali Lošinj, Croatia, where visitors can appreciate its beauty and historical significance up close.
“Apoxyomenos” (Ἀποξυόμενος) is a Greek word meaning “the scraper.” It refers to a common motif in ancient Greek art depicting athletes cleaning themselves by scraping off oil, sweat, and dust with a tool called a strigil. In Greek sports culture, athletes would cover themselves in oil before exercising and then use the strigil to remove dirt and sweat after their workout.
The Croatian Apoxyomenos is one of several known representations of this theme, with the most famous being the Apoxyomenos of Lysippos, a 4th-century BC sculpture attributed to the famous Greek sculptor Lysippos.
Apoxyomenos was on a Roman ship en route from ancient Greece
It was recovered in 1999 after detailed underwater archaeological research. It was buried in marine sediment, which helped preserve it for over 2,000 years.
The statue stands at 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) tall, depicting an idealized, well-proportioned male athlete. It shows the naturalistic contrapposto pose (weight shifted onto one leg), typical of Greek sculpture. The eyes were originally inlaid, and traces of copper and silver suggest lifelike detailing.
Archaeologists believe the statue was on a Roman ship traveling across the Adriatic when it was thrown overboard—possibly during a storm or to lighten the ship’s load.
It probably originated in Greece or Asia Minor, as many statues like this were transported as luxury art pieces for Roman villas.
This statue is a rare example of a nearly complete ancient bronze sculpture, making it one of the most important underwater archaeological finds in recent history.
