An ancient Greek statue currently displayed at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles ignited time travel theories after images of it spread rapidly on social media. The image of the statue was quickly circulated by social media users, leading many to speculate about the possibility of time travel in ancient times.
"An ancient Greek statue titled 'Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant' depicts a woman who appears to be using a laptop computer while sitting on a throne alongside her servant," reported Gazzetta.
The 37-inch marble relief dates back to around 1000 BCE.
The object features two surfaces at a 90-degree angle, resembling a modern laptop, and has two holes on its side, leading to theories that they could be a USB port or a headphone jack.
However, experts suggest a more plausible explanation for these holes. "These holes were possibly metal pins that held a now-missing marble piece in place," explained Greek City Times. This indicates that the object may have originally included an additional component that has since been lost.
"The attendant's identity—whether a grieving family member, servant, or enslaved person—is unclear, and it is not clear whether the servant represents a young family member in mourning," according to Gazzetta.
This type of depiction has a long history in Greek funerary art. The woman is shown reaching for the object held by her attendant, which may represent a shadow box used in funerary practices.
Insights from the Getty collection shed light on the relief's intended symbolism. "The delicacy of the box shows that, like many works of ancient art, this relief was not intended as a photographic depiction of reality, but to convey the wealth and status of the deceased." This suggests that the object symbolizes the woman's status rather than serving as a literal representation.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.