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Titled “Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant,” the 37-inch marble sculpture, dating back to around 1000 BC, shows a woman opening an object resembling an attendant’s laptop. The item features two surfaces at a 90-degree angle, resembling a modern laptop, and has two holes in its side, leading some to speculate it could be a USB port or headphone jack\u2014prompting wild theories about time travel.<\/p>\n
The unusual depiction has led many to believe the ancient Greeks might have travelled through time. However, according to the Getty Collection, the object has a more plausible explanation.<\/p>\n
The item the woman is interacting with is a shadow box used in ancient Greek funerary practices. The statue shows a deceased woman reaching for the shadow box held by her attendant, a common motif in Greek funerary art. The attendant’s identity\u2014whether a grieving family member, servant, or enslaved person\u2014is unclear, but the Getty Collection notes the woman was likely from a wealthy family.<\/p>\n
The supposed USB-like holes, the Getty explains, are remnants of an ancient repair, possibly metal pins that held a now-missing marble piece in place. The thinness of the box indicates the relief was intended not as a literal representation but as a symbolic display of the deceased’s status and wealth.<\/p>\n
Despite the intriguing appearance, the statue does not offer evidence of time travel.<\/p>\n
The sculpture is displayed at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, California.<\/p>\n