A bronze sculpture created by renowned Greek sculptor Yannis Pappas was reported stolen Thursday morning from Paidikis Stegis (Children's Shelter) square in the Nikaia district of Piraeus. The theft has prompted outrage from local officials and sparked a police investigation into what authorities are calling both a criminal act and an assault on the community's cultural heritage.
The theft was discovered early Thursday morning by a local resident who was walking her dog through the square. Upon noticing the missing artwork, she immediately contacted municipal authorities to report the crime. The sculpture had been a prominent feature of the public space, serving as both an artistic landmark and a tribute to working-class women.
Law enforcement officers from both Piraeus and Nikaia police departments have responded to the scene and conducted a thorough inspection of the area. Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage from cameras located near the square in hopes of identifying the perpetrators. The municipality has officially filed criminal charges against unknown persons in connection with the theft.
Mayor Konstantinos Maragakis strongly condemned the incident, describing it as far more than just a crime against public property. "This is not just a criminal act against public property but also an insult to the historical memory and the collective identity of our city," the mayor stated, emphasizing the cultural significance of the stolen artwork to the local community.
The stolen sculpture, titled "The Woman of the People," depicts a small, elderly woman whose posture, facial expression, and clothing are designed to represent the unseen heroism and daily struggles of working-class women. The artwork captures the dignity and resilience of ordinary women who carry the burden of everyday labor, making it particularly meaningful to the local community.
This particular piece represents a third casting of Pappas's original work, which was created during the 1970s. The sculpture was generously donated to the municipality in 2016 by Alekos Pappas, the late artist's son, as a gift to preserve his father's artistic legacy for future generations. The donation made the artwork accessible to the public and transformed it into a cherished part of the community's cultural landscape.
