The statue was discovered by a Belgian tourist while scuba diving near the islet of Vele Orjule at a depth of 45 meters.
Apoxyomenos is the only large bronze statue of its kind ever found in the Adriatic Sea.
The statue was found lying on the seabed, likely discarded from a Roman merchant ship during a storm to prevent it from sinking.
After recovery, the statue spent over 6 years in a desalination and restoration process at the Croatian Conservation Institute.
The statue's surface retains traces of the original ancient casting technique, known as the lost-wax process.
The museum building is a repurposed historic palace, the Palazzo Kvarner, which was adapted for this single-exhibit concept.
The statue depicts a 'scraper,' an athlete removing oil, sweat, and dust from his body after competition.
Its proportions follow the Polykleitan Canon, a set of aesthetic rules for human beauty in ancient Greek sculpture.
The Museum of Apoxyomenos is a specialized institution dedicated exclusively to the exhibition of the 2,000-year-old bronze statue of Apoxyomenos, recovered from the seabed of the Lošinj archipelago in 1999. The museum space is designed as an experiential journey, leading visitors through nine different rooms, each representing a distinct theme related to the statue's history and restoration. The statue itself is a 1.92-meter-tall Greek bronze dating to the 2nd or 1st century BC, depicting an athlete cleaning himself with a strigil. Following its discovery, the artifact underwent extensive restoration to remove calcareous crusts and stabilize the metal. The final room of the museum serves as a dedicated chamber where the statue is displayed in silence. The museum architecture focuses on a sensory progression, utilizing sound, light, and tactile materials to contextualize the discovery. It serves as the primary repository for the statue within the historic Kvarner region.
The museum entrance and the exterior balcony overlooking the Mali Lošinj harbor.
Walk through all nine rooms in sequence to fully experience the curated narrative before arriving at the statue.
Check the museum's official website for seasonal changes in operating days before visiting, as hours can shift between peak and off-peak periods.
The museum is compact; plan to arrive outside of large tour group arrivals for a more personal viewing experience.
Do not attempt to touch the statue or use flash photography in the main exhibit hall.
Closed on Mondays during the off-season; generally open daily during the peak summer months.
Maintain a quiet, respectful tone as the final gallery is designed for solemn contemplation.
