The statue was created around the second half of the first century AD,[1] during the Roman period of the island, in the ancient city of Lappa, which lies on the site of modern Argyroupoli.

[2] The sculpture was discovered during the time when talks were taking place by the municipality of Rethymno about acquiring the rampart of the town's fortress and converting it into an archaeological museum, when a resident informed the local archaeological ephorate of the existence of an ancient statue buried deep somewhere in a local man's estate.

[3] The man in question was contacted, and excavations in the plot started soon after relevant permissions were signed, although initially with no success.

On the eighth day of digging, a marble statue was unearthed, missing its head and the greater part of the right arm.

Her hair is richly tressed in an "Apollo's knot", while long curls fall elegantly over her shoulders, thus accentuating her serene and beautiful face.