Venus Statue Found--Clutched in Hand of 4,500-Year-Old

BUDAPEST, Hungary — A small sculpture of the goddess Venus thought to be about 4,500 years old was discovered in Hungary, still clutched in the hand of its equally old owner, the Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet reported today.

Archeologists uncovered the 7-inch statue in the town of Bakonyscermely, about 100 miles west of Budapest, while sifting through remains at an ancient cemetery there, the newspaper said.

According to Magyar Nemzet, the statue, which archeologists believe was probably originally painted red, dates back to between 2,800 and 2,500 BC and probably stood in a temple.

The statue was found in the grave of what archeologists thought to be the original owner, who was clutching the tiny sculpture in his left hand, Magyar Nemzet reported.