This Europe: Apollo gets a leg up from Italy's first lady

The "young man with tunic" is the most famous presence in the island of Mozia, 45 hectares of vines, cactuses, palm trees and ancient relics off the north-west coast of Sicily.

He's been on the island for more than 2,400 years, though for most of that time buried. Life size, missing his arms and feet but with rippling musculature and a riveting gaze, he is the island's biggest archaeological draw. He will be put on show at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Dating from 5th century BC, he was only dug up 22 years ago, when the beauty and importance of the "Apollo of Mozia" were quickly appreciated.

So the normal reaction of visitors is to purse their lips, bat their eyelashes and gaze piously upwards. But when Italy's first lady, Franca Ciampi, visited the museum the other day with President Carlo Ciampi, her reaction was tart. "This lad's knees are a bit low."

Of course it's true: when he lost his feet, half his shins went with them. The most eminent restorers of Venice did not take that into account when they put him on a pedestal.

No one has had the temerity to point this out. But Mrs Ciampi, who like the Duke of Edinburgh enjoys a reputation for producing what they call battute fulminante, or withering witticisms, did not hesitate.

The Superintendent of Cultural Artefacts swallowed hard, said Madam was quite right, and promised to sort it out before he goes to Athens.

Wonderful thing, power.