NEW YORK. Fifteen antiquities that had been illegally removed from Greece are being returned to the country from the United States. The artifacts were formally handed over to Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni during a special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
With the latest repatriation, the number of Greek antiquities returned since 2022 as a result of decisions by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has reached 179, highlighting the sustained cooperation between the two countries in combating the illicit trafficking of antiquities. The development also underscores the systematic work of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and particularly its Antiquities Trafficking Unit, as well as its close cooperation with Greek authorities in returning cultural property that was illegally trafficked.
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
During the handover ceremony, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said, among other things:
“Today’s repatriation of 15 additional antiquities once again confirms that the protection of cultural heritage is met in practice by justice and international cooperation. From 2022 to the present, 179 antiquities have been returned to Greece as a result of decisions by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
“Of particular importance is the fact that some of the objects we are receiving today are being reunited with finds from the same excavation that are housed at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. Some of these objects were illegally removed from the country and are now returning to their place of origin.
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
“Behind every repatriation lies a systematic and persistent effort involving investigation, scholarly documentation and international cooperation. The close and extremely important cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has proved decisive.
“Greece is not simply the recipient of the positive results of this joint effort. It is an active and substantive partner in the process of locating, documenting and recovering cultural property that has been illegally removed from our country.
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
“Every repatriation is an act of justice toward our history and, at the same time, tangible proof that cultural heritage cannot be an object of illegal trade. Our goal, including through the forthcoming renewal of the bilateral Cultural Cooperation Memorandum between Greece and the United States, is to further strengthen the framework for protecting cultural heritage from illicit trafficking and deepen cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries through the exchange of expertise and best practices.”
Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit and a deputy district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, said:
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
“Every object that returns home, to the Greek people, is a celebration of friendship and our unwavering efforts against the illicit trafficking of antiquities. But every repatriation is also a reminder of the systematic pursuit of the ideals of beauty, justice and truth that were born in the sunlit land of the Hellenic Republic.”
The Greek Culture Minister expressed her warm thanks to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, the staff of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, as well as officials from the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, whose scholarly documentation and systematic work made the return of the antiquities possible.
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
The objects span a particularly broad chronological range, from the prehistoric and Early Mycenaean periods through the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods and into the Early Roman period, specifically the 1st century A.D.
The antiquities include a Cycladic marble female figurine of the Spedos type (2700–2600 B.C.) and a marble pyxis lid (2700–2200 B.C.), as well as a clay beaked jug (1750–1700 B.C.).
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
From the Archaic period comes a solid bronze bracelet with dotted decoration, dating to the 7th–6th century B.C., belonging to the category of so-called “Macedonian bronzes.”
A marble murex shell dates to the Classical period, around 400 B.C., while the Late Classical period is represented by a bronze mirror disk and a bronze strigil, dating to between 350 and 300 B.C.
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
The Hellenistic period is represented by a gold necklace with an amphora-shaped pendant, dating to 125–120 B.C.
Finally, from the Early Roman period, specifically the Julio-Claudian era (A.D. 14–68), comes a male head wearing a toga, made of exceptionally high-quality Parian marble. It is believed to have depicted Genius, the personification of the emperor’s spirit.
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Of particular significance are five bronze pieces of military equipment, including two helmets and three mitres with repoussé decoration, dating to the late 7th century B.C. The objects have been documented as being connected to a large-scale looting operation carried out in 1964 at Afrati in Viannos, Heraklion, Crete.
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Some of the antiquities being returned to Greece from the United States after having been illegally removed from the country. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
Scenes from the special ceremony at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office during which the antiquities were formally handed over to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo: TNH/Yanna Katsageorgi
