A marble head of a man dated from 150 AD has been repatriated to Greece by the Archaeological Museum of the University of Münster in Germany. The museum voluntarily returned the artifact after concerns were raised over its ownership records by researchers.
The head of a bearded man combines the characteristic headdress of the times of Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD) with the later flat version of the beard. It is part of a funerary relief from a cemetery.
The sculpture will now go on display at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.
During a repatriation ceremony, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni lauded the deal as a fair resolution between the two museums, with repatriation cases between various countries often resulting in legal battles.
She noted that:
“The repatriation of antiquities that belong to Greece but are currently abroad, is a matter of national importance and high political priority. International cooperation and synergies, through bilateral and multilateral agreements, for this purpose, are always supported and sought. However, each case of repatriation is unique.”
“Today’s return,” pointed out Lina Mendoni, “carries a special semiotic dimension, as it does not constitute the successful conclusion of a claim process. In this case, the Museum of the University of Münster voluntarily decided to return the head to Greece. When it was determined that its origin and its course, before 1989—the year in which it was included in the Museum’s collection, as a donation by German citizens—were unclear and suspicious.”
Marble head Germany returned to Greece has unclear ownership history
The artifact, which was gifted to the Münster Museum in 1989 by a private German donor, had an unclear ownership history before coming into the collection permanently. Tests conducted by researchers confirmed the marble originated from Thasos, an island in the northern Aegean, leading to the conclusion that the head was originally from Greece.
Achim Lichtenberger, director of the Münster Museum, said the piece is considered valuable and that its return to Greece will allow it to be studied alongside other similar objects. The exact circumstances of its removal from its original site is unknown.
In a statement, Lichtenberger maintained that despite the researcher’s findings, the museum adheres to ethical standards around its acquisition process, saying that the institution reviews its collection to comply with the UNESCO 1970 Convention.
New pressure for the return of the Parthenon Marbles?
The move by the Münster Museum could add pressure on the British Museum to return the Parthenon Marbles, the 2,500-year-old sculptures that are at the center of the world’s most famous cultural property dispute.
The Marbles may return to Greece in 2025 but only as a loan, according to The Economist‘s World Ahead 2025 report.
“But in 2025, the marbles may finally be on the move—or, at least negotiations about their status may take a big step forward,” The Economist said, adding that “Greece has publicly rejected anything less than a full ownership, but a swap of some kind remains the most realistic outcome.”
That would mean that Greece would exchange other valuable artifacts with the British Museum, which would have to remain in London until the Greek government ships the loaned Parthenon Marbles back to Britain.
The British publication provides no explanation as to why Greece would now accept the idea of a loan, something that it has repeatedly turned down.
