NEW YORK, NY — October 2025 — Nearly thirty ancient Greek artifacts, some dating back more than five millennia, are finally making their journey home to Greece. The artifacts, spanning from the Neolithic period to the Late Hellenistic era, were formally handed over during a special ceremony held at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, marking another milestone in the joint efforts of U.S. and Greek authorities to safeguard cultural heritage.
The ceremony was led by Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, whose team has played a decisive role in tracing and recovering looted artifacts from the international art market. Senior Greek officials, including the Secretary General of Culture and the Consul General of Greece, attended the event, underscoring the importance of this moment for cultural diplomacy.
Treasures Spanning Millennia
The recovered pieces offer a breathtaking journey through Greek history. Highlights include a Minoan sealstone, Early Cycladic vessels, Mycenaean pottery, bronze and gold items, and even a marble head of a Kouros. These objects were removed illegally from Greece over time and found their way into private collections abroad, often through illicit trafficking networks.
Their return represents not only the recovery of cultural property but also the restoration of historical continuity. Each artifact is a tangible link to Greece’s ancient past, one that will soon be preserved, studied, and displayed for the public in Greece.
Greece’s Leadership in Cultural Protection
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni hailed the return as “an extremely important event,” noting that Greece has become internationally recognized as a model country in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property. She expressed gratitude to Matthew Bogdanos and his team for their “unwavering commitment to protecting our cultural heritage.”
A Shared Mission
This handover is the result of years of investigations and international collaboration, highlighting the close partnership between Greek authorities and U.S. law enforcement. Under Bogdanos’ leadership, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has become a global leader in cultural property investigations, securing the return of thousands of objects to their rightful homes.
For Greece, the return of these 29 artifacts is far more than a legal victory, it is the homecoming of pieces of its soul, strengthening the cultural bridge between Greece and the Greek diaspora in New York and beyond.
