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2 clusters · 26 sources · 5 days · First seen 10 days ago · Last updated 5 days ago

Greece-US antiquities trafficking cooperation

Overview

Greece and the United States have established a joint initiative titled ‘Return to Light: A US-Greece Partnership for the Protection of Cultural Heritage’. Announced by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, the program aims to combat organized crime and the illegal trafficking of antiquities through law enforcement cooperation, cultural heritage seminars, and public awareness campaigns.

Building on this cooperation, fifteen Greek antiquities that were illegally removed from Greece were recently repatriated from the United States. The handover ceremony took place at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in New York, attended by Minister Mendoni. Among the returned items are five bronze pieces of military equipment, including two helmets and three mitres dating to the late 7th century BC, which were linked to a 1964 illegal excavation in Afraiti Viannou, Crete. The return of these pieces allows for the reunification of archaeological sets at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion.

The repatriated artifacts span various eras, including a Cycladic marble female idol (2700–2600 BC), a marble pyxis lid, a terracotta rhyton, a bronze bracelet from the Archaic period, a marble kylix from the Classical period, a gold necklace (125–120 BC), and a Parian marble male head (14–68 AD). Recent updates also note the inclusion of a gold-and-garnet amphora pendant from the Hellenistic period and a Roman marble bust of a man. This repatriation brings the total number of Greek artifacts returned via decisions by the Manhattan District Attorney to 179 since 2022. Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, described the return of these objects as a celebration of ongoing efforts against illicit trafficking.

Entities

Lina Mendoni · Heraklion Archaeological Museum · Archaeological Museum of Heraklion · American School of Classical Studies at Athens · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Lina Mendoni stated that the repatriation of 15 antiquities confirms that cultural heritage protection meets justice and international cooperation. www.businessdaily.gr · www.dimokratiki.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Fifteen Greek antiquities that were illegally removed from Greece are being returned from the United States. www.businessdaily.gr · www.dimokratiki.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The total number of Greek antiquities repatriated via Manhattan District Attorney decisions since 2022 has reached 179. www.businessdaily.gr · www.dimokratiki.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The handover ceremony for the antiquities took place at the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York. www.businessdaily.gr · www.dimokratiki.gr · www.cnn.gr
[● 2 SOURCES] Some of the returned items are being reunited with findings from the same excavation currently held at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. www.businessdaily.gr · www.cnn.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, described each returning object as a celebration of friendship and the ongoing effort against illegal trafficking. www.businessdaily.gr

Timeline

5 days ago

[CULTURE] 25 sources
Greece receives 15 ancient antiquities repatriated from the United States
Fifteen ancient Greek antiquities, including Cretan armor from a 1964 illegal excavation, have been repatriated from the US to Greece, bringing the total returned since 2022 to 179 items.
10 days ago

[CULTURE] 3 sources
Greece and U.S. partner to combat antiquities trafficking
Greece and the U.S. have launched the ‘Return to Light’ initiative to combat the illegal trafficking of antiquities and strengthen law enforcement cooperation regarding cultural heritage.

Sources

archaeology.org · businessdaily.gr · capital.gr · cnn.gr · cyclades24.gr · dimokratiki.gr · dnews.gr · e-enimerosi.com · europesays.com · flash.gr · fonimaleviziou.gr · gargalianoionline.gr · iefimerida.gr · lawandorder.gr · makthes.gr · myportal.gr · naftemporiki.gr · reader.gr · real.gr · tanea.gr · tastv.gr · thepressroom.gr · thetoc.gr · usaartnews.com · zantetimes.gr · zougla.gr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history