Israel Returns 22 Ancient Artifacts to Greece
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS French by baba
Israel returned 22 ancient artifacts to Greece on Tuesday, the first such repatriation between the two countries. Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni received the items, which include pottery and a bronze statuette dating from 700 to 320 BCE. The restitution is part of Greece's effort to reclaim its cultural heritage. The artifacts were recovered during an Israeli investigation into illegal antiquities trade.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel returned 22 ancient artifacts to Greece, marking a first-time repatriation between the nations.
- Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni received the artifacts at a ceremony in Athens.
- The collection includes pottery and a bronze statuette dated between 700 and 320 BCE.
- This restitution is part of Greece's strategy to recover its cultural heritage from abroad.
- The artifacts were found during an Israeli investigation into the illegal antiquities trade.
Israel returned 22 antiquities illegally removed from Greece on Tuesday, marking the first such repatriation between the two nations. The handover ceremony took place at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, where Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni received the artifacts. Amir Ganor, Director of the Theft Prevention Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, was also present.
Mendoni stated that this restitution signifies the beginning of closer cooperation between Greece and Israel in protecting cultural heritage, emphasizing the symbolic and moral importance of returning artifacts to their country of origin. The collection includes a small bronze statuette of a woman and various pottery items, such as oil flasks, amphorae, and cups decorated with mythological and geometric scenes. These objects are provisionally dated between 700 and 320 BCE.
This repatriation is part of Greece's broader strategy to strengthen bilateral cultural relations and reclaim its heritage, including ongoing efforts to recover the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum in London. The exact circumstances under which the antiquities left Greece and were discovered in Israel were not disclosed by officials from either country. However, Israeli Ambassador to Greece Pninat Yanay indicated that the items were recovered during an Israeli investigation into the illegal antiquities trade.
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