48 Cypriot antiquities, including limestone vases and figurines dating from the Early Bronze Age to the Medieval period, were officially returned from a private collection in Greece.
Cyprus’s Deputy Minister of Culture, Lina Kassianidou, received the antiquities from the Minister of Culture of the Hellenic Republic, Lina Mendoni.
The artifacts were originally acquired in Cyprus during the 1960s and 1970s. Following the collector’s passing, their heirs chose to hand them over to the Greek state so they could be evaluated for repatriation to their country of origin.
Greece and Cyprus have seen their cultural heritage plundered
Dr. Kassianidou expressed her gratitude to Minister Mendoni, the Greek authorities, and the collector’s heirs for their voluntary and decisive role in bringing these artifacts home.
“The repatriation of these antiquities is more than just cooperation between the authorities of Cyprus and Greece, or another milestone in the bilateral agreement we signed 18 months ago,” Dr. Kassianidou stated. “Above all, it is a tangible example of how we protect cultural heritage in practice, safeguarding the right of societies to keep their connection to history, memory, and identity alive.”
Minister Mendoni added: “Greece, a leader in protecting cultural heritage against illegal trafficking, is returning these 48 antiquities to their birthplace, in line with the 1970 UNESCO Convention and our bilateral agreement. Both Greece and Cyprus have seen their cultural heritage plundered over the years. Our two nations are joining forces, knowing full well that truly protecting cultural property on an international scale requires cooperation, mutual understanding, and solidarity.”
Related: More Ancient Artifacts Repatriated to Greece from the US
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