Greece received 22 antiquities illegally removed from the country during a handover ceremony at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, marking the first repatriation of Greek antiquities from Israel.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni accepted the artifacts from Israeli Ambassador Pninat Yanay at a ceremony attended by Amir Ganor, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit.
The objects were identified and confiscated by Israeli authorities as part of efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural property.
Ancient Vessels Among Recovered Artifacts
The collection includes 15 Attic pottery vessels, six vessels produced in Corinthian workshops and a bronze figurine depicting a female figure.
Of the Attic vessels, 11 are black-figure, three are red-figure and one is black-glazed, dating to the Archaic and Classical periods.
The six Corinthian vessels date to the Archaic period. The authenticity of the bronze figurine remains subject to further examination.
Greece and Israel Expand Cultural Cooperation
“This is the first time that Israel has returned antiquities to Greece, and it marks the beginning of closer cooperation between our two countries in the protection of cultural heritage,” Mendoni said.
She noted that officials from both countries had already begun exchanging expertise and practices aimed at preventing and combating illicit trafficking in cultural objects.
“The return today is a tangible result of this approach and confirms that cooperation between states can contribute substantially and effectively to combating the major crime of antiquities trafficking,” she added.
Ambassador Yanay described the handover as an important moment for the preservation of cultural heritage.
“For me, there is also something deeply moving in the thought that I have the privilege, as Israel’s ambassador, of returning this ancient object to your capable hands,” Yanay said.
She added that Israel was honored to have contributed to the repatriation of the artifacts.
The ceremony took place in the Altar Hall of the National Archaeological Museum, where the recovered objects were formally transferred to Greek authorities.
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