New York: 29 Greek antiquities seized and repatriated

In a large stroke to antiquities trafficking, the dedicated squad of Manhattan Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, successful collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Culture, has successfully seized 29 artifacts of important humanities value. These items, dating from the Late Neolithic play (5000–4000 BCE) to the Late Hellenistic epoch (2nd–1st period BCE), were contiguous officially returned to Greece, their spot of origin.

The postulation includes exemplary works of sculpture, metallurgy, and ceramics. Highlights see 2 Neolithic chromatic axe heads (5000–4000 BCE), a Minoan agate seal depicting a goat (3100 BCE), 3 marble Early Cycladic vessels (2700–2400 BCE), a Mycenaean stirrup jar (1200–1100 BCE), 2 bronze loop fittings from Western Macedonia (7th period BCE), a bronze furnishings ft shaped arsenic a siren from a Laconian store (c. 600 BCE), a marble kouros caput (mid-6th period BCE), a bronze Medusa Gorgoneion apt from a Corinthian store (late 6th period BCE), a bronze coiled serpent ornament (5th period BCE), a golden pendant (5th–4th period BCE), 2 robust sacrificial knives (5th–4th period BCE), 3 metallic conical cups (c. 300 BCE), and a bronze attachment with the caput of Atalante (2nd–1st period BCE).

Following months of meticulous probe — supported by the Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property of the Greek Ministry of Culture — the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office uncovered irrefutable grounds proving the illicit root and trafficking of these antiquities done New York assemblage Fortuna Fine Arts. Its associates had already been arrested successful 2020 for fraud and forgery of provenance documents.

Notably, 18 of the seized items had recovered their mode into the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art successful New York — underscoring however easy trafficked antiquities tin participate adjacent the world’s astir prestigious museums. This lawsuit sends a resounding connection astir the urgent request to fortify provenance verification crossed taste institutions globally.

Thanks to the adjacent practice developed successful caller years betwixt the Metropolitan Museum and the Greek Ministry of Culture, the repatriation process was expedited. This is not the archetypal specified case: successful February 2025, the depository returned a bronze griffin head, excavated successful Olympia successful 1914, to Greece.

The artifacts were formally handed implicit to Greek authorities during a ceremonial held successful New York.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni emphasized:
“Every repatriation of Greek antiquities is an bonzer accomplishment and a validation of the Ministry’s sustained argumentation against illicit trafficking of taste practice — a transgression intimately linked to organized transgression and terrorism. Greece is present recognized globally for prioritizing the extortion of taste property. This was besides evident astatine Mondiacult, UNESCO’s satellite league connected taste policy, held successful Barcelona. This success, led by Matthew Bogdanos and the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, fills america with pridefulness and optimism. Combating illicit trafficking demands beardown partnerships and tireless effort — partnerships we person nurtured and proceed to strengthen. My deepest acknowledgment spell to everyone progressive successful returning these 29 antiquities to their rightful home.”

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, caput of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, added:
“This occurrence belongs to my colleagues successful the Antiquities Trafficking Unit and to the Greek Ministry of Culture, whose practice has been changeless and invaluable. We stay determined — vigilant and unwavering — successful the combat against illicit trafficking of taste heritage.”