Twenty -year antiquities were delivered to the Greek authorities on Friday, October 3 by its head Antiquities Trafficking Unit Matthew BogdanosAttorney General at the Manhattan Public Prosecutor’s Office, at a special ceremony held at the New York Consulate General, in the presence of the Secretary General of Culture George Teacher, the General Consul of Greece in New York Iphigenia Kanara and City of Citizens.
The antiquities that are repatriated cover a wide chronological spectrum from the final Neolithic (5,000-4,000 BC) to the late Hellenistic period (2nd/1st century BC) and are representative samples of sculpture, metalworking and pottery. Among them are: Two stone heads of Peleceon (5000-4000 BC), Minoan seal from agate with Aigagrou (3100 BC), three marble protocycladic bottles (2700-2400 BC), Rear Early Cycladic Protocol (27) Belt accessories from Western Macedonia (7th century BC), a bronze furniture foot in the form of a siren, a work of laconic workshop (about 600 BC), marble head of Kouros (around the middle of the 6th century BC), bronze Appendix in the form of Medusa Gorgos, Labor. Snake Snake (5th century BC), Golden Periphery (5th-4th century BC), two iron sacrificial knifes (5th-4th century BC), three silver conical covers (about 300 BC), Brunny Appendix with the bustle (2).
Almost all of the antiquities that were recovered and repatriated had been illegally traded and had ended up in Arta Fine Arts. Manhattan’s long -term investigations with the help of Homeland Security Investigation and the archaeological documentation provided by many of them by the competent Documentation and Protection of Cultural Protection, demonstrated their illegal origin and distribution and led to their seizure and performance in Greece. Eighteen of the twenty -two objects had come to the collections of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art with which the Ministry of Culture maintains systematic cooperation.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni made the following statement: “Every repatriation of Greek antiquities is an extremely important event and justifies the policy of the Ministry of Culture in recent years. Greece is now internationally recognized as the country that has put it very high in its policies the fight against the illegal movement of cultural goods, a phenomenon directly linked to organized crime and terrorism. And this was also evident in Mondiacult, the World Congress on the policies of culture organized by UNESCO in Barcelona. The new success of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit Unit, led by Matthew Bogdanos and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, fills us with joy and optimism. I have said many times, and I will continue to emphasize, that the struggle against the illegal distribution of cultural goods requires strong collaborations and a lot of work. It is fortunate that we have managed to build and maintain these partnerships and see tangible results. Warm thanks to all those who have contributed to the return of these 29 antiquities. “
The leader of Antiquities Trafficking Unit Matthew Bogdanos, a deputy at the Manhattan prosecutor, said: “This success is due to my associates, both to the Antiquities Trafficking Unit and the Greek Ministry of Culture, which seamlessly and willingly contribute to the documentation.
We continue decisively, we do not complain, we do not postpone. These are the people, this is the place, this is the time for the battle against the illegal distribution of cultural goods. “
The Secretary General of Culture George Teachkalou said: “It is a great honor and a pleasure to be here today to receive the 29 antiquities returning to Greece thanks to the long -term surveys of Antiquities Trafficking Unit. The Ministry of Culture will continue its close cooperation with the Manhattan Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is sure to produce richer fruits. “
Source :Skai
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