Greece Welcomes Three Ancient Artefacts from Atlanta’s Michael C. Carlos Museum

A 2nd-century BC marble statuette is one of the three ancient artifacts that the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta agreed to return to Greece. Photo source: Culture Ministry

The Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, US, returned to Greece this week ancient artifacts from Epirus, Crete, and Attica following repatriation efforts made by the Greek Culture Ministry.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni was in Atlanta this week where Emory University museum officials handed over the three ancient Greek items which were discovered in illegal excavations and then trafficked by antiquities smugglers into the US before reaching the museum collection.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni. Photo source: Culture Ministry

Mendoni received a Minoan-era clay larnax dating back to the 14th century BC, a 2nd-century BC marble statuette, and a seated marble male figurine from an Attic tomb relief going back to the late 4th century BC.

The repatriation agreement was signed by Emory University Provost Ravi V Bellamkonda and Mendoni.

“It has taken more than 16 years to reach this happy outcome here today. During this time, Greece has consistently provided more documentation proving beyond a doubt that the items were the result of illegal trafficking,” Mendoni said.

The minister went on to add that the repatriation of the ancient Greek finds was in large due to a shift in understanding between the Carlos Museum and Greece: the result of an intervention by Associate Vice Provost and Museum Director Henry Kim, who traveled to Athens to discuss the matter with Greek authorities.

Earlier this month, Mendoni confirmed that Greece was intensifying its drive to retrieve cultural assets that have been illegally removed from the country, key among which the Parthenon Marbles.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni with Michael C. Carlos Museum Director Henry s. Kim. Photo source: Culture Ministry

Monday’s move comes after the successful return of illegally removed cultural assets in the 2019-2023 period, including 29 stolen Greek antiquities, which were part of a collection owned by New York philanthropist and Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee Shelby White; three sculpture fragments from the Parthenon returned from the Vatican Museums Collection; and 30 looted antiquities valued at 3.7 million dollars, which were found in the hands of New York gallery owner Michael Ward, British art dealer Robin Symes and others.