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Greece Celebrates Return of 15 Ancient Cycladic Treasures from Stern Collection

Repatriated antiquities from the Stern Collection on display for the first time at the Athens Museum of Cycladic Art. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Greece celebrated this week the return of 15 ancient Greek treasures from the Stern Collection in the US to Athens’ Museum of Cycladic Art during a special event attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

Mitsotakis inaugurated the “Homecoming. Cycladic Treasures on Their Return Journey” exhibition which features 15 unknown Cycladic artefacts in their first public appearance.

The items are the first set of 161 Greek antiquities belonging to American billionaire Leonard N Stern which will be returned to Greece over the next 25 years under an agreement between the Greek culture ministry and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) ratified in parliament in September.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking during the ‘homecoming’ event in Athens. Photo source: Prime Minister’s Office.

“We are clearing the path for the repatriation of other valuable elements of our cultural heritage, sending a message to governments, museums, organizations, collectors, that this return is not only morally imperative, but also technically and legally possible,” said Mitsotakis during the inaugural event.

The Greek PM went on to add that the thousands of visitors who will have the chance to view the unknown ancient Greek artefacts will become the “best ambassadors of Greek culture and history”.

Greek officials and guests touring the ‘Homecoming. Cycladic Treasures on Their Return Journey’ exhibition in Athens. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

The agreement between Greece and The Met foresees the repatriation of the Greek art works which will begin after 2033 and will see 15 items returned to Greece every five years after these go on show in New York.

“The 161 Cycladic antiquities will return to Greece, all 161. The collection already and always belonged to the Greek state and will return in its entirety,” said Mendoni during the welcoming event in Athens, adding that the MoU with The Met “encourages other collectors of Greek antiquities to take similar actions, which will lead to the repatriation of antiquities without the difficulties of legal procedures”.

“As part of our national strategy, we are actively participating in the formulation of international policy to prevent and combat the illegal trafficking of cultural goods and simplify the process of their repatriation to their countries of origin,” said Mendoni.

Culture Minister Lina Mendoni speaking during the event. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

The 10 marble figurines and five vases date back to the Late Neolithic to the Early Cycladic II period  (5300 – 2400-2300 BC). and will be on show at the Athens Museum of Cycladic Art through to October 2023.

The collection of mostly marble art works including vases, jewelry and figurines, will then be exhibited at The Met from 2024 to 2048.

“The Met’s mission is to enable the enjoyment and study of art,” said The Met Director Max Hollein. “This agreement builds on decades of a fruitful partnership between the Greek government and The Met, and we are delighted to be able to play a role in an arrangement that will thrill and educate visitors and scholars now and for generations to come.”

Repatriated antiquities from the Stern Collection at the Athens Museum of Cycladic Art. Photo source: Ministry of Culture.

Museum of Cycladic Art President and CEO Κassandra Marinopoulou said it was a historic moment for Greece and for the Museum of Cycladic Art.

“The dissemination of the Cycladic and Ancient Greek Art internationally has been our core mission since the museum was founded. I am very proud to see our vision accomplished beyond any expectations. Even more so, as these Cycladic masterpieces will be showcased among the Greek and Roman antiquities at The Met,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the culture ministry, the Museum of Cycladic Art and The Met signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Athens which foresees the promotion of Cycladic culture and the exchange of expertise in the study and conservation of Cycladic works.

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About the Author
Chicago-born and raised, Maria Paravantes has over two decades of journalistic experience covering tourism and travel, gastronomy, arts, music and culture, economy and finance, politics, health and social issues for international press and media. She has worked for Reuters, The Telegraph, Huffington Post, Billboard Magazine, Time Out Athens, the Athens News, Odyssey Magazine and SETimes.com, among others. She has also served as Special Advisor to Greece’s minister of Foreign Affairs, and to the mayor of Athens on international press and media issues. Maria is currently a reporter, content and features writer for GTP Headlines.

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