A collection of eleven ancient Greek artifacts, spanning nearly 1,500 years of history, has been returned to Greece. The repatriation ceremony took place on Tuesday, February 25, at the Manhattan office of the New York County District Attorney. Among the most remarkable pieces are a marble funerary relief from the late 4th to early 3rd century BC, a Roman-era gold ring engraved with an image of Poseidon, and a bronze statuette of Atalanta, the legendary swift-footed huntress of Greek mythology.

Valued at nearly $1 million, the artifacts were recovered as part of an extensive investigation into the illegal trafficking of antiquities. The oldest piece in the collection is a Mycenaean votive figurine dating to approximately 1300–1200 BC. Standing just 10 cm tall, this small yet significant artifact depicts a female figure in a gesture of supplication. It belongs to a category of figurines known as the “Psi and Phi type,” named for their resemblance to the Greek letters.

The antiquities were formally presented by Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit at the New York State Attorney’s Office, to Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on behalf of the Greek nation.

One of the most valuable pieces is the multi-figure funerary relief, measuring 44.5 cm by 44.8 cm and estimated to be worth around $500,000. According to art historian Holly Marie Miller of the University of Maryland, the well-preserved bas-relief was created in an Athenian workshop and depicts a symposium scene. It had previously been linked to a museum in Tennessee.

Other repatriated artifacts include a 1st-century BC male head sculpture, a small female bust from the 3rd century BC, and various ceramic objects, including a 6th–5th century BC “aryballos” traditionally used for storing perfumes or athletes’ oil. Also among the returned items are a 4th-century BC “kantharos” – a two-handled drinking vessel associated with Dionysian rituals – a mid-1st-millennium BC mortar and pestle, a 450 BC oil lamp, and an artifact of unknown dating.

Honoring the Fight Against Antiquities Trafficking

Welcoming the repatriation, Mendoni stated, “Each repatriation has a special significance, as it is directly related to our collective and individual identity … Greece is in no way demanding that the museums that host and exhibit works of ancient Greek art be emptied,” reiterating the state’s long-standing demand for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

The Greek Ministry of Culture has emphasized the importance of these repatriations as part of an ongoing effort to combat the illicit trade of antiquities.

“The return of these pieces is the product of a substantial and ongoing investigation into several traffickers,” commented Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. “I am pleased we have now seized more than 120 antiquities throughout the investigation, and that is continuing to this day. I am grateful to our antiquities trafficking team and partners in Greece for their outstanding collaboration and partnership.”

In recognition of these efforts, New York Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, a retired colonel in the United States Marine Corps, received the prestigious “Commander of the Order of the Phoenix” medal – one of Greece’s highest honors – at the repatriation ceremony.

“The cooperation between this prosecutor’s office and the Greek Ministry of Culture is built on mutual respect and good old-fashioned hard work,” said Bogdanos. “No recovery of an object and no conviction would be possible without the exceptional talent and dedication of those working at the Ministry and the relevant Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. It is in their name – and in the name of the entire Antiquities Trafficking Unit under New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg – that I accept this medal, with the promise that we will continue to pursue justice.”

A Wave of Returns

The ceremony in New York is part of a broader effort to reclaim Greece’s stolen cultural heritage. On Monday, February 24, Mendoni attended another repatriation event at the Greek Embassy in Washington, D.C., where a bronze griffin head from Ancient Olympia – dating to the 7th century BC – was formally returned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The return of these artifacts highlights growing global awareness and legal enforcement surrounding the protection of cultural heritage. With each successful repatriation, Greece not only reclaims priceless works of art but also restores vital pieces of its historical narrative – ensuring these treasures remain where they belong for future generations to study, admire, and connect with their heritage.

With information in Greek from kathimerini.gr.