Two stolen ancient Greek vases returned to Greece from Switzerland

·

Two marble vases that once marked ancient Athenians’ graves over 2,000 years ago have been returned to Greece from Switzerland, apnews.com has reported.

Greece’s Culture Ministry announced on Tuesday that the white marble vases, decorated with relief sculptures, were recovered after a prolonged legal battle.

Both vases are damaged, missing their necks and parts of their bases. One stands at 60 centimeters (23 inches) tall, and the other at 54 centimeters (21 inches). Dating back to the 4th century B.C., they originally marked family graves near Athens. However, due to their illegal excavation and export, their exact original location remains unknown.

One vase depicts a touching family scene with an elderly man, his soldier son, and his wife, while the other features plant motifs. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized that repatriating plundered antiquities is a “top political priority” for the ministry, which has successfully secured several returns recently.

The vases were first discovered in 2002 during a raid on a Basel warehouse used by an Italian antiquities dealer. Despite being returned to the dealer in 2014 after an Italian court ruling, Greek authorities noticed the vases were up for sale again in 2017 and secured their seizure by Switzerland. The ministry said it emerged that Swiss authorities had sold them to the second dealer to cover legal costs incurred by the Italian dealer.

Following over six years of legal negotiations, the vases were handed over to Greek officials on June 26. They will be displayed in a museum featuring artifacts from Kerameikos, the main cemetery of ancient Athens.

Source: apnews.com

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Spurs sack Ange Postecoglou despite Europa League glory

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Ange Postecoglou will not continue as manager next season, despite ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought with a Europa...

Meet TIFFANY: The Greek Australian artist making waves in RnB

Are you looking for your new favourite Greek artist who combines unique sounds of RnB, house and EDM music?

Heirs of a Greek inheritance: Most common problems to deal with

There are many people of Greek descent all over the world whose parents or other close relatives had properties in Greece.

Niki Louca shares her family favourite Indokaridopita (coconut cake) recipe

It is a cake her aunty Panayiota used to make often in years gone by, and one she hasn’t had for a long time.

Naz Vardar to give Melbourne seminar on shaping Vlach identity

The focus lies on the story of a Vlach priest navigating his way within the local Vlach community in Manastir (Bitola).

You May Also Like

‘I want my people at the Sydney Opera House’: Mary Coustas ahead of one-woman comedy show

For the first time in her career comedian Mary Coustas will take the Opera House’s Playhouse to premiere her one-woman-show, This Is Personal.

Short story ‘Lydia: A Summer in Greece!’ making it easy for adults to improve Greek language skills

For some Greeks, learning the language of their heritage can be a difficult task. Whether, as a child, their parents never encouraged them to...

Angelo Gargasoulas, brother of Victoria’s Bourke St killer, faces drug trafficking charges

Angelo Gargasoulas, the 33-year-old brother of Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas, is facing serious drug trafficking charges.