22/04/2026
Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, attended a ceremony held at the Consulate General of Greece in Chicago, USA, during which five antiquities were officially returned to the Greek state.
According to a statement from the Greek Ministry of Culture, these include two black-figure vases—an amphora and an olpe—from Attic workshops of the 6th century BC, a bronze mirror from the late Archaic to Classical period, a headless marble statue of the god Hermes (1st century BC – 1st century AD), as well as a fragment of a relief depicting the goddess Athena from the 2nd century AD.
The artifacts were voluntarily repatriated by the heirs of the Gray family, who contacted the Greek authorities, in an act of responsibility, respect and a strong sense of justice. The process was completed under the supervision of the Directorate for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
During the ceremony, Ms. Mendoni described this repatriation as “another story of “Nostos” (nostalgia), emphasizing the emotional and cultural importance of returning antiquities to their country of origin. As she stressed, “with deep emotion, we welcome these antiquities back to their homeland. We continue, with consistency and dedication, our efforts to protect our cultural heritage”.
🔗In recent years, more than 200 objects have been repatriated from 17 countries across all continents, reflecting the trust that has been built between the Greek State and citizens abroad.
Ministry Of Culture👉
https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/Information/SitePages/view.aspx
Consulate General of Greece in Chicago
