Law and politics
Collectively, the pieces are valued at $3.7 million.
A Corinthian helmet and a marble statue of Aphrodite are among 30 items repatriated by the United States to Greece in a December 15 ceremony.
The antiquities, which also include breastplates, a Byzantine silver plate and a bronze chariot accessory, were recovered by Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. district of Manhattan, Alvin Bragg.
Collectively, the pieces are valued at $3.7 million. Bragg said in a statement that 19 of the works were voluntarily returned by New York gallery owner Michael Ward and that three were seized from British art dealer Robin Symes.
A source familiar with the case said the remaining eight items are in the possession of investigators, who know the items were stolen, but have not yet said where, how or by whom they were stolen or recovered.
“A nation’s precious history should never be stolen, peddled, or marketed for sale. Yet for years, these antiquities have been kept in collectors’ homes, prestigious institutions, and even storage lockers,” said Erin Keegan, HSI’s acting special agent in charge of New York.
“Cultural heritage is an integral part of our identity as a people and a nation. It is therefore essential and today crucial to protect and preserve cultural heritage for future generations,” Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement.
Ambassador Dinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece in New York, called the artifacts “fabulous” and “incredibly preserved.”
“Their monetary value is millions of dollars, but their real value goes well beyond that,” Konstantinou said. “They are priceless for the Greek people.”
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