Israel returns 22 ancient artefacts to Greece

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 07:57 · Archive

Israel has returned 22 ancient artefacts stolen from Greece in the first such repatriation between the two countries. Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni received the objects at a ceremony at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on Tuesday, accepting them from the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The collection spans centuries, dated between approximately 700 BC and 320 BC. It comprises 15 Attic vases, six Corinthian vases, and a small bronze female statuette. The pottery includes slender oil flasks, two-handled amphores and drinking cups decorated with mythological scenes and geometric motifs. The Israel Antiquities Authority's Theft Prevention Unit had located the items, though officials did not provide details on how the artefacts were discovered in Israel or the circumstances of their illegal removal from Greece.

Mendoni said the return marked 'the starting point of closer cooperation between the two countries for the protection of cultural heritage'. She added that every return of a cultural object to its place of origin had 'a broader symbolic and moral dimension'. Israel's ambassador to Greece, Pninat Yanay, said the handover created 'the conditions for further strengthening cooperation between Greece and Israel'.

The return comes as Greece intensifies an international repatriation campaign with the ultimate goal of securing the return of sculptures taken from the Acropolis. Greece and Israel have strengthened energy and defence ties in recent years, including a €3 billion defence deal signed in August to build an air defence system in Greece called Achilles Shield.

How it is being reported

• Israel returns stolen Greek artefacts in landmark handoverIt is the first such repatriation between the two countriesIndependent World · 14 Oct, 07:41
• Israel returns 22 stolen ancient artefacts to GreeceThe cultural exchange comes amid strengthening ties between the two countries.Al Jazeera · 14 Oct, 04:23

In this story: Israel · Greece · Lina Mendoni · National Archaeological Museum in Athens · Israel Antiquities Authority · Pninat Yanay

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