Israel returns antiquities to Greece for the first time
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On October 13, Israel returned twenty-two antiquities to Greece, marking the first time Israeli authorities have repatriated ancient Greek artifacts illegally removed from the country.
The handover took place at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, where Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni received the items from Israeli Ambassador to Greece Pninat Yanay and Amir Ganor, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Anti-Theft Unit. The returned artifacts primarily consist of Attic and Corinthian pottery from the Archaic and Classical periods.
Fifteen are Attic vases, eleven black-figure, three red-figure, and one black-gloss, dating from ancient times. The collection also includes six Corinthian vases and a bronze female figurine whose authenticity requires further investigation. Mendoni stated that this return signifies the start of closer cooperation between Greece and Israel to protect cultural heritage, emphasizing that combating illegal trafficking requires collaboration and mutual trust. Both countries have begun sharing expertise and practices to address looting and illegal antiquities trade.
