29 Antiquities Repatriated to Greece in Official Ceremony at the Consulate General of Greece in New York

New York, October 3, 2025 — In a formal handover ceremony held at the Consulate General of Greece in New York, twenty-nine antiquities were officially returned to the Hellenic Republic by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Bogdanos, Head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

The event was attended by George Didaskalou, Secretary General of Culture, Iphigenia Kanara, Consul General of Greece in New York, and senior officials from the Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property.

The repatriated artifacts span a broad chronological range — from the Final Neolithic period (5,000–4,000 BCE) to the Late Hellenistic period (2nd/1st century BCE) — and represent significant examples of sculpture, metalwork, and ceramics from various regions of Greece.

Nearly all the artifacts had been illicitly trafficked and ended up in the art market, notably within the collections of Fortuna Fine Arts. Eighteen of the twenty-nine objects had entered the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Their recovery was the result of an extensive investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the archaeological documentation provided by Greece’s Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property.

The Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, emphasized that each repatriation of Greek antiquities represents a highly significant event. She noted that Greece has become internationally recognized for placing the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property at the heart of its cultural policy. She added that this crime is often linked to organized crime and terrorism and highlighted that this stance was also acknowledged during the UNESCO Mondiacult conference in Barcelona. Mendoni expressed her satisfaction with the success of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, led by Matthew Bogdanos, and Homeland Security Investigations, stating that their achievements inspire hope and optimism. She reaffirmed that fighting illicit trafficking requires strong partnerships and sustained effort and expressed her gratitude to all who contributed to the return of the 29 antiquities.

Matthew Bogdanos, Assistant District Attorney and Head of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, stated that the success was due to the hard work of his team and their ongoing cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Culture. He stressed that both sides work together willingly and effectively to document the objects in question. He underlined their unwavering commitment to continue the fight against the illegal trade in cultural heritage, without hesitation or delay, noting that “these are the people, this is the place, and this is the time” to act decisively.

George Didaskalou, Secretary General of Culture, expressed his honor and joy to be present at the ceremony to receive the 29 artifacts, which are returning to Greece as a result of the thorough investigations carried out by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit. He stated that the Ministry of Culture, through the Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, would continue its close cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. He expressed his confidence that this partnership will lead to even more significant results in the future.

This repatriation underscores the deep and ongoing collaboration between Greek and U.S. authorities in the fight against cultural property trafficking, and highlights Greece’s leading role in global efforts to safeguard cultural heritage.

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