In a significant development, the Greek Ministry of Culture proudly announced the successful repatriation of two ancient artefacts from Switzerland on January 23.
The repatriated treasures, disclosed in a statement by the ministry, were identified as follows:
- A fragment of a stone inscription (0.186m x 0.169m x 0.086m) dating back to the Hellenistic era (late 3rd - early 2nd century BCE). The inscription, originating from the island of Kos, preserves five verses with main names.
- A fragment of a marble Ionic capital (0.228m x 0.228m x 0.17m) from the Roman era (1st - 2nd century CE), with its origin traced to the Ancient Agora of Corinth.
According to the ministry's statement, both antiquities had been illegally removed from Greek territory at an unknown time.
“The objects were delivered by Swiss citizens in the autumn of 2022 and spring of 2023, respectively, to the Archaeological Service of the Canton of the Grisons (Canton des Grisons), which documented their Greek origin. In implementation of the bilateral agreement between the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation and the Government of the Hellenic Republic on the import, transit, and repatriation of cultural goods, ratified by Law 3915/2011, the Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland informed appropriately the Embassy of Greece in Bern and the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, as the competent authority of the Greek Ministry of Culture," said the Ministry.
The repatriation process was carried out in adherence to a bilateral agreement between the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation and the Government of the Hellenic Republic. This agreement pertains to the import, transit, and repatriation of cultural goods and was ratified by Law 3915/2011. The Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland duly informed the Embassy of Greece in Bern and the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, which serves as the competent authority of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, the successful repatriation of these artefacts underscores the effectiveness of bilateral agreements established by Greece with numerous countries. These agreements aim to prevent and address the illegal trafficking of cultural goods, aligning with the recommendations of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The ministry also highlighted that the repatriation efforts serve as evidence of the impact of various initiatives, both national and international, aimed at raising awareness among citizens about the issue of antiquities trafficking. The importance of protecting cultural heritage was emphasised as a shared responsibility on a global scale.
