Greece Welcomes Return of 29 Antiquities from New York

On October 3, 2025, 29 antiquities were officially repatriated to Greece during a ceremony at the Consulate General of Greece in New York. Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Manhattan DA’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit, presented the artifacts to Greek authorities, including Secretary General of Culture Georgios Didaskalou, Consul General Iphigenia Kanara, and officials from the Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property.

The repatriated artifacts, spanning the Late Neolithic period (5000–4000 BC) to the Late Hellenistic era (2nd–1st century BC), include significant examples of sculpture, metalwork, and ceramics. Most were illegally trafficked, primarily through Fortuna Fine Arts, before being seized following investigations by the Manhattan DA’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Greek archaeological authorities.

Eighteen of the artifacts had been held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which collaborates closely with Greece’s Ministry of Culture. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni hailed the repatriation as “an extremely significant event,” emphasizing Greece’s dedication to combating antiquities trafficking, a crime linked to organized crime and terrorism. She commended Bogdanos and U.S. authorities for their cooperation, noting that fighting the illegal trade in cultural goods demands strong partnerships.