Ancient Greece

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Unearthed Pompeii Frescoes Reveal Greek Dionysian Rituals from Jesus’s Era

Archaeologists in Pompeii have uncovered breathtaking frescoes from the 40-30s BC, depicting the Greek god Dionysus and his secretive cult rituals. Preserved under volcanic ash since Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, these vivid artworks adorn a banquet hall, offering a rare window into ancient life and beliefs from the time of Jesus.

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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Returns 11 Antiquities Worth Nearly $1 Million to Greece

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. has returned 11 antiquities valued at nearly $1 million to Greece. The artifacts, seized during investigations into antiquities trafficking, including a probe into convicted London-based trafficker Robin Symes, were handed over at a repatriation ceremony with Greece’s Minister of Culture Dr. Lina Mendoni. This latest action is part of the Antiquities Trafficking Unit’s broader effort, which has recovered over 2,225 stolen items valued at $250 million during Bragg’s tenure.

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Greece Celebrates Return of Ancient Vase from the US After Decades Abroad

An ancient Attic black-figure lekythos, a small vessel traditionally used for storing oil and often placed in ancient Greek tombs as a funerary offering, has been voluntarily returned to Greece by the Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. The 12-centimeter artifact was officially handed over to Greek authorities by museum curator Wendy Closterman during a ceremony at the Greek Embassy in Washington, D.C., attended by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.

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Archaeologists Celebrate Rare Find of Tiny 1,700-Year-Old Hercules Statue in Florence, Italy

Archaeologists in Montaione, Italy, have unearthed a rare 1,700-year-old Roman statue of Hercules, standing just 1.64 feet tall. Despite its small size and missing head, the marble figure—complete with a club, lion’s skin, and a bull’s head at its feet—offers a unique depiction of the Greek demigod’s seventh labor, thrilling experts and proving that size doesn’t diminish significance in this exceptional find

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New York DA’s Office to Repatriate $1 Million Worth of Ancient Greek Artifacts

The New York District Attorney’s Office is set to return 11 ancient Greek artifacts valued at $1 million to Greece. This significant repatriation effort, marked by a ceremony in Manhattan, highlights ongoing international collaboration to restore cultural heritage. Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni will be in New York for the event, honoring Matthew Bogdanos’s role in recovering the artifacts.

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Cleveland Museum of Art to Return Looted Bronze, Possibly Greek, Statue to Türkiye

A headless bronze statue, possibly of Greek origin, will be returned to Türkiye by the Cleveland Museum of Art after being confirmed as looted from the ancient city of Bubon. The statue, potentially depicting Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius or a Greek philosopher, is valued at $20 million and is part of a larger collection of repatriated antiquities recovered by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.