The US has given back 30 cultural items to Greece, such as marble statues and armor pieces, which were determined to have been illegally taken from the country. This was announced by authorities on Friday.

The pieces handed over to Greek officials in New York date back from as long as 4,700 years ago to the Middle Ages. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the “exquisite” works were collectively valued at $3.7 million (3.39 million euros).

The district attorney’s office stated that nineteen artifacts were relinquished by New York art dealer Michael Ward on a voluntary basis.

According to the statement, three additional items were taken from British art seller Robin Symes, while one was taken from a storage facility owned by an unidentified private collector based in New York.

Bragg described the collection of 30 historical items as a magnificent representation of the rich and stunning cultural heritage of Greece.

A headless marble statue of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love from the Roman era, was found in a storage unit belonging to Symes, according to Bragg’s office. It had been concealed there since at least 1999.

Additionally, there were seven bronze helmets ranging from the 6th century B.C. to the 3rd century B.C., as well as two bronze and two iron breastplates for soldiers. Other artifacts included a silver platter from the medieval era, a marble figurine from the Cycladic period dating back to 2,700-2,300 B.C., and pottery from the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations on the island of Crete.

In a statement, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni commended the “excellent collaboration and diligent efforts” of American and Greek specialists that resulted in the repatriation of the ancient artifacts.

This year, there were two previous occasions where 29 antiquities were returned, and last year, 55 works were also returned from New York.

For many years, Greece has been a target for criminal groups involved in the illegal trade of excavated ancient treasures that are sold for high prices internationally. According to regulations, all historical objects discovered within the country belong to the government.

Source: wral.com