
Israel returned 22 ancient artefacts to Greece, including Attic and Corinthian vases and a bronze statuette dated between 700 BC and 320 BC, marking the first such repatriation and signaling strengthened cooperation in cultural heritage protection between the two nations.
AI-generated summary
Greece and Israel have strengthened energy and defence ties in recent years, and this artefact return marks the first cultural heritage repatriation between the two countries.
Israel has returned 22 ancient artefacts stolen from Greece, a cultural exchange that comes as the two countries strengthen ties.
Greek and Israeli officials did not provide details on Tuesday on how the artefacts were discovered in Israel or the circumstances surrounding their illegal removal from Greece.
The Israel Antiquities Authority’s Theft Prevention Unit had located the items, Pninat Yanay, Israel’s ambassador to Greece, said.
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni accepted the objects from the Israeli Antiquities Authority at a ceremony held at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
“It is the first time that Israel has returned antiquities to Greece, marking the starting point of closer cooperation between the two countries for the protection of cultural heritage,” Mendoni said.
“Every return of a cultural object to its place of origin has a broader symbolic and moral dimension.”
The collection includes 15 Attic vases, six Corinthian vases, and a bronze female statuette.
The objects are dated between 700 BC and 320 BC.
Yanay said the return of the antiquities created “the conditions for further strengthening cooperation between Greece and Israel”.
Greece-Israel relations
Greece and Israel have strengthened energy and defence ties in recent years.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further cooperation on cultural heritage protection between Greece and Israel will continue.
Likely · Within months

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