Greece: Ancient artifact repatriated

Hellenic Culture Minister Lina Mendoni attended the repatriation ceremony of an Attic black-figure lekythos (oil flask), held at the Greek Embassy in Washington.

The 12 cm vessel, depicting a battle between Athena and a giant, was excavated in 1910 from a tomb in Athens’ Kerameikos cemetery. It was later removed under unknown circumstances between 1936 and 1976. The artifact was auctioned in New York in 1973 and eventually donated anonymously to the Glencairn Museum in Pennsylvania.

Mendoni expressed gratitude to the museum for returning the item, calling it a significant and symbolic gesture.

The return was initiated by the museum as part of its review of collection origins, rather than through an official Greek government claim. 

Source: ekathimerini.com