Today is the "Nostimon Imar" (νόστιμον ἦμαρ, “day of homecoming” in Homer's Odyssey), the sweet day of returning home after years of wandering, deals between illegal owners, fake purchase documents. But the antiquities always keep their truth, a truth intertwined with the history of the place that gave birth to them ".
With these words, the Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni received yesterday in New York in a special ceremony that took place in the Manhattan Prosecutor's Office the stolen antiquities that were in the hands of the collector Michael Steinhard as well as some more, coming from another investigation.
In total, 55 archeological finds of high art with historical and symbolic value return from New York to Greece, 47 of them were confiscated by Steinhardt and eight of the Prehistoric era from Thessaly.
Ancient artifacts that return to Greece
The Greek antiquities were handed over by the new Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg, who expressed his enthusiasm for his contribution to the completion of this investigation, awarding the credit to the team of Greek expatriates, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Boctus Homeland Security Service Ricky Patel, emphasizing his appreciation for Greece and the Greek Minister of Culture.
He even described the team of Mathios Bogdanos as a "dream team", which, as he said, is synonymous with this research.
"It is my honor," he said in his address, "that I am here and to be a part of this work. Thank you for the very good work our partners, special agent Ricky Patel and of course our international partner. Madam Minister, it is a great privilege for us that you have trusted us and that we have you here and also that we are returning these archeological findings to you. Also to mention Matthew Bogdano and his team, which is synonymous with this research. "It's a dream team."
A Kouros that return to Greece
Loud message
In the "methodical and tireless effort" on the part of the Attorney General, with a special reference to both Alvin Bragg and his predecessor, Cyrus Vance, Mrs. Mendoni mentioned also in her speech.
In addition, she spoke warmly about Matthew Bogdanos and the contribution of the services of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, which provided key information that allowed the full documentation of the projects in the context of this difficult investigation.
"Your huge success," she said, "is not only the antiquities returning to their countries of origin, including Greece, but the loud message to all those involved in the illicit trafficking of cultural goods, that sooner or later the time will come , that their illegal transactions will be revealed and they themselves will be confronted with the consequences of their actions ".
Ms. Mendoni also expressed her belief that "the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property is won with patience, perseverance and method, but above all with the close cooperation of people, institutions and states that consciously fight against the great crime of antiquity."
"The illegal trafficking of the cultural treasures of our country is a serious trauma that hurts all Greeks around the world."
