Greece has received 22 antiquities that Israel recovered after their illegal removal from the country, marking the first time Israel has returned ancient artefacts to Greece and opening the way for closer cooperation against antiquities trafficking.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni received the objects from Israeli Ambassador Pninat Yanay during a handover ceremony in the Altar Hall of the National Archaeological Museum, attended by Amir Ganor, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery.
Israeli authorities located and seized the antiquities through the unit, which works to combat the illegal trade in cultural heritage.
The collection comprises 15 Attic vases, six vessels from Corinthian workshops and a bronze statuette depicting a female figure.
Of the Attic vases, 11 feature black-figure decoration, three feature red-figure decoration and one has a black-glazed finish. Experts date them to the Archaic and Classical periods. The six Corinthian vessels date to the Archaic period.
Authorities say the bronze female statuette requires further investigation to establish its authenticity.
Greece and Israel Strengthen Cooperation Against Antiquities Trafficking
Mendoni described the return as a landmark in relations between the two countries and a starting point for closer cooperation to protect cultural heritage.
“This is the first time Israel has returned antiquities to Greece, and it marks the beginning of closer cooperation between our two countries in protecting cultural heritage,” Mendoni said.
She added that officials from both countries had already begun exchanging experience and good practices to prevent and combat the illegal trafficking of cultural objects.
Mendoni said the return demonstrated how international cooperation could deliver tangible results in the fight against antiquities smuggling, which she described as a major crime.
Yanay also highlighted the cultural significance of returning the artefacts, reflecting on how ancient objects can connect people across generations.
She invited the audience to imagine a child looking at one of the vases today and experiencing a spark of wonder, much like a child might have felt 2,000 years ago.
That connection, she suggested, restores a link in a chain of generations that had been broken.
The ambassador said she felt deeply moved by the privilege of returning an ancient object to Greece and that Israel was honoured to contribute to the important mission of protecting cultural heritage.
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