Source::AP news
For decades, an important part of Greece’s cultural heritage sparkled only for the very few in a U.S. billionaire’s private collection, until a groundbreaking deal for its gradual return to Athens. Now 15 of the prehistoric masterpieces have gone on public view for the first time in a temporary display in Athens, ahead of their final return, together with the remaining 146 works, by the year 2048.
The 15 works on display in Athens are striking. One 86-centimeter (34-inch) female figurine retains eyes and eyebrows in low relief. A diminutive female figure standing on the head of a larger one is one of only three known in existence. A marble head bears traces of painted red dots on its cheeks and neck as, like later ancient Greek sculpture, many of the Cycladic figurines were initially colored.
The 15 works will be sent to the Met, to be displayed with the rest from 2023 to 2048. The returns to Greece will start in 2033 and continue through 2048.
“The August deal, which also involved New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, was the best possible one it could get. A court process is a very arduous affair that requires very strong documentation which, in most cases, we lack,” said Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni.
“When an artifact, from a broken piece of pottery to a statue, is removed from its context, the environment in which it is found, it ceases to be a piece of historic evidence and simply becomes an artwork. The loss is immense.” Said Mendoni.
“It is an unfortunate fact that finds from illegal excavations exist all over the world. So, whichever of these belong to Greece, our policy is to bring them back.” She added._AP news
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