86 Ancient figurines, vases, vessels, and amphorae return to Greece

Eighty-six Greek antiquities are returning to our country, voluntarily handed over to the Ministry of Culture by a private collector from abroad, as part of a concluded agreement.

The ancient works originate from various regions of Greece and span a wide chronological range, from the Early Neolithic to the Late Hellenistic period. They include naturalistic female figurines of the Neolithic period, marble figurines and vases of the Early Cycladic period, Mycenaean pottery, bronze figurines of the Geometric, Archaic, and Hellenistic eras, bronze helmets of various types, bronze and silver vessels (hydriae, oinochoai, and phialai respectively), bronze mirrors, significant examples of Attic black-figure and red-figure pottery, a marble funerary stele, terracotta figurines, and Hellenistic gold funerary wreaths.

Marble Cycladic figurine of a female form, Spedos/Dokathismata type. Height 35.56 cm. Early Cycladic II period (2500–2400 BC).

Minoan pseudo-neck amphora. Height 20.32 cm. Late Minoan IIIB period (1300–1100 BC).

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated:
“The Ministry of Culture, with particular satisfaction, welcomes 86 Greek antiquities that have been repatriated to the land that created them. This specific repatriation is the result of our collaboration with yet another private collector abroad, who voluntarily returned these testaments of our cultural heritage. I sincerely hope this example will be followed by other collectors of Greek antiquities: to cooperate with us and return their collections to their rightful home. For Greece and for the Ministry of Culture, every repatriation—especially a voluntary one—proves that more and more people around the world now consider the return of cultural goods to their countries of origin as necessary.”

Bronze figurine of a hoplite. The young man is shown nude, wearing a helmet with a tall crest. In his right hand he once held a spear, in his bent left hand a shield. Work of a Laconian workshop. Height 20.32 cm. 600–550 BC.

Bronze Corinthian helmet. Height 22.86 cm. Around 550 BC.

After the completion of the documentation and cataloguing process, the objects will be appropriately distributed to museums across the country.

Attic black-figure psykter (vessel used for cooling wine) with a depiction of horsemen and hoplites. Height 25.4 cm. Around 550 BC.

Attic black-figure choes with a battle scene between Heracles and an Amazon. Heracles attacks with a club. The defending Amazon wears a Corinthian helmet with a tall crest, holding a spear and a shield decorated with a human leg as its emblem. Height 15.15 cm. 550–500 BC.

Attic black-figure kylix of the “Segment Group.” Inside the cup, a Dionysian scene is depicted: three maenads dancing. On the exterior, a krater between fish. Diameter 17.65 cm. Late 6th c. BC.

Attic lekythos. Depicts a seated female figure on a klismos chair, holding a mirror and a jewelry pyxis. Attributed to the “Athens 1826 Painter.” Height 22.9 cm. Around 460 BC.

Attic red-figure alabastron. On one side, a winged Nike before an altar; on the other, a young male figure leaning on a staff. Attributed to the Aischines Painter. Height 17.5 cm. Around 440 BC.

Marble Attic funerary stele with pediment-shaped crowning. Carries a relief scene within a rectangular frame, depicting a handshake between a male and female figure. Height 90.2 cm. Early 4th c. BC.

Bronze cinerary hydria. At the lower attachment of the vertical handle, a hammered relief of Nike facing left, with long wings outstretched. Height 48.26 cm. Around 350 BC.

Bronze mirror disc. Its cover bears a relief decoration of a female head in profile. Diameter 15.20 cm. Around 270–260 BC.

Marble bearded head of Hermes of the type “Hermes Propylaeus.” Height 12.7 cm. 2nd–1st c. BC.