Repatriation of Ancient Capital from Münster, Germany

The Leonidaion, named after its benefactor Leonidas from Naxos, is located outside the Altis in the sanctuary’s southwest section. It was the largest building in the sanctuary (74.80 x 81.08 m), with characteristic Ionic colonnades on all four sides. Built in the second half of the 4th century BC, it served as a guesthouse for prominent visitors. Its northern section was uncovered during the first German excavations (1875–1881), and the full excavation was completed between 1953 and 1956.

The University of Münster has been a long-standing partner of the Greek Ministry of Culture. In 2019, it returned the so-called Skyphos of Louïs, a cup belonging to Spyridon Louïs, winner of the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. In 2024, it repatriated a Roman-period marble male head originating from a Thessaloniki cemetery, now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

Dr. Torben Schreiber, curator of the University of Münster’s Archaeological Museum, reaffirmed the museum’s commitment to returning any artifact proven to be illicitly acquired, stating: “It is never too late to do what is right, ethical, and just.”

At the ceremony, Secretary General for Culture Georgios Didaskalos expressed his gratitude to the university’s representatives, stating:
“This is a deeply moving moment. This act proves that culture and history know no borders but require cooperation, responsibility, and mutual respect. Each such return is an act of justice and a bridge of friendship between peoples.”

This voluntary return adds to a growing list of similar actions in recent years. The trend reflects Greece’s continuous national and international efforts to raise awareness and mobilize action against the illegal trade in antiquities.