A total of 351 objects and 25 groups of artefacts are to be repatriated to Greece after a 17-year battle. The announcement was made by Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni on Friday, 19 May.
Robin Symes, a British antiquities dealer, had amassed thousands of pieces as part of a network of illegal traders.
Statues, figurines, sculptures, vases, jewelry, utensils and accessories dating back to Neolithic, early Byzantine times, once part of the Robin Symes collection are to be returned.
The Greek Ministry of Antiquities added that the repatriation of these antiquities was the result of the constant pursuit of all political leaders of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage. A methodical effort was carried out by many services of the Ministry of Culture, and especially the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties, the National Archaeological Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. The head of the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties, Vasiliki Papageorgiou, and the relevant department head, Elena Vlachogianni.
Many archaeologists of the YPPOA made significant contributions to various phases of the documentation supplied in relation to these objects. Amongst the archaelogists, Eleni Papazoglou-Manioudaki and Katerina Voutsa, participated in the working groups set up by the YPPOA to handle the case. Elena Korka and Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, as well as Polyxeni Adam-Veleni, participated as experts and as members of the working groups.
A noteworthy contribution was made by the Greek Police and the Judicial Authorities. Decisive for this successful outcome was the cooperation of the Ministry of the Interior with the Legal Council of the State. The legal follow-up of the case was undertaken by Artemis Papathanasiou, Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who also contributed significantly to the promotion of the case through the Embassy of Greece in London.
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