Five artifacts were returned to Greece by a family from Chicago, the Greek Culture Ministry announced in a statement last week.
The arifacts being returned are two black-figure vessels (an amphora and an olpe) from the six century BCE Attic workshops outside of Athens, a bronze mirror from the Late Archaic–Classical period, a headless marble statue of the Greek god Hermes (dating to the first century BCE – first century CE), and a fragment from a second century CE relief of the Greek goddess Athena.
Originally acquired by Richard and Mary L. Gray in the 1970s and 1980s, the archaeological repatriation process began in May 2025 after their three children, Harry, Jeniffer, and Paul Gray, reached out to Greek authorities.
“Today, another story of nostos is being written, with the return of five ancient Greek works of art to the land that created them,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during the formal repatriation ceremony last Wednesday.
“The decision of the Gray family to return the antiquities constitutes an act of generosity, responsibility, and a high sense of justice.”
Role of citizens in protecting cultural heritage
Mendoni expressed her gratitude to the Gray family for their decision to return the artifacts, noting that it “highlights the decisive role of citizens in the protection of cultural heritage.”
Further, she thanked all of the Greek officials and Culture Ministry employees who helped in the repatriation process, including Grigorios Tassiopoulos and Emmanuel Koubarakis, the Consul-Generals of Greece in San Francisco and Chicago.
She explained that over the past few years, 17 countries have returned more than 200 artifacts to Greece.
“Behind every such act lies a great deal of work, systematic research, and responsible guidance,” she said, affirming that “those who return Greek antiquities are justly counted among the friends of Greek culture and the allies of our country in the fight against antiquities trafficking.”
“With emotion, we welcome the antiquities back to their homeland. We continue with consistency and dedication the effort to protect our cultural heritage.”
