CyprusLife

Artefacts returned to Cyprus from US in repatriation efforts

By: SigmaLive English

Date:

Two Cypriot antiquities were voluntarily returned by the Art of Eternity Gallery in New York during a ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the United States, with the aim of repatriating them.

According to a post by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the US, a “modest ceremony” was held on Tuesday for the repatriation of two Cypriot antiquities – a Cypro-Archaic four-horse chariot (600 BC) and a Cypro-Geometric/Archaic bowl (750 BC). The ceremony was attended by US officials from the FBI’s International Operations Division, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the US, Evangelos Savva, expressed “gratitude for the voluntary return of the antiquities by the Art of Eternity Gallery of New York and thanked in this regard its Owner/Director, Howard Nowes, and Director Dara Mayers, who were also present.” He also highlighted “the appreciation” of the Republic of Cyprus to the Department of Justice and the FBI for their long-standing and close cooperation in preventing the illegal trafficking of antiquities and promoting cultural preservation, “which was once again demonstrated through the recovery of these two valuable items.” This was echoed in the comments made by David Lewis, Head of the FBI Division.

According to the post, this occasion “strengthened the importance of the bilateral Cyprus-US agreement” for imposing import restrictions on pre-classical and classical archaeological objects and ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological material from the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods.

It is recalled that in December 2024, another 266 Cypriot antiquities were repatriated from Los Angeles, USA, with Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou at the time referring to “a growing trend of antiquities being returned” in recent times.

Photo source: CNA

Source: CNA

Featured photo source: Rob Micheils

Also read: Old Municipal Market becomes hub for innovation in Nicosia

For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

ON THIS DAY: 3.4-billion-year-old fossils revealed (1977)

On 23 October 1977, palaeontologist Elso Barghoorn announced the discovery of fossilised single-celled organisms estimated to be 3.4 billion years old, offering remarkable evidence of life on the early Earth. The announcement highlighted the possibility that microscopic life had emerged relatively early in Earth's history, long before plants, animals or other complex organisms appeared. Barghoorn was known for his pioneering work in palaeobiology, particularly his research into ancient microorganisms and the origins of life. Why ancient microfossils matter Unlike the fossilised bones and shells commonly associated with prehistoric life, ancient microfossils can be extremely difficult to identify. Their structures are tiny, and geological processes over billions of years can alter or obscure their original appearance. Researchers study these specimens to understand when life first appeared, what early organisms may have looked like and the environments in which they survived. Evidence of such ancient life is also important to astrobiology, as scientists investigate whether similar conditions might have supported microorganisms elsewhere in the solar system. The continuing search for Earth's earliest life The interpretation of some of the world's oldest proposed microfossils remains a subject of scientific debate. Structures that resemble microorganisms can sometimes form through non-biological processes, making independent chemical and geological evidence essential. Nevertheless, Barghoorn's work helped establish the study of ancient microscopic life as a major field of scientific research. Nearly half a century after his 1977 announcement, the search for Earth's earliest organisms continues to reshape our understanding of how life began.

Supreme Court upholds New Hampshire student ID limits

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed New Hampshire officials...

Trump asked Google to rename Atlantic Ocean

Donald Trump said Google rejected his request to rename...

Magnitude 7 earthquake in Tiber kills 16

At least 16 people have died and dozens were...