(ATHENS NEWS AGENCY-MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY) Greece returned to Albania two ancient statues which were stolen from the neighbouring country 17 years ago and smuggled into Greece. The first statue is a representation of goddess Artemis, dated second century BC, and the second one of Apollo, from the second century AD. Minister of Culture Mihalis Liapis stated that “the statues were finally returned to their rightful owners”. This gesture constitutes a symbol of Greece’s effort to collect stolen Greek artefacts from across the world. Greece’s latest claim of the smuggled artefacts found at the J. Paul Getty museum in California resulted in the museum’s curator facing charges for illegal acquisition. Moreover, Greece continues to pressure Britain regarding the Elgin marbles, while the New Acropolis Museum has already reserved a hall for this cultural treasure. Athens News Agency: Stolen statues to Albania
Filed under: Art, Greece, history, International Relations | Tagged: Albania, Apollo, Elgin marbles, goddess Artemis, Greece, J. Paul Getty museum, Mihalis Liapis, New Acropolis Museum, Stolen statues to Albania |
Embassy of Greece in Poland Press & Communication Office 