Greece has received five antiquities from the United States following a voluntary repatriation by a private American family. The objects were formally handed over during a ceremony at the Greek Consulate General in Chicago, attended by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and representatives of the donors and Greek authorities.
The artefacts include two black-figure Attic vases dating to the 6th century BC, a bronze mirror from the Late Archaic-Classical period, a headless marble statue of Hermes (1st century BC to 1st century AD), and a relief fragment depicting the goddess Athena from the 2nd century AD.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the items had been acquired in the 1970s and 1980s by the family of Richard and Mary L. Gray. In May 2025, their children, Harry, Jennifer, and Paul Gray, contacted Greek authorities and agreed to voluntarily return the antiquities. The process was completed under the supervision of the ministry's Directorate for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mendoni said: "Today, another story of nostos is written, with the return of five ancient Greek works of art to the land that created them. The decision of the Gray family to return the antiquities constitutes an act of generosity, responsibility and a strong sense of justice. In the person of Jeniffer Gray, who is present here, I express my gratitude to the Gray family for their stance, which highlights the decisive role of citizens in the protection of cultural heritage."
She added that voluntary returns have become an important part of Greece's strategy to recover antiquities from abroad. "Voluntary handovers of antiquities constitute significant successes for our country. In recent years, more than 200 objects have been repatriated from 17 countries, from all continents, reflecting the effectiveness of our strategy and the trust that has been built between the Greek state and citizens abroad. Behind each such act lies a great deal of work, systematic research and responsible guidance. Those who return Greek antiquities are rightly ranked among the friends of Greek culture and the allies of our country in combating antiquities trafficking. With emotion, we welcome the antiquities back to their homeland. We continue with consistency and dedication our effort to protect our cultural heritage."
The minister also thanked the Gray family, as well as Greek diplomats and Ministry of Culture officials involved in the case, including former Consul General in San Francisco Grigorios Tassiopoulos and current Consul General in Chicago Emmanouil Koubarakis, for their contribution to the process. Among those present at the ceremony were Consul Georgia Tasiopoulou, Erin Bakunas of the Gray Collection Trust, and senior officials from the Ministry of Culture.
