A woman from Germany has returned a 2,400-year-old Greek artifact she stole over five decades ago from the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The artifact, an Ionic column capital made of limestone, was taken from the Leonidaion in Olympia, a guesthouse for athletes dating back to the 4th century BC.
The Greek Ministry of Culture commended the woman for her “sensitivity and courage” in giving back the ancient piece, which she had kept since the 1960s. She handed it over to the University of Münster in Germany, where it was repatriated, following the university’s efforts to return other stolen items.
Dr. Torben Schreiber, the curator of Münster’s Archaeological Museum, emphasized the importance of ethical actions, stating, “It is never too late to do what is right, ethical, and just.” In recent years, Münster has returned various stolen artifacts, including a Roman marble head and the skull cup of Spyros Louis, the first Olympic champion in Athens in 1896.
A ceremony marking the return of the column took place in Olympia, described by Greece’s General Secretary of Culture George Didaskalou as a “moving moment.” Didaskalou highlighted the significance of such returns in promoting cooperation, responsibility, and mutual respect among nations.
Meanwhile, Greece continues its efforts to reclaim the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, where they have been housed since the 19th century. The removal of the marbles by British Ambassador Lord Elgin from the Acropolis temple during Ottoman rule remains a contentious issue between Greece and Britain.