Germany Returns 25 Looted Archaeological Artifacts to Italy
On June 13, 2024, in Berlin, Claudia Roth, the German Culture Minister, handed over 25 ancient artifacts to her Italian counterpart, Gennaro Sangiuliano. Among these items were 21 vases, 10 plates, and a fresco fragment from Boscoreale dating back to around 340 BCE, all of which had been illegally excavated in Foggia and smuggled into Europe. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation had held these artifacts, which were displayed at the Altes Museum after being purchased in 1984 for 3 million marks from dealer Christopher Leon, associated with trafficker Giacomo Medici. Following an investigation by Italy's Carabinieri, 21 artifacts were subjected to confiscation proceedings. In appreciation, Italy will lend four artifacts to Germany. Roth hailed the repatriation as a triumph for cultural property protection.
Key facts
- 25 ancient artifacts returned to Italy from Germany on June 13, 2024
- Return ceremony in Berlin with ministers Claudia Roth and Gennaro Sangiuliano
- Artifacts illegally excavated in Foggia province and smuggled decades ago
- Included 21 vases, 10 decorated plates, and a fresco fragment from Boscoreale (c. 340 BCE)
- Held by Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (chair Hermann Parzinger) at Altes Museum
- Museum acquired lot in 1984 for 3 million marks from dealer Christopher Leon
- Lot passed through trafficker Giacomo Medici (convicted 2009)
- Italy will lend 4 artifacts to Germany for 4 years (renewable once)
Entities
Institutions
- Altes Museum
- Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
- Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
- National Archaeological Museum of Naples
- Archaeological Parks of Paestum and Velia
- The Art Newspaper
- Artribune
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Italy
- Foggia
- Rome
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Boscoreale
- Naples
- Paestum
- Velia