A woman from Germany has returned a valuable ancient Greek artifact that she had stolen more than half a century ago from the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The artifact is a limestone capital of an Ionic column, measuring approximately nine inches tall and 33.5 inches wide, taken from the Leonidaion in Olympia, Greece, a guesthouse for athletes dating back to the 4th century BC.
The Greek Ministry of Culture commended the woman’s “sensitivity and courage” for returning the ancient column, which she had kept since her visit in the 1960s. Inspired by the University of Münster’s efforts to repatriate stolen objects, she entrusted the artifact to the university, which facilitated its return.
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.” The University of Münster has been actively engaged in returning illegally trafficked objects, including a Roman marble male head from Thessaloniki and the skull cup of Spyros Louis, the Olympic champion runner from the 1896 Athens Games.
A ceremony for the repatriation of the column took place in Olympia, where George Didaskalou, Greece’s General Secretary of Culture, described the event as a touching moment. He highlighted the significance of cooperation, responsibility, and mutual respect in preserving cultural heritage and fostering friendships among nations.
The return of the ancient column coincides with Greece’s ongoing efforts to reclaim the Parthenon Marbles, currently housed in the British Museum since the 19th century. The removal of the marbles by British Ambassador Lord Elgin during the Ottoman Empire’s rule in Athens continues to be a point of contention between Greece and Britain.