CHICAGO, IL – [Photos by Ministry of Culture]
Five Greek antiquities were formally handed over to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during a ceremony at the Greek Consulate General in Chicago, on April 20, marking their repatriation to Greece from the United States.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Culture, the objects include two Attic black‑figure vases (an amphora and an olpe) from the 6th century BC, a bronze mirror from the Late Archaic–Classical period, a headless marble statue of Hermes (1st century BC–1st century AD), and a relief fragment depicting the goddess Athena, dated to the 2nd century AD.
The items had been acquired in the 1970s and 1980s by the family of Richard and Mary L. Gray. In May 2025, their three children—Harry, Jennifer, and Paul Gray—contacted the Greek authorities and jointly initiated their voluntary return, a process supervised by the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods.
“Today, another story of homecoming is being written, with the return of five ancient Greek works of art to the land that created them”, Minister Mendoni stated during the handover ceremony, describing the decision of the Gray family to return these antiquities as “an act of generosity, responsibility, and a profound sense of justice”.
In the presence of Jennifer Gray, Mendoni expressed her gratitude to the Gray family for their stance, “which highlights the crucial role citizens play in protecting cultural heritage”. As she stated, “voluntary returns of antiquities are significant achievements for our country. In recent years, more than 200 objects have been repatriated from 17 countries across all continents, reflecting the effectiveness of our strategy and the trust built between the Greek State and citizens abroad. Behind every such act lies extensive work, systematic research, and responsible guidance. Those who return Greek antiquities rightfully stand among the friends of Greek culture and allies of our country in combating antiquities trafficking”.
“We welcome these antiquities back to their homeland with evident emotion. We continue with consistency and dedication our efforts to protect our cultural heritage”, Mendoni concluded.
She also thanked the Greek diplomats and Ministry of Culture officials who contributed to the successful completion of the repatriation. She made special mention of former Consul General in San Francisco, Grigorios Tassiopoulos, for handling the case in its initial phase, and Consul General in Chicago, Emmanuel Koubarakis.
Among those present at the ceremony were Consul Georgia Tassiopoulou, Erin Bakunas, Collections Manager of the Gray Collection Trust, Vasiliki Papageorgiou, Director of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods at the Ministry of Culture, and other Ministry officials.
