in-cyprus 7 December 2024
A rare Bronze Age zoomorphic vessel has been returned to Cyprus in London on Saturday, marking another successful recovery of the island’s looted cultural heritage.
Deputy Minister of Culture Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou and High Commissioner of Cyprus to the UK Dr Kyriakos Kouros received the ceremonial vessel at the High Commission from Costas Paraskevaides, director of ArtAncient London gallery, which specialises in ancient art exhibitions.
The intricately crafted red polished vessel, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age (around 2000 BC), was previously documented by the Department of Antiquities in Famagusta before 1974. The artefact was looted and illegally exported following the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of northern Cyprus.
Paraskevaides told the Cyprus News Agency that he discovered the vessel listed for sale at a German auction in mid-2023. His gallery’s team of experts investigated its provenance and confirmed it had been stolen from Cyprus in 1974. He then contacted the Deputy Ministry of Culture, arranging to purchase and return the vessel to its country of origin.
Speaking to CNA, Kassianidou described this as another significant repatriation of antiquities to Cyprus, made possible through Paraskevaides’s invaluable assistance. “Cyprus is a source country. Unfortunately, after the 1974 invasion, a large part of our cultural heritage was lost and channelled into the illegal antiquities market, making such recoveries particularly important,” she said.
She highlighted the ongoing efforts between the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus Police, Law Office, Customs, and Interpol to repatriate such artefacts. “In this case, we were aided by a Cypriot who identified it, and we are deeply grateful for that,” Kassianidou added.
The minister noted that there have been several similar successful recoveries of Cypriot antiquities recently, praising the coordination between embassies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in these efforts.
The vessel is expected to go on display at the Cyprus Museum in the coming months.
