NY Sends Back 58 Priceless Artifacts to Italy
New York City just handed over a treasure trove of antiquities—58 items worth a staggering $19 million (S$27 million)—to Italy. The ceremony, taking place on Tuesday (Sept 7), turned a quiet reclamation into a full‑blown celebration.
What’s in the Ship‑Off?
- The Marble Head of Athena – a stunning piece estimated at $3 million
- A white‑ground Kylix – a beautiful drinking cup that looks like it belonged to the gods
- A Bronze Bust of a Man
- Vases, platters, and every other kitchenware item you can imagine that once filled ancient homes
- Some pieces originally part of billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt‘s private collection
These relics were snatched by notorious looters—Giacomo Medici and Giovanni Franco Becchina—who lured local crew to unprotected sites across Italy. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been on a quest to pull back every stolen piece.
Behind the Seizure
Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, the mastermind behind Manhattan’s antiquities unit, expressed his pride on the day. “We’re lucky to bring it home today,” he told the gathered crowd, hinting at a “wave” of future seizures and repatriations.
Since the 2010s, Bogdanos’s team has wrestled away 4,500 items worth over $250 million. “It’s a game changer,” he said, crediting a unique setup where prosecutors, investigators, and analysts work hand‑in‑hand. “We’re the only unit of its kind in the world.”
Italy’s Warm Reception
On the island side of the ceremony, General Roberto Riccardi stood up, rocking the old ceremonial hat. He echoed the sentiment that these relics are “part of our past, our ancestors. They belong to the community; they will go back to the people and the future generations.”
Why it Matters
Beyond the hefty price tags, every returned piece is a link back to a cultural lineage that has been ripped from its homeland for decades. Thanks to the relentless work of the NY DA’s unit, the heritage of Latin Europe is getting a second chance to shine—under its native sky.
So, next time you’re sipping coffee at the Metropolitan Museum, just remember that a few cups and vases made their grand return home. Cheers to the teamwork that made it happen!
