Repatriation of 18 Cypriot Antiquities from the U.S.

Eighteen Cypriot antiquities, discovered for sale in an online auction, have been handed over to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington.

The Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced that on February 23, 2026, the antiquities were delivered to the Embassy.

The antiquities were located by officials of the Department of Antiquities, responsible for monitoring the illegal trafficking of Cypriot antiquities online, and were withdrawn after communication with the auction house.

Among the antiquities are two vessels from the Early Bronze Age (2500-1900 BC), 11 vessels from the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC), three vessels from the Cypro-Archaic I period (750-600 BC), one vessel from the Cypro-Archaic II period (600-480 BC), and a limestone head of a male statue from the 4th century BC.

The Department of Antiquities expressed its gratitude to the auction house Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers & Appraisers and the donors, as well as the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington.