Cyprus reclaims 37 relics from Germany after 60 Years

The repatriation of 37 Cypriot antiquities on 26 July 2024 from Stuttgart, Germany was announced by the Department of Antiquities, of the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

The antiquities had been removed from Cyprus between 1964 and 1968 by a German citizen, who was, at the time working at the German Embassy in Cyprus and following his death in 2023, his heir, Eva-Maria Waas, contacted the Embassy of Cyprus in Berlin expressing her desire for the objects to be handed over to the Cypriot authorities and repatriated to Cyprus.

It noted that the repatriated antiquities include ceramic vessels dating from the Early-Middle Bronze Age (around 2000 B.C.) to the Medieval period, as well as clay lamps, dating from the Cypro-Classical to the Late Roman period.

In its press release, the Department of Antiquities expresses its sincere thanks to Waas, both for her initiative for the return of the antiquities to Cyprus, as well as her excellent collaboration throughout the repatriation proceedings.

Sincere appreciation, it is stated, is also expressed towards the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Berlin and especially Ambassador Maria Papakyriacou and Demetris Demetriou, Deputy Chief of Mission, for their valuable contribution in this repatriation case.

It is also added that “the Department of Antiquities, as the competent authority of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection and management of the island’s archaeological heritage, recognises the public's important contribution in the repatriation of antiquities and urges those who wish to contribute to contact the Department.”

At the same time, it is noted that the Department of Antiquities will continue its efforts towards strengthening the protection of cultural heritage at a local and an international level, always in close collaboration with the National Committee for Combating the Looting and Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage.