Five ancient Greek artefacts dating from the 6th century BC to the Roman era have been returned to Greece by a Chicago-based family, marking another step in international efforts to protect cultural heritage.

The objects, originally acquired in the 1970s and 1980s by Richard and Mary L. Gray, were formally handed over during a special ceremony at the Greek Consulate General in Chicago.

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Fragment of a 2nd-century AD relief depicting the goddess Athena. Photo: Greek Culture Ministry

The couple’s children – Harry, Jennifer and Paul Gray – initiated contact with Greek authorities in May and proceeded with the voluntary repatriation of the items.

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Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni praised the decision, describing it as “an act of generosity, responsibility and a high sense of justice”.

“The Gray family’s initiative demonstrates the decisive role citizens can play in protecting cultural heritage,” she said during the ceremony.

Mendoni went on to note that Greece has intensified its efforts in recent years to recover antiquities with more than 200 objects repatriated from 17 countries.

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Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni (L) with Jennifer Gray during the ceremony in Chicago. Photo: Greek Culture Ministry

“Those who return Greek antiquities are rightly regarded as friends of Greek culture and allies in our fight against antiquities trafficking,” she added.

The returned artefacts include two black-figure vases from the 6th century BC, a bronze mirror from the Late Archaic to Classical period, a headless marble statue of Hermes (1st century BC-1st century AD), and a fragment of a 2nd-century AD relief depicting the goddess Athena.