The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York recently returned an ancient bronze griffin head to Greece, marking an important cultural event. This artifact, dating back to the 7th century B.C., was once displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. Olympia is a significant historical site in Greece, known as the birthplace of the original Olympic Games. The griffin head had been stolen nearly a century ago. Due to the collaboration between Greece’s Culture Ministry and the Met, it has now been brought back. Greece’s Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, attended the ceremony celebrating its return and described the event as a major achievement. The ceremony took place during the International Olympic Committee’s visit to Greece, where Kirsty Coventry was named the organization’s first female and African leader.

The griffin head, symbolizing strength and protection in ancient Greece, will now be displayed with a similar artifact in the Olympia museum. The Met has also increased its efforts to review its collection, hiring experts to trace the origins of its items. The museum’s director, Max Hollein, highlighted their ongoing partnership with Greece and stressed the importance of future cultural exchange. As part of this cooperation, Greece has agreed to loan the griffin head back to the Met for future exhibitions. This reflects a growing effort among museums to return artifacts to their rightful homes while still sharing cultural heritage with the world.