The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, in the presence of Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, welcomed the return of a Roman-era marble male head from the Archaeological Museum of Münster University, Germany.

The portrait head, depicting a bearded man, combines the characteristic hairstyle of Emperor Trajan’s era (98–117 AD) with a later, simpler rendering of the beard. It is dated to around 150 AD and is part of a funerary relief from a cemetery in Thessaloniki or its surrounding region. It is now permanently displayed alongside similar portraits at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki.

Minister Mendoni’s Remarks

During the handover ceremony, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasized, “The repatriation of antiquities belonging to Greece but located abroad is a matter of national importance and a top political priority. International cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements is always pursued to this end, but every repatriation case is unique.”

She highlighted the significance of this particular return: “Today’s repatriation carries a unique symbolism, as it does not result from a legal claim. The Münster University Museum voluntarily decided to return the head to Greece after determining that its provenance and journey before 1989—the year it was added to the museum’s collection as a donation from German citizens—were unclear and suspicious. German archaeologists took the initiative to thoroughly investigate its origins, and modern physicochemical analyses confirmed that the marble used for the sculpture came from the quarries of Thasos, solidifying its Greek provenance.”

Minister Mendoni further noted that this gesture underscores “the importance of sincere collaboration between museums, academic institutions, and state authorities in the common fight against the illegal trafficking of cultural goods.”

Addressing Johannes Wessels, the Rector of Münster University, who accompanied the artifact, she stated: “I hope other universities, institutions, and governments will follow your example of sensitivity and responsibility. Together, we can celebrate the return of antiquities and artworks to their places of origin. Solidarity and responsibility—key universal values of the European Union—should guide the return of cultural treasures to the countries and people who created them.”

Historical Context and Significance

The portrait head of the bearded man is the second artifact repatriated from Münster to Greece, following the 2019 return of a skyphos (drinking cup) gifted to Spyridon Louis. The skyphos is now exhibited at the Museum of Ancient Olympic Games in Olympia.

Attendees at the Ceremony

The handover event was attended by Johannes Wessels (Rector of Münster University), Achim Lichtenberger (Director of the Archaeological Museum of Münster University), curators H.-Helge Nieswandt and Torben Schreiber, Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis, Thessaloniki Deputy Governor Voula Patoulidou, Secretary General of Culture Giorgos Didaskalos, Director General of Antiquities Olympia Vikatou, Chair of the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki Niki Manou-Andreadi, Director General Anastasia Gadoulou, and Vasos Papageorgiou (Director of Documentation and Cultural Goods Protection), along with other officials from the Ministry of Culture.