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Lebanon Returns 37 Smuggled Egyptian Antiquities
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Return of Smuggled Egyptian Antiquities
Lebanon handed over 37 objects that had been illicitly removed from Egypt six years ago. The hand-over took place at the National Museum of Beirut during a ceremony on a Wednesday, with the Egyptian ambassador receiving the items on behalf of Cairo.
How the Items Were Seized and Verified
Lebanese authorities seized the artifacts at the Port of Beirut in 2020. Over the ensuing years, Lebanon cooperated with INTERPOL, Egypt’s officials, and the country’s public prosecutor to confirm ownership, authenticity and the absence of forgeries. The Lebanese Financial Prosecution issued a judicial mandate in September 2023 to transfer the items to Egyptian authorities.
Statements from Lebanese and Egyptian Officials
The Egyptian ambassador expressed gratitude for the cooperation that enabled the restitution. Laura Salloum of Lebanon’s Directorate General of Antiquities noted that the pieces had been purchased by a Lebanese national without proper documentation, a pattern she said is common for items stolen from Egypt.
Description of the Returned Collection
The repatriated set includes masks, wooden dolls, fragments of Coptic textiles, glass-paste amulets, medium-sized statues, and two wooden coffins with colorful designs. All items are dated to Egypt’s Pharaonic civilization.
Significance for Cultural Heritage Protection
The restitution underscores Lebanon’s willingness to enforce the 1970 International Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. It also highlights the role of international cooperation—particularly with INTERPOL and Egypt—in curbing the illicit antiquities trade.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After investigating the identity and ownership of these items, it was determined that they belonged to Egypt,” — Lebanon’s Culture Minister Ghassan, lebanon’s culture minister