Eighteen Cypriot antiquities that were identified for sale in an online auction have been delivered to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington for repatriation, according to a press release from the Department of Antiquities.

Specifically, the Department of Antiquities of the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced that on February 23, 2026, 18 Cypriot antiquities were handed over to the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Washington. The items were identified by officials responsible for monitoring the illegal trafficking of Cypriot antiquities online and were withdrawn following communication with the auction house.

The objects include two vessels from the Early Bronze Age (2500–1900 BC), eleven vessels from the Middle Bronze Age (1900–1600 BC), three vessels from the Cypro-Archaic I period (750–600 BC), one vessel from the Cypro-Archaic II period (600–480 BC), and a limestone head of a male statue dating to the 4th century BC.

The Department of Antiquities expressed its gratitude to the auction house Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers & Appraisers and the donors for voluntarily returning the antiquities to their country of origin, as well as to the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington for its cooperation and coordination in the repatriation process.

Source: Avant Garde