New York authorities have seized a headless bronze statue depicting the Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius, which was in the possession of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The seizure is part of an investigation into stolen antiquities from Turkey, following an order signed by a Manhattan judge in August.
The statue, valued at $20 million, was acquired by the museum in 1986 and was a prominent piece in their collection of ancient Roman art. It is alleged that the statue was part of a smuggling network involved in the trafficking of looted antiquities from Turkey through Manhattan. Turkey had previously claimed ownership of the statue in 2012, stating that it had been plundered from Boubon and other locations.
While the Cleveland Museum of Art has not yet commented on the seizure, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office is actively working on repatriating objects looted from various countries, including Turkey. The specific targets of the investigation related to the seized statue remain unclear.
What Does Turkey Claim?
In 2012, Turkey initiated claims regarding the statue by publishing a catalog of about 20 objects found in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. According to Turkey’s claims, these objects had been unlawfully removed from Boubon and other locations. However, at that time, museum officials argued that Turkey had not presented concrete evidence of the alleged looting.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture contended that the statue had been removed from its original place of origin, emphasizing that the seizure represents a significant step towards rectifying what is perceived as an injustice.
See also: The Bronzes of Boubon: An Ancient City and a Mystery
