The Libyan Department of Antiquities and the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, the United States, have reached a preliminary agreement to return a Ptolemaic statue to Libya.
The museum announced in a statement on Wednesday that it acquired the black basalt statue in 1991.
The Libyan Department of Antiquities recently provided documentation proving Libya’s ownership of the statue, which the museum acknowledged.
The statement further clarified that the statue has been on loan to the Cleveland Museum for an unspecified period.
Mohamed Faraj Mohamed, the head of Libya’s Department of Antiquities, expressed appreciation for the museum’s cooperation, stating, “We value the Cleveland Museum of Art’s willingness to work with us in facilitating the return of this significant piece. We look forward to continued collaboration with the museum.”
William Griswold, the museum’s director, remarked, “We are very pleased with the cooperation and open dialogue we have had with our colleagues in Libya and look forward to the opportunity to enhance the cultural exchange represented by our agreement.”
The repatriation of this artifact marks a significant step in Libya’s efforts to recover and preserve its cultural heritage.
