Ancient Artifacts Discovered in Athens Storage Shed Light on Greek History
A trove of ancient artifacts, dating from the Geometric era (1100-750 BC) to the Hellenistic period (up to 31 BC), was uncovered earlier this year in a storage space in central Athens, the Greek Ministry of Culture announced on Tuesday, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonian
The discovery, made in February 2024, took place in a ground-floor storage room accessed via a trapdoor at a property on Stadiou and Pesmazoglou Streets. The site, managed by the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, had been vacated by tenants following a court order.
According to the ministry, the find includes 102 Geometric-era items such as vessels and statuettes, 36 post-Byzantine religious artifacts including icons and a ceremonial staff, and 3,247 coins, medals, and other objects spanning ancient to modern times. The artifacts were found packed in old boxes, some wrapped in 1940s newspapers, hinting at their long-hidden history in a store once selling jewelry, watches, and art.
The items are now secured in storage while investigations and conservation efforts are underway. A scientific committee will later evaluate their historical and cultural significance.
Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni highlighted the importance of such discoveries, noting that while efforts often focus on repatriating looted artifacts, cases of illegal acquisitions within Greece also warrant attention. “Documenting and studying each artifact is vital for preserving our heritage and deepening our understanding of ancient societies,” she stated.
