The Lost Emperor of Boubon, The Marble Head of Demosthenes, and The Düver Terracotta Plaques Return to Türkiye
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has completed the repatriation process of the bronze emperor statue looted from the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur. In the investigation carried out in the United States, the issuance of an arrest warrant for the collector who purchased the statue, along with the Ministry’s long-standing legal pursuit, were the key developments that paved the way for the artefact’s return. The bronze statue stands among the most significant recoveries in Türkiye’s international efforts to protect its cultural heritage in recent years.
“We remain committed to safeguarding our cultural heritage and will continue to trace every artefact belonging to Türkiye, wherever it may be found.”
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said regarding the repatriation process: “We have steadfastly pursued a long and meticulous process to bring Boubon’s lost emperor back to our country. We will continue to trace every artefact belonging to our cultural heritage and to conclude repatriation processes through international cooperation.”
Minister Ersoy noted that the repatriation procedures for 28 additional artefacts, along with the Archangel Michael column capital, were also completed during the same process, adding, “Between 2018 and 2025, we brought 9,133 cultural assets back to the lands to which they belong.”
Archangel Michael Capital and 28 Cultural Assets Come Home to Türkiye
The Ministry also finalised the repatriation of the marble column capital depicting Archangel Michael from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in addition to the bronze emperor statue. Provenance research revealed that the piece had been illicitly removed from the Monastery of Theotokos/St Mary Peribleptos (today’s Armenian Church of St George) in Samatya, İstanbul.
Within the same scope, 28 artefacts whose legal procedures had already been completed were additionally received from U.S. authorities by Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı. Among these artefacts are pieces originating from Boubon, Archaic-period terracotta plaques from Düver, and a Roman-era marble head of Demosthenes.
International Cooperation and Investigative Process
The repatriation of the Boubon emperor statue advanced through an investigation carried out by U.S. prosecutors and law enforcement authorities. The arrest warrant issued to the collector who purchased the statue, Aaron Mendelsohn, played a critical role in securing the artefact’s return to Türkiye.
The Ministry worked in close coordination with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security throughout the process and completed all necessary procedures for the statue’s handover.
Türkiye’s Success in the Repatriation of Cultural Assets
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s work to fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural assets has gained strong momentum in recent years. The efforts of technical teams tracing the origins of archaeological artefacts, international cooperation and effective legal proceeding mechanisms continue to yield significant results in securing the safe return of cultural heritage assets belonging to Türkiye.
These efforts have positioned Türkiye as one of the leading countries on the international stage in the protection of cultural heritage.
Türkiye’s Determination: Safeguarding Our Heritage
The return of the Boubon emperor statue, the Archangel Michael column capital, and the other artefacts stands as a concrete demonstration of the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Türkiye’s cultural heritage.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will continue to trace Türkiye’s cultural assets across the world and bring artefacts back to the lands they belong to.