Marcus Aurelius Statue Stolen in the 1960s Returned to Turkey
The bronze statue of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, which was illegally excavated from Türkiye in the 1960s, has been officially returned to Türkiye with a ceremony held at the Cleveland Museum in the USA. Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gökhan Yazgı announced the return of the statue on his social media account.
Describing the event as a significant moment, Yazgı stated, “The unique bronze sculpture, which was taken from Bobon Ancient City in the 1960s through illegal means and depicted the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius as a philosopher, has now been officially returned to Türkiye. The statue will be showcased to visitors in a special cultural context as part of a special exhibition at the Cleveland Museum.”
The ceremony marking the return of the statue took place on April 14, 2025, at the Cleveland Museum. This marks the end of a long journey for the statue, which was unlawfully removed from Türkiye decades ago. The return of this valuable piece of history is a significant step towards preserving and protecting cultural heritage.
The statue depicts Marcus Aurelius, one of the most famous Roman emperors known for his philosophical works. Its return to Türkiye is a victory for cultural heritage preservation and international cooperation in combating the illegal trade of antiquities. Visitors to the Cleveland Museum will now have the opportunity to admire this ancient masterpiece in its rightful cultural context.
