Cyprus Displays Jewelry, Early Christian Icons and Bronze Age Antiquities Once Looted From Island

A presidential security officer stands behind antiquities repatriated from Germany and put on display at the Archeological museum, in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A presidential security officer stands behind antiquities repatriated from Germany and put on display at the Archeological museum, in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
TT

Cyprus Displays Jewelry, Early Christian Icons and Bronze Age Antiquities Once Looted From Island

A presidential security officer stands behind antiquities repatriated from Germany and put on display at the Archeological museum, in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
A presidential security officer stands behind antiquities repatriated from Germany and put on display at the Archeological museum, in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, July 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Cyprus on Monday put on display artifacts — some of them thousands of years old — that were returned after a Turkish art dealer looted them from the ethnically divided island nation decades ago.
Aydin Dikmen took the artifacts from the country's breakaway north in the years after Cyprus’ split in 1974, when Turkiye invaded following a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. The antiquities were kept in Germany after authorities there seized them in 1997, and protracted legal battles secured their repatriation in three batches, the last one this year.
Addressing the unveiling ceremony at Cyprus' archaeological museum, President Nikos Christodoulides said the destruction of a country’s cultural heritage as evidenced in recent conflicts becomes a “deliberate campaign of cultural and religious cleansing that aims to eliminate identity.”
Among the 60 most recently returned artifacts put on display include jewelry from the Chalcolithic Period between 3500-1500 B.C. and Bronze Age bird-shaped idols.
Antiquities that Dikmen also looted but were returned years ago include 1,500-year-old mosaics of Saints Luke, Mark, Matthew and James. They are among the few examples of early Christian works to survive the Iconoclastic period in the 8th and 9th centuries when most such works were destroyed.
Cyprus' authorities and the country's Orthodox Church for decades have been hunting for the island’s looted antiquities and centuries-old relics from as many as 500 churches in open auctions and on the black market.
The museum's antiquities curator, Eftychia Zachariou, told the ceremony that Cyprus in recent years has benefited from a shift in thinking among authorities in many countries who now opt to repatriate antiquities of dubious provenance.



Saudi Tourism Authority Launches Wonders of Arabia Exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Tourism Authority Launches Wonders of Arabia Exhibition at Expo 2025 Osaka

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)
Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. (SPA)

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) launched on Thursday its participation at Expo 2025 Osaka with the “Wonders of Arabia” exhibition, prominently featured within the Kingdom’s pavilion.

Running from July 10 to 16, the event also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan.

The “Wonders of Arabia” exhibition features diverse sections designed to immerse visitors in the heart of the Kingdom. Guests can experience Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage through interactive displays, engaging photo booths, and live demonstrations of both Saudi and Japanese calligraphy.

Workshops are also offered on traditional handicrafts, including pottery making and decorative arts.

Dedicated zones highlight the unique attractions of Diriyah, Riyadh, Aseer, Jeddah, the Red Sea, and AlUla.

A striking “Origami Camel” sculpture serves as a symbolic representation of the deep cultural ties between the two nations.

The event includes a special collaboration with the iconic Japanese character Doraemon. As part of this partnership, the first 250 visitors daily who participate in the exhibition’s competitions will receive limited-edition Doraemon items.

Sports enthusiasts are invited to take photos inside a recreation of the locker room of global football star Cristiano Ronaldo and explore his personal recommendations for Saudi Arabia’s top destinations.

The exhibition also offers an interactive virtual reality experience simulating Formula 1 races.

Additional features include dedicated highlights on the Esports World Cup, currently underway in Riyadh, and the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2034, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia.