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Culture Ministry Concludes Modern Cultural Showcase at Saudi Cup

This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia - SPA
This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia - SPA
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Culture Ministry Concludes Modern Cultural Showcase at Saudi Cup

This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia - SPA
This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia - SPA

The Ministry of Culture has concluded its participation in the sixth edition of Saudi Cup 2025 at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse, showcasing the rich identity of Saudi culture through immersive content that highlights the Kingdom’s deep-rooted cultural heritage, SPA reported.
Inspired by the esteemed status of the purebred Arabian horse in Saudi culture, the ministry adopted an innovative presentation style with a design concept reflecting the horse's speed and movement through abstract elements like fluid lines and repetitive patterns, symbolizing its energy and dominance on the racetrack. Traditional motifs demonstrating Saudi cultural heritage were also incorporated into the designs, adding a refined and luxurious aesthetic.
This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, aiming to amplify the visibility of Saudi cultural identity both locally and globally while promoting Saudi heritage. Additionally, it provides a platform for talented individuals to display their cultural expressions at this global event, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to fostering Saudi contributions to culture and the arts, in line with the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

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Ancient Bronze Griffin Head Is Returned to Greece from New York in Major Repatriation Move

The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
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Ancient Bronze Griffin Head Is Returned to Greece from New York in Major Repatriation Move

The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)
The head of a griffin, that was repatriated from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, is displayed at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP)

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned an ancient bronze griffin head stolen nearly a century ago to a museum in southern Greece, the latest repatriation marking a broader shift in the museum world to return significant artifacts.

The 7th century B.C. artifact was on display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the city that in ancient times was the birthplace of the games that later inspired the modern Olympic Games.

Greece’s culture minister, Lina Mendoni, attended a ceremony Friday at the museum, calling the return a significant moment.

“After decades of absence, the griffin returns from the Metropolitan Museum in New York to the place it belongs,” she said, praising the joint effort by the Culture Ministry and the Met to trace the artifact’s past. The ceremony coincided with a visit to Greece by members of the International Olympic Committee to elect a new president. Kirsty Coventry became the first woman and first African to lead the global body.

The griffin, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, symbolized strength and divine protection in ancient Greece. The bronze head will now be displayed alongside a similar griffin head already at the Olympia museum.

The Met has recently increased its efforts to review the history of its holdings, hiring additional experts to track the origins of objects in its collection.

“We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Greek government and look forward to continued engagement and cultural exchange,” the Met's museum director Max Hollein said in a statement.

Institutions across the world in recent years have begun to acknowledge the importance of returning significant cultural items while still promoting global access to heritage. As part of this new framework, Greece has agreed to loan the griffin head back to the Met for future exhibitions, Mendoni said.

Athens is hoping the new, more open approach will boost its decades-long campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, taken from the Acropolis in Athens in the 19th century and now in the British Museum. The government — citing their cultural importance and illegal removal — says it is making slow progress in negotiations with the London museum.