1 20 4 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/5cf91afda3eeb8595b9c88e3914ede9f.jpeg?Expires=1789603200&Signature=ecwn5Reubek4HLz7mbtsZ4vaDmHD5O8o8vwBULRoto0zFKY4CKR7k4M6pHgvDLQ6srhcS6KsLaHgLiQR-GcR6s3XVQI18TTLcX5s05XmvLHM-gdBRZ6uH%7ErevsX4OQs0pX3h0yGLWaxAhb6FRetLTKQNviS0jqh6hQjXfCJ31nuNP8V2r6i7cSJgNaPjRGV1099BcWGyak42tjfMELxhymfDWgbK4mMhhot7CItm9ii5MaQ7j-Be0r0UIWJ2J-TgqammKRp1ZIY-evTo7boXzzjYOO-svNX7ouK5AE12BRAcZqcEWgsNzbF56bgs9EAavqp8SLYYfcfQIRN64A2RDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 874f7840fc521da9969b6832e0270a41 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/9d5474c7177f47bc621d1984450ec59b.png?Expires=1789603200&Signature=ihB8nxGNgNKu7rcCk5pLeFoYKBFN3wveci5VzojaJe4di4DemJKGHCCPJ4Fr-vc%7EBvcMJJzaFsq7tHNmwak7qEs9xBBine-GeyfR4vsDz2sXcitaRufToZ46fFw4VVbyCOlADX-78wjDAJmIwnoa28JgvgvsUCev2k3MePshC8%7Eeju-GzQWRYkSNXYQeBXdoNq1RxpINrc6gQQf4zEzps29pq8sVAZX4bX-y52%7EbgD4gpcXDtjwN%7EmIMfNo11eRzTrw5B0cp0wOzbCLiEWH-tL-32QCccvy-%7EJu-OGSZn-K1PZoAiaESLminsuq5nqtOft5KNk90UG3S6ssq4u4aJw__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM a628c4e0c4d87dd59dac0b43fd491042 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/98773b3e31a0317b02e83ebf0f99b09e.jpg?Expires=1789603200&Signature=a4s6wS0KH5ryeRXs%7EUhId0-DEmTpmc1eztpKATs6J9RLwSQe54Lghry1d5K2OhEfRlCYYY3mHMCepWUoTvhCMY5XXsYBuWZb1DJUNLiaGhQ0sjp6Npbo5TddIpZnv9IQHXwBo-DIf1JKFF%7EDeJhT5RKDGXsJwdYquPOKywluCudjTtoGjT0iMA0g1ZY5Y7wHPlM7enl4%7EHbRo2z4D7OnMOwjh7tBRuBYqB4Jz-ZY-FUifIGoC6Z%7EwE97XC9Us70Ei4GDAd70MEzdp4OfWWd2TGJD3KT-cMPojKR%7Eyho0nXKSldt-N4oB43gZ9Mkm9kB-cmgEesgNn0rFwGA%7EMXHOZA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 2472e9b11c25e00af87db9fd5c6fd4b0 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Three Roman Heads from Butrint Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. In 2003, Greece returned three Roman-era heads to Albania, which had been stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Butrint following the fall of communist rule in the early 1990s. Two of the sculptures, a Head of a Young Woman (Inv. 50) and a Head from a Herculaneum Type Figure (Inv. 584), were unearthed by the Italian Archaeological Mission during excavations at Butrint from 1929-1932. The third sculpture of the Head of a Man (possibly Agrippa) was discovered at the site in the 1980s. All three works had been deposited in the Archaeological Museum at Butrint and were stolen when the museum was looted in 1991. Little is known about where the heads were kept after the theft or how they were smuggled out of Albania, but all three were seized by Greek authorities and temporarily deposited in local museums prior to their repatriation. The two female heads were confiscated in Glyfada, Attica and stored at the National Archaeological Museum, while the Head of Agrippa was seized in Preveza, Northwest Greece, and kept in the Ioannina Archaeological Museum. After Albanian officials confirmed that these were the missing pieces, the Greek Ministry of Culture repatriated the three heads to Albania on July 5, 2003, at a ceremony held at the Butrint Archaeological site. Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 3 Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. Three Roman-era marble heads Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Sculpture – statues, carvings, bronzes, reliefs, figurines Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Roman Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Albania Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Butrint, Albania Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2003 Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Albania Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Tags Albania Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Greece See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1759">Headless Artemis and Apollo</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/968">Bust of Empress Livia </a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1941">Head of Asclepius</a> Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 2 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Marble Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Theft (stolen from a documented collection, rather than looted) MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Lisa Duffy-Zeballos Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Albania: Stolen Antiquities Face Difficult Journey Home <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250613132340/https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=122239">https://web.archive.org/web/20250613132340/https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=122239</a> Albania: Overview of Butrint Returns <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250616170426/https://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2009/08/albania-overview-of-butrint-returns.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20250616170426/https://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2009/08/albania-overview-of-butrint-returns.html</a> Generic examples of return and restitution of cultural property: UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization <a href="https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000138519">https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000138519</a> Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. 1st century BCE - 1st century CE Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Law Enforcement Seizure Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Die römische Kolonie von Butrint und die Romanisierung Griechenlands <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250616191851/https://www.academia.edu/44742510/J_Bergemann_Die_r%C3%B6mische_Kolonie_von_Butrint_und_die_Romanisierung_Griechenlands_M%C3%BCnchen_1998_k">https://web.archive.org/web/20250616191851/https://www.academia.edu/44742510/J_Bergemann_Die_r%C3%B6mische_Kolonie_von_Butrint_und_die_Romanisierung_Griechenlands_M%C3%BCnchen_1998_k</a> The Past <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250616210056/https://i0.wp.com/the-past.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/post-1_image3-31.jpg?resize=645%2C997&ssl=1">https://web.archive.org/web/20250616210056/https://i0.wp.com/the-past.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/post-1_image3-31.jpg?resize=645%2C997&ssl=1</a> <a href="https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=%22albania+tower%22&asset_id=422785066">https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=%22albania+tower%22&asset_id=422785066</a><a></a> Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. A. Head of a Young Woman, marble, (1st century CE) B. Head of Agrippa, marble, (1st century BCE - 1st century CE) C. Head of a Woman Herculaneum Type, marble (1st century CE) Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Archaeological Museum of Butrint, Albania Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. 1991 Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Unknown Alleged Smuggler Person(s) who moved the object out of its country of origin. Unknown Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. Greek Police Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Michela Herbert Alternate Name(s) Other names by which the object or group is known; these may be formal titles, museum titles or colloquial titles, if different from the above Object or Group Name. Head of a Young Woman Head from a Herculaneum Type Figure Head of a Man (possibly Agrippa) Provenance Summary A chronological history of the object's ownership history, starting with the oldest date first. Enter a year and summary of the transaction for reach provenance event. 1991: stolen from the Archaeological Museum at Butrint 2003: Repatriated to the museum from Greece Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Three Roman Heads from Butrint Albania Greece https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/ed06825bdea6fbbe8bd1d6045102bca7.jpg?Expires=1789603200&Signature=sscR9eV%7EkRPJC1iWwt9L16eNau20iynz14HJf%7Ee07IanygjFHf-WRRVZ7tEARGmOZ1XmEe-oVThFPS-jaE60TSUopDpKQMJqpwK4SOppDhJYiir-ypR6DFYv27FIcvoGSCVzYEgk2ppW1PG-m3vrCXJ8ssZVR5TAwQBn7z%7ENQ090loEEps4tzpgOW6b46C8w10aXRyfVLBzp295TbBJyIGbc%7EamcmjEg7NevW6jc%7EmOkHZPIOOPranyVl1wbkjr8V7WKIS4I3uxlfcl7tScM-xZ5vmlXg2%7E0CEERVmJlrBpNv7VKT84djkk3%7E9LTRzv4c%7EsSZ71J63EBnmiqdD5i5w__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM a0fae28d2eb3124b55890f27d67bd522 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Head of Asclepius Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 1 Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Sculpture – statues, carvings, bronzes, reliefs, figurines Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Albania Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2009 Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). Massimo Rossi Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Albania Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Tags Albania Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Looting Matters: Butrint Return <a href="http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2009/05/butrint-return.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20250611013032/https://www.tiranatimes.com/return-of-the-head-of-the-healing-god-asclepius_106968/</a> Return of the Head of the Healing God Asclepius <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250611013032/https://www.tiranatimes.com/return-of-the-head-of-the-healing-god-asclepius_106968/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250611013032/https://www.tiranatimes.com/return-of-the-head-of-the-healing-god-asclepius_106968/</a> Football Stars Recuperate Stolen Antique Statue <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250612114640/https://www.tiranatimes.com/football-stars-recuperate-stolen-antic-statue-_106273/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250612114640/https://www.tiranatimes.com/football-stars-recuperate-stolen-antic-statue-_106273/</a> Albania: Stolen Antiquities Face Difficult Journey Home <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250613132340/https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=122239">https://web.archive.org/web/20250613132340/https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=122239</a> Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Italy See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1759">Headless Sculptures of Apollo and Artemis</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/968">Bust of Empress Livia</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/2025">Three Roman Heads</a> Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Law Enforcement Seizure Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Theft (stolen from a documented collection, rather than looted) Alternate Name(s) Other names by which the object or group is known; these may be formal titles, museum titles or colloquial titles, if different from the above Object or Group Name. Head of Zeus Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250122115536/https://www.mhk.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/32-1.jpg">https://web.archive.org/web/20250122115536/https://www.mhk.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/32-1.jpg</a> Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 2 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Marble Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. 4th century BCE Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Greek Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Butrint, Albania Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. In May 2009, a Hellenistic head of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing, was returned to Albania 18 years after it was stolen from the Butrint Archaeological Museum in southern Albania. The sculpture was discovered in 1932 by Luigi Maria Ugolini, who led the Italian Archaeological Mission at Butrint during the excavation of the shrine of Asclepius. It is believed to depict the demigod Asclepius, who was killed by Zeus for his ability to bring the dead back to life. The head, which portrays an older man with curly hair and a beard, is also sometimes identified as Zeus. It was held in the on-site museum in Butrint until April 1991, when it was stolen along with numerous other works from the excavation. In 2005, Italian Carabinieri discovered the sculpture in an unrelated raid on a private residence in Rome. The antiquities collector Massimo Rossi had purchased it at a Christie's auction in London in 1996. Between 2005 and 2007, Italian authorities confiscated the statue and ordered Christie's to turn over sale transaction records. The name of the collector who consigned the piece to Christie's has not been made public. As Rossi purchased the sculpture legally, Albanian authorities purchased the sculpture from Rossi for its immediate return. In the midst of these negotiations, two former Albanian national football players, Lorik Cana and Igli Tare, also attempted to purchase the piece from Rossi in order to hand it over to Albania. Eventually, in 2009, the Albanian state reimbursed Rossi his purchase price of 20,000 euros for the return of the sculpture. The head was repatriated in a ceremony held at the Albanian Embassy in Rome on May 18, 2009, and is now held at the National Museum of History in Tirana. Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. 1991 Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. Head of Asclepius Provenance Summary A chronological history of the object's ownership history, starting with the oldest date first. Enter a year and summary of the transaction for reach provenance event. 1932: discovered by Italian Archaeological Mission at Butrint, Albania Unknown date: deposited in the Archaeological Museum of Butrint April 1991: stolen from the Archaeological Museum of Butrint 1991- 1995: whereabouts unknown July 3, 1996: sale Christie, Manson & Woods, London, Fine Antiquities, lot 430 July 1996: purchased from above by Massimo Rossi, Rome May 18, 2009: repatriated to the Albanian State Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. A sculpted head of man with long curly hair and a beard, possibly Asclepius or Zeus. Private Collector Person who acquired the object for their personal collection. Massimo Rossi Value in 2024 US Dollars Value in 2024 US Dollars, adjusted for inflation. Use inflation calculator here: https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en/?from=EUR&to=USD&amount=1 50923.76 Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). National Museum of History, Tirana, Albania MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Lisa Duffy-Zeballos Research Notes Any additional notes about research questions, issues or further research needed. Checking Christie auction catalogues for lot information/images- LD Auction Details Include details about the auction, such as: Location of the auction house branch (i.e. London, New York). Date of auction(s). Lot number used to offer the object at auction. Estimated value or value range in the auction listing, displayed in USD alongside price in original currency. Christie, Manson & Woods, London, Fine Antiquities, July 3, 1996, lot 430 Auction Realized Price Approximate sale price of the object at auction. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. USD $25,470 (20,000 euros) Auction House Auction house(s) that offered the object for auction. Christie, Manson & Woods Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. Carabinieri Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Unknown Alleged Smuggler Person(s) who moved the object out of its country of origin. Unknown Last Known Price, Valuation or Estimate The most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. $25,470 (20,000 euros) Year of Last Price Year of the most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. 1996 Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Michela Herbert Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Head of Asclepius Albania Italy Massimo Rossi https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/2233baf6c4366aff821e349b4e68e3bd.jpg?Expires=1789603200&Signature=HJUGi6qbcqHAL4szUdhGdM4rStQ6HfdksuwTDEO1rvw-NJ-iPYVkCsxEcN1%7EPjaB9-XsHDwAqa1u7RRCWbhp4-BBGRmEFmna0G15fJrrb4Qj5AmOH-7gYiqgKiWXPnNZsJ%7Emqgo2O6YpJX7VizO%7EK0z2qhlGrPLJJTpZ9X8VStlHFRnqyWfU-3%7EiZCnwNOLmR2%7EKNymIlIVyJBs9HI5NDhQlU3YePnT2WnkbdDwFD6TLY3%7EVB8ap6UwpM4Aq4c3kvuEQfOvebvbxxTunB8290-D8SZ78EJbR%7EB7AWlgZOnsIs41gV2hJODhjcuqSVk2oIHu8rJF11TooznXknTQhnA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 68cc680dab5907f9203a90d3c7c31374 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Greece Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Headless Sculptures of Artemis and Apollo Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. These two sculptures were among several works stolen from the Butrint Archaeological Museum in April 1991 during a period of unrest following the fall of communism in Albania. The headless sculpture of a female figure, possibly Artemis, dates from the Hellenistic period and was discovered in 1926 by Luigi Ugolini during the Italian Archaeological Mission's excavation of Phoenice in southern Albania. The sculpture of Apollo, which dates from the second century CE during the Roman period, was found during Ugolini's excavation of the Nymphaeum of Butrint (ancient Bouthrotos) in 1929. It is unknown how the works were smuggled out of Albania, but in 1997, they were discovered in the possession of two Greek citizens in Koropi, Greece. The Greek police confiscated the sculptures and handed them over to the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus, which eventually traced their origins to the artifacts stolen from Butrint. The sculptures were returned to Albania in a ceremony held at the new Acropolis Museum in Athens on February 7, 2008. They were later returned to the Butrint Archaeological Museum. Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 2 Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. A. Headless Sculpture of Artemis, marble (approx. 1.2 meters), 2nd century BCE B. Headless Sculpture of Apollo, marble (approx. 1.2 meters), 2nd century CE Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Sculpture – statues, carvings, bronzes, reliefs, figurines Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. 200 BCE 200 CE Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Greek Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Albania Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. 1991 Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Phoenice, Albania Butrint, Albania Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2008 Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Albania Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Law Enforcement Seizure Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/albania.jpg">http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/albania.jpg</a> MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Jason Felch Lisa Duffy-Zeballos Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Tags Albania Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Greece Returns Stolen Statues to Albania <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250620200138/https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/155">https://web.archive.org/web/20250620200138/https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/155</a> Greece's Return of Albanian Artefacts <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250620195501/https://www.elginism.com/similar-cases/greeces-return-of-albanian-artefacts/20080208/973/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250620195501/https://www.elginism.com/similar-cases/greeces-return-of-albanian-artefacts/20080208/973/</a> Headless Ancient Statues of Apollo and Artemis are Back Home <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250620214151/https://www.tiranatimes.com/heads-of-ancient-statues-apolon-and-artemisa-are-back-home_103786/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250620214151/https://www.tiranatimes.com/heads-of-ancient-statues-apolon-and-artemisa-are-back-home_103786/</a> See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/2025">Three Roman-Era Marble Heads</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/968">Bust of Empress Livia</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1941">Head of Asclepius</a> Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 3 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Marble Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. Headless Sculptures of Artemis and Apollo Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Unknown Alleged Smuggler Person(s) who moved the object out of its country of origin. Unknown Museum Name Name of the institution that held this object before it was repatriated. Please use the official name of the institution. Archaeological Museum of Pireus Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. Greek Police Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Theft (stolen from a documented collection, rather than looted) Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Butrint Archaeological Museum Research Notes Any additional notes about research questions, issues or further research needed. Some sources inaccurately claim the works were stolen in the 1997 theft of the Butrint Museum. Also claims that the thieves were prosecuted in 2004, but could not find evidence- LD Other sources: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320043556/http://www.unesco.org/en/movable-heritage-and-museums/features/recent-examples-of-successful-operations-of-cultural-property-restitutions-in-the-world/">https://web.archive.org/web/20150320043556/http://www.unesco.org/en/movable-heritage-and-museums/features/recent-examples-of-successful-operations-of-cultural-property-restitutions-in-the-world/</a> Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Michela Herbert Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Headless Sculptures of Artemis and Apollo Albania Greece https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/28c74d041ffcc33dfd9f53105c168900.jpg?Expires=1789603200&Signature=GbYLrv33xBBoXS4cd8W2sAhpEokdoDnzgiIkb0OxoIBsQ3NUWTmTRZ-LksNVMYipX163xtrgTAEyBFoR-8hsOuMAOjr22Xao4tWe6cwPRjN%7E0g9CR77cYn4ysjM5OXJ3AkVx-WHS1c-yRyeWN5gzyHcGacDokjt8%7EluAynSwbFLYh3KdbbfDZwysaxYc1AqX-1IRuIWNyxGhi3ZRrxsFPiyS8mAZ4euqHvLlspaTrR9kDdDrZLhWID%7EugapQU5CEQprRjQkWyxgdmcxkoFHDInhG9ojt6xMvIGvofytL%7Em%7EO%7EmvwahelZD4Ntg4X4RA7do0-dV-0m7rdDwa8Jfh1gA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM fbabce842165a60c6aa4b21f43cd41b2 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Bust of Empress Livia Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Sculpture – statues, carvings, bronzes, reliefs, figurines Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 1 Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Marble Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Albania Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Roman Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. April 1991 Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Butrint National Park, Albania Dealer Person(s) who offered the object for sale. Robert Hecht Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2000 Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. This bust of the Roman Empress Livia, dating to the 1st century CE, was unearthed in 1928 during excavations conducted by the Italian Archaeological Mission of the archaeological site Butrint, located in southern Albania. In 1940, the Italian Mission established a museum in Butrint for the display of excavated artifacts, including the bust. Between 1990 and 1991, Albania was in a state of civil unrest due to the fall of communism. Sometime in 1991, the Museum of Butrint was looted and a number of objects were stolen, including the Livia Bust. The piece allegedly was smuggled from Albania to Switzerland and eventually to the United States, where it reappeared in 1995 listed for sale by the antiquities dealer Robert Hecht. Hecht's catalogue "From a North American Collection of Ancient Art" identified the bust as a “Roman marble portrait of Livia (58 BCE – 29 CE), wife of Augustus”, and claimed that it came from a “collection formed over the last forty years.” Archaeologist Dr. Elizabeth Bartmann recognized it as a work from Butrint, however, and informed the Albanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Around the same time, in 1995, Hecht offered the bust for sale to the Glyptothek Museum in Munich; however, curators there identified it as stolen and alerted German law enforcement. The bust was listed as stolen by INTERPOL, and Hecht withdrew it from sale. Albanian authorities took no further action, however, and the piece remained in Switzerland for the next five years. In 2000, Albanian authorities along with the Director of the International Center for Albanian Archaeology, Dr. Iris Pojani, approached Hecht, leading to his voluntary return of the bust to Albania on November 3, 2000. Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Switzerland Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). Robert Hecht Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Albania Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Claim from country of origin Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Archaeological Museum of Butrint, Albania Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Butrint <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/570">http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/570</a> Art Heist in Albania <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250413123036/https://ekphrasisstudio.com/2014/11/16/art-heist-in-albania/">https://web.archive.org/web/20250413123036/https://ekphrasisstudio.com/2014/11/16/art-heist-in-albania/</a> Looting Matters: Where are the Sculptures Stolen from Albania? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110407171608/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/looting-matters-where-are-the-sculptures-stolen-from-albania-62280142.html">https://web.archive.org/web/20110407171608/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/looting-matters-where-are-the-sculptures-stolen-from-albania-62280142.html</a> How the Goddess Lost her Head: The Myth and Reality of the Looting of Butrint <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150413151529/http://www2.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/projects/iarc/culturewithoutcontext/issue10/gilkes.htm">https://web.archive.org/web/20150413151529/http://www2.mcdonald.cam.ac.uk/projects/iarc/culturewithoutcontext/issue10/gilkes.htm</a> Culture Without Context: Agreements and Returns <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250609220717/https://traffickingculture.org/app/uploads/2012/07/CWC-9.pdf">https://web.archive.org/web/20250609220717/https://traffickingculture.org/app/uploads/2012/07/CWC-9.pdf</a> Culture Without Context: How the Goddess Lost her Head: The Myth and Reality of the Looting of Butrint 1927-97 <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250616173751/https://traffickingculture.org/app/uploads/2012/07/CWC-10.pdf">https://web.archive.org/web/20250616173751/https://traffickingculture.org/app/uploads/2012/07/CWC-10.pdf</a> MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Jessica Wang Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. 1st century CE Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 3 Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Unknown Alleged Smuggler Person(s) who moved the object out of its country of origin. Unknown Expert Review Person(s) who analyzed the object or wrote about its authenticity, value or significance. Include here credit to people who identified the object as looted (relevant publications can be listed in Sources). Dr. Elizabeth Bartmann Dr. Iris Pojani False Provenance A false story about the object’s ownership history, used to hide the illicit activities through which the object was trafficked. Robert Hecht claimed it belonged "to a collection formed over the last forty years". Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. Portrait bust of Empress Livia, found by Italian archaeologist Luigi Ugolini when excavating the theater at the site of Butrint in 1928. Provenance Summary A chronological history of the object's ownership history, starting with the oldest date first. Enter a year and summary of the transaction for reach provenance event. 1928: discovered by Italian archaeologist Luigi Ugolini (Italian Archaeological Mission); 1940: displayed among findings in the excavation museum established by the Italian Archaeological Mission at Butrint; 1991: stolen from the Butrint Museum; circa 1995: acquired by Robert Hecht and listed for sale in catalogue 'From a North American Collection of Ancient Art'; November 3, 2000: voluntarily returned to Albania. Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. INTERPOL Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Lisa Duffy-Zeballos VG Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Theft (stolen from a documented collection, rather than looted) Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. https://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/2009/08/albania-overview-of-butrint-returns.html Research Notes Any additional notes about research questions, issues or further research needed. The rest of the objects in the catalog "From a North American Collection of Ancient Art" may be of interest for research. Catalog citation available here: https://www.arslibri.com/collections/MittenLibrary.pdf Image Captions Write a brief caption for each image included, providing context for what is shown. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. Bust of Empress Livia See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1759">Headless Artemis and Apollo</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/2025">Three Roman Heads</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1941">Head of Asclepius</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bust of Empress Livia Albania Robert Hecht Switzerland