Istanbul
An 1,800-year-old Lydian atonement inscription was returned to Turkey early Wednesday after it was smuggled to Turkey 23 years ago and later discovered in Italy.
Turkey, thanks to efforts by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has recovered historical inscriptions that were stolen from the ancient city of Saitta in Manisa province in the 1990s.
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 22: The 1800-year-old Lydian atonement inscription removed from Turkey is pictured in Rome, Italy, on September 22, 2020. Since its discovery in Italy in 1997 during a police raid, it has undergone a lengthy legal process to find its way to its rightful home. Packed in a carefully protected manner by a specialized team at the Turkish Embassy in Rome, the inscription was prepared for its journey, sealed by embassy staff and transported to Rome Fiumicino Airport. The inscription was received by the Italian authorities by Turkish Ambassador to Rome Murat Salim Esenli, who took it to Rome for its transfer to Turkey. The Florence Carabinieri, Department of Cultural Heritage Protection and Anti-Smuggling of Historical Antiquities, handed the inscription over to the ambassador. (Barish Sechkin – Anadolu Agency)
After being handed over to ministry officials, the inscription was loaded onto a Turkish Airlines plane which took off from Rome and was transported to Istanbul airport.
The historic artifact, preserved in a special box, was removed from the plane and received by Rahmi Asal, director of Istanbul Archaeology Museums.
After inspection, the inscription was loaded onto a freight car under the supervision of authorities.
The historic inscription will be sent to the capital, Ankara, where it will be exhibited at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
The artifact was seized in 1997 by Italian anti-smuggling units during a raid on the workplace of an antiques dealer.
Italian authorities have reported the situation to Turkey, suspecting that the remains may belong to the Lydian, an Anatolian civilisation.
Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism confirmed that the inscription was smuggled from the temple of Apollo Axiros in the ancient city of Saitta in Manisa province.
The ministry began a lengthy legal battle to have the inscription returned in 1998, presenting evidence that it had been smuggled out of Turkey.
However, in 2012 an Italian court ruled against Turkey, which the Turkish government appealed. The ruling was put on hold in 2013.
On November 5, 2019, the Florence Court of Appeal ruled that the island belongs to Turkey, starting the process of its return to Turkey.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Rome Murat Sayim Esenli and his accompanying delegation received the relic from Italian officer Claudio Mauti, head of the anti-smuggling department, in Florence, Italy, on September 19.
*Writing by Ceyhun Aliyev in Ankara
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