The Cleveland Museum of Art is set to return a Greco-Roman bronze statue that was stolen from Bubon, Turkey. Initially believed to depict emperor Marcus Aurelius, the statue is now considered to represent a philosopher. Following a legal process initiated by the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 2023 regarding its $20 million valuation, the museum challenged the DA's claims of theft. Scientific tests and sample collections from the statue, alongside moulds of its feet compared at the site in Turkey, helped confirm its origins and facilitate the return process.
In 2023, the Antiquities Tracking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office took possession of the bronze statue, leading to a series of discussions and a lawsuit.
Turkish authorities allowed access for the Cleveland Museum of Art to collect samples, confirming a small amount of Turkish soil found within the statue.
The museum's director remarked, 'The New York District Attorney approached us with a claim and evidence that we felt was not utterly persuasive,' emphasizing their legal challenge.
Museum officials took moulds of the statue's feet to the site in Bubon to compare and establish the sculpture's rightful origin.
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