On May 25, 2024, Professor Ioannis Mylonopoulos, Columbia University, organised a panel on “Stolen Identities: Between Cultural Heritage, Art Collections, and Looting” at the Maria Callas Museum in Athens.
Among the experts invited were two distinguished members of the UNESCO Chair on Threats to Cultural Heritage of the Ionian University, Dr. Christos Tsirogiannis and Dr. Catherine Titi. The panelists invited: Polyxeni Adam-Veleni (Greek Ministry of Culture), Andreas Pantazatos (University of Cambridge), Catharine Titi (CNRS and University Paris-Panthéon-Assas) and Dr Christos Tsirogiannis (Head of the UNESCO Chair's WG on Illicit Trafficking of Antiquities, Ionian University)!
The panel discussion explored the complex issues surrounding cultural heritage, from the Parthenon marbles to the Benin bronzes. The event covered the dark market of antiquities, the intricate journey of repatriation efforts, and various considerations in the protection and return of stolen artifacts, including ownership, legal frameworks, and ethical ruminations.
