The statue of Marcus Aurelius returns to its homeland after 65 years

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has concluded its efforts to return the Marcus Aurelius statue, which was stolen from the ancient city of Boubon in Burdur in the 1960s, to its original land after years of legal and scientific work.

Dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, a bronze statue depicting Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius as a philosopher changed hands for years after being smuggled out of Türkiye. The statue, which was most recently transferred to the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in the US, was returned to Türkiye following a collaboration between the Ministry of Justice and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in New York and the US Department of Homeland Security.

In this context, the bronze statue was officially returned to Türkiye in a ceremony held at the Cleveland Museum of Art in April.

After 65 years, the Marcus Aurelius statue will return to its original homeland . With the completion of procedures in the US, the statue is expected to return to its original homeland shortly after 65 years. The statue will be brought to Ankara in a few days on a special Turkish Airlines flight and will soon be on display for art lovers. The return of the Marcus Aurelius statue is considered one of the most significant achievements in Turkey's fight against antiquities smuggling.