A 77-year-old Chilean man, Enrico Tosti-Croce, has returned a fragment of a 6th-century BC temple to Greece, a piece his father, an Italian Navy engineer, brought back from the Acropolis in the 1930s. The marble artifact, once a simple ornament in Tosti-Croce’s home, was identified as part of the Hekatompedon temple, predating the Parthenon.
A Family Legacy and a Call to Return
Tosti-Croce grew up with the story of his father acquiring the marble piece, which was found on the ground at the Acropolis. After his father emigrated to Chile in the early 1950s, the artifact became a decorative item in their dining room. The inspiration to return it struck Tosti-Croce earlier this year upon hearing news of Greece’s ongoing efforts to reclaim the Parthenon sculptures.
- The piece was discovered to be from the Hekatompedon, an earlier temple on the Acropolis, dating to the 6th century BC.
- It was identified as a marble gutter fragment, decorated with lotus flowers.
- The Hekatompedon temple was destroyed by the Persians.
The Journey of Return
In January, Tosti-Croce contacted the Greek Embassy in Chile, providing details and photographs of the artifact. After verification by the Greek Ministry of Culture, which confirmed its authenticity and origin, Tosti-Croce personally transported the piece to the Chilean capital for an in-person examination. He expressed a desire to understand the specific part of the temple the fragment belonged to.
Recognition and Hope for the Future
Olympia Vikatou, director of the Greek Archaeological Service, thanked Tosti-Croce for his "generous gesture," highlighting the piece’s significance and the historical looting of the Acropolis. The Greek Embassy is planning a special ceremony to honor Tosti-Croce. Embassy officials expressed hope that his actions will inspire others to return cultural heritage items, noting a previous instance where they lost contact with another Chilean who had offered similar artifacts.
Key Takeaways
- A 77-year-old Chilean man returned a 6th-century BC temple fragment to Greece.
- The piece was originally brought to Chile by his Italian Navy father in the 1930s.
- It has been identified as part of the Hekatompedon temple, an archaic structure on the Acropolis.
- The return was inspired by Greece’s campaign to reclaim Parthenon sculptures.
- The Greek government has expressed gratitude and hopes this act encourages similar repatriations.
