The bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, looted in the 1960s from the ancient city of Boubon in Gölhisar, Burdur, has been successfully repatriated to Türkiye after 65 years abroad.
Dating back to the 2nd century CE, the statue of the “Philosopher Emperor” is regarded as one of the most remarkable bronze artifacts ever discovered in Anatolia. Following decades of transfers among private and institutional collections, the work became part of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio, USA.
Its return was made possible through scientific research, archival documentation, and eyewitness accounts, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. This achievement exemplifies effective international cooperation in the fields of law, cultural diplomacy, and heritage preservation.
Currently, the Marcus Aurelius statue is on display at the Presidential Nation’s Library in Ankara, within the exhibition titled “The Golden Age of Archaeology.”
This repatriation is recognized not only as the recovery of a cultural asset, but also as a symbol of the global effort to safeguard and restore cultural heritage to its rightful context. Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to identify and reclaim cultural property illicitly removed from its territory reflect a growing international consensus on the ethical and legal responsibilities shared by museums, governments, and scholars worldwide.
The return of the Marcus Aurelius statue stands as a testament to the enduring value of dialogue, cooperation, and respect for cultural patrimony, resonating across the global cultural community.