Ankara: Trkiye has successfully recovered a bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, looted from the ancient city of Boubon in the 1960s and held in the United States for decades, the culture and tourism minister announced Saturday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the statue's return followed a multi-year investigation involving scientific analysis, archival research, and eyewitness testimony. The process was coordinated with the New York Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Trkiye's culture and tourism minister, announced the successful repatriation on X, emphasizing the meticulous effort required to gather the necessary evidence and bring the 'Philosopher Emperor' back to his homeland.

Ersoy described the repatriation as a historic achievement made possible through the combined efforts of diplomacy, law, and science. He reaffirmed Trkiye's commitment to protect its looted cultural heritage both domestically and internationally. The statue is set to be unveiled to the public at a surprise exhibition in Ankara.

The statue, believed to originate from the second or third century AD, was illegally excavated from the Golhisar district in the southwestern Burdur province. It later became part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection in Ohio. The artifact is seen as one of Anatolia's most significant surviving bronze pieces, notable for its depiction of Marcus Aurelius as a philosopher, which holds importance in Roman and ancient Anatolian art history.

Trkiye, a historical hub for civilizations, enforces strict laws against the removal of antiquities, with severe penalties for those who violate them.