Statue believed to depict Marcus Aurelius seized from Cleveland museum in looting investigation

In an ongoing investigation concerning the smuggling of antiquities looted from Bubon in southwestern Turkey, authorities in New York have issued a warrant for the seizure of a headless bronze statue believed to portray the renowned Roman emperor and philosopher, Marcus Aurelius. The statue, which had been an esteemed centerpiece of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection of ancient Roman art since its acquisition in 1986, was removed from public view over two months ago. The issuance of the warrant, signed by a Manhattan judge on August 14, was an outcome of the efforts to uncover a smuggling network responsible for trafficking looted antiquities from Turkey through Manhattan.

Measuring at 76 inches (1.9 meters) in height, the statue is estimated to date back to A.D. 180 to 200 and holds a substantial value of $20 million, as reported by the district attorney’s office. The origins of the statue have sparked controversy, with Turkey asserting claims about its connection to looted artifacts as early as 2012. In response, the Cleveland museum contested the allegations, stating that Turkey had not presented concrete evidence of the statue’s illicit origins.

The seized statue, formerly linked to Marcus Aurelius, has been renamed on the museum’s website as a “Draped Male Figure,” distancing it from its previously believed connection. This alteration is the latest development in a prolonged dispute that has kept the statue at the center of attention. Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism expressed satisfaction with the seizure, citing it as a step towards rectifying a perceived injustice.

The Cleveland museum refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation surrounding the Marcus Aurelius statue, underscoring its commitment to addressing provenance concerns diligently. Notably, the Manhattan district attorney’s office has been active in recent years, working towards repatriating numerous artifacts that were looted from various countries, including Turkey, Greece, Israel, and Italy. However, the specific focus of the investigation into the seized statue in Cleveland remains uncertain.

Marcus Aurelius, remembered both as a Roman emperor (A.D. 161-180) and a prominent Stoic philosopher, has left a lasting legacy through his influential work, “Meditations.” The statue, now at the center of legal proceedings, portrays a figure draped in flowing robes, striking a regal pose by extending one hand forward.

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More about Antiquities Smuggling

• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Marcus Aurelius
• Antiquities Smuggling Investigations
• Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism
• Stoic Philosophy
• History of Antiquities Smuggling