Priceless religious relics on display at the Cyprus Museum after being stolen 50 years ago
The Byzantine Museum of Nicosia, Cyprus, has opened a new exhibition highlighted the Christian relics with a distinct story.
Many of the artifacts were once stolen from looting and busy on the black market after a Turkish invasion in 1974, according to Reuters reported.
Mysterious pyramid, ancient bronze coins discovered by archaeologists
Mosaics, icons and wall frescoes were recovered after being stolen from churches north of the island.
A new exhibition in Cyprus is showing ancient religious relics previously stolen and sold on the black market during an invasion in the 70s. (Reuters/Yiannis Kourtoglou)
The museum is still looking for many of stolen objectsAccording to the director of the museum, Ioananis Eliades, Phd, reported Reuters.
“Sacked, the destruction was on a large scale … We calculated that over 20,000 icons were stolen and disappeared from the churches,” Eliades said.
For other lifestyle articles, visit FoxNews.com/lifestyle.
Cyprus gained independence from British domination in 1960, but the tensions of the Greek-Turkish cypriot led to violence, with Turkey who intervened in 1974 after a coup d’etat in Greek and seizing over a third of the island, according to the CIA World factbook.
The museum is still looking for many of the stolen objects, according to the director of the Ioannis Museum Eliades, reported Reuters. (Reuters/Yiannis Kourtoglou)
The Turkish North declared itself independent in 1983, but is recognized only by Türkiye.
Cyprus joined the European Union In 2004, but the EU laws apply only to the areas controlled by the government, observed the factbook.
Click here to subscribe to our lifestyle newsletter
Mosaics from the beginning of the 6th century from the Church of Panagia Kanakaria in Lythrangomi are present and are known as rare by archaeologists, surviving when the Byzantine emperors have forbidden the use of religious images.
“Sacked, the destruction was on a large scale … We calculated that over 20,000 icons were stolen and disappeared from the churches,” Eliades said. (Reuters/Yiannis Kourtoglou)
A representation of Christ, The Virgin MaryArchangels and apostles were cut into pieces and sold on the black market in the late 70s.
Most of these pieces were subsequently discovered in the private collections acquired by Cyprus officials after the dispute.
Click here to get the Fox News App
“We want the new generation to understand what happened our islandAnd because it is important to safeguard even the smallest piece that we can bring (home), “added Eliadi.
Reuters contributed to this relationship.
