A 2,600-Year-Old Chariot Returns to Cyprus from France

An ancient terracotta model of a battle chariot (quadriga) with four horses, dating to the Cypro-Archaic period (around 600 BC), was officially returned to Cyprus on June 22, 2026. The unique artifact was identified by staff of the Department of Antiquities at a French online auction in May 2025. The repatriation became possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Cyprus Police, Interpol, the French Ministry of Culture, and the assistance of a private owner who agreed to hand over the item to the lawful authorities.

Historical context and features of the artifact:
— The find is a clay model of a chariot with two figures in conical helmets — a warrior with a shield and a charioteer. In the Cypro-Archaic era (750–480 BC), when the island consisted of independent city-kingdoms (Salamis, Paphos, Kition, and others), such figurines were used as votive offerings for sanctuaries and funerary rites.
— This is a classic and recognizable type of Cypriot sculpture. Cyprus has previously recovered similar quadrigas from New York with the assistance of the FBI in August 2025 and from Munich in June 2024.

The repatriation of artifacts to Cyprus has taken on a systematic character. In recent times, Cyprus has managed to recover:
— From France: a Cypro-Geometric kylix in December 2025.
— From the United States: 18 antiquities in February 2026 and a Cypro-Archaic jug in March 2026.
— From the United Kingdom: two ancient vessels in the winter-spring period of 2026.
— From Germany: a large batch of antiquities and church relics removed after 1974 by the looter Aydin Dikmen (July 2024).

The current series of returns of cultural heritage coincided with Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU (January — June 2026). The returned terracotta chariot will be added to the state collections and displayed in a museum for the general public.