What is considered cultural property in Greece?
In Greece, there are initially different temporal categories for cultural property: Created before 1453, the time of the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans; created between 1453 and 1830; modern cultural property that emerged after 1830.
Under cultural protection are objects dated before 1453 from archaeological excavations and research, objects removed from immovable monuments, as well as religious objects such as icons, relics and liturgical objects used in worship. In addition, objects created after 1453 and more than 100 years ago that have a general historical or scientific significance, in social, technical, folkloric, ethnological, artistic, architectural or industrial terms.
More recent objects (less than 100 years old) that have a special social, technical, folkloric, ethnological, artistic, architectural, industrial and generally historical or scientific significance can also be classified as cultural property.
What are the export regulations?
An export ban applies to cultural property that was made before 1830 and found during archaeological excavations or are part of archaeological research or have been removed from immovable monuments. Furthermore, religious images and liturgical objects of the mentioned periods may not be exported. Excluded are objects that are not considered important monuments and the export of which does not affect the unity of significant collections. Cultural goods may also be loaned for a period of up to five years under certain conditions.
What sanctions are there?
An attempt to illegally export cultural property from Greece is punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment.
