Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: I bought at an auction house in London a Greek antiquity dating app. 560 b.c. and I want to permanently import it to Greece. Can I keep my ownership right?
When importing a Greek ancient object acquired outside the Greece the right of ownership of legally imported antiquities dated up to 1453 is maintained unless a) they had been exported from Greek territory during the last 50 years before the importation and b) they have not been illegally removed from a monument, an archaeological site, church, public collection, collection of religious monuments, storage places of archaeological finds from excavations or other similar places, or that they are not product of illegal excavations.
If the Archaeological Service considers that they had been exported from Greece during the last 50 years or that they are products of illegal activities, the interested person has to provide evidence of the antiquity’s acquisition or import and has to prove its origin.
If it is not possible to prove their origin, a permit of possession (not a right of ownership!) might be granted.
Question 2: While building my house antiquities were found in my plot. The Ministry carries out rescue excavations. Am I entitled to compensation?
The law provides the possibility of compensation in case of substantial temporary restraint or substantial temporary deprivation of use of in specific cases. According to a ministerial decision dating from 2003 a compensation is not granted within the first 15 months of an excavation.
If compensation is to be paid is a question of a case-to-case basis. Important parameters are the purpose of the plot (agricultural use or real estate investment) and the location of the plot (within the city plan or outside). The amount to be paid as compensation is calculated on the basis of the average return on the property before the limitation or deprivation of the use.
Question 3:My aunt had a license to possess antiquities. She passed away three month ago. Do I have the right to keep them and are the objects subject to inheritance tax?
In order to be able to keep the antiquities (i.e. the right to possess them) you will have to submit an application to the Ministry of Culture. If you meet the general conditions for possessing an antique object, as they are stipulated in law 3028/02, then you will most probably receive a possession license.
Yes, in that case these pieces will be subject to inheritance tax! The monetary value of the objects is determined by a special evaluation committee.
Question 4:My father, a collector of antiquities, died a year ago. As a heir, am I entitled to receive for a collection permit?
If the collector dies, his heir is entitled, within six (6) months from the date of the acceptance of heritage or the laps of the time limit for its rejection, to apply for a so called “collectors license”.
Recognition is usually granted, unless - the applicant does not provide guarantees to protect and ensure a safe storage and proper preservation conditions or the fulfillment of the general collector's obligations.
- his profession is related to the protection of monuments or he deals with antiquities or other monuments. The same restriction applies if the person is an employee or associate of persons (natural or legal) who are engaged in such a business.
Question 5:Who else apart from the Ministry of Culture has the right to conduct excavations in Greece?
Apart from the Archaeological Service, systematic excavations can also be carried out by:
a) a Greek scientific, research or educational organizations specialized in archaeological or paleontological research, or b) foreign archaeological missions or Schools, legally represented in Greece.
Excavation requires a decision by the Minister of Culture which is issued after an opinion of the CCA.