British Museum Loans Ancient Greek Vase to Acropolis Museum Amid Parthenon Sculptures Dispute

The 2,500-year-old Meidias hydria leaves London for the first time in 250 years, as Greece and Britain continue negotiations over the return of the Parthenon Sculptures.

• The British Museum has loaned the ancient Greek water vase, the Meidias hydria, to the Acropolis Museum in Athens for an exhibition running until April 2024.
• The loan comes amid a dispute between Greece and Britain over the permanent return of the Parthenon Sculptures from the British Museum to Athens.
• The 2,500-year-old hydria, signed by Athenian potter Meidias, has never been loaned before and leaves London for the first time in 250 years.
• The vase will be part of the Acropolis museum exhibition 'NoHMATA' (Meanings) which presents a mix of artwork, including the bronze 400 BC Chimera of Arezzo from the Archaeological Museum of Florence and a Rubens painting depicting Saturn devouring his son from the Museo del Prado.
• Acropolis Museum Director Nikolaos Stampolidis expressed confidence that the Parthenon Sculptures would eventually return to Athens, citing 'very good relations' between the British Museum and Acropolis Museum.

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