New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Artwork returns 14 Khmer statues to Cambodia

Cambodia celebrated this week the return of fourteen Khmer works to the nation by the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork (MET) in New York.

The Cambodian Minister of Tradition welcomed “ the soul of our father will return » at a ceremony organized on Thursday on the Nationwide Museum of the Cambodia in Phnom Penh to rejoice this restoration of 14 sculptures made between the ninth and 14th centuries, in the course of the Angkorian interval. they” reflecting the Hindu and Buddhist spiritual techniques prevailing at the moment “, the museum stated in a press launch this week.

Buddhist monks additionally blessed the items throughout these celebrations. Beneficial heritage, stated Minister Phoeurng Sackona, as a result of these artworks “ the conduct of our ancestors’ souls “and convey them again” historical past, respect and information ». « The medals stayed overseas for a very long time, however in the present day they returned to Cambodia, as a blessing to our folks, for peace and stability in our nation “, she emphasised.

A press release from the Cambodian Ministry of Tradition and Superb Arts signifies that the “ historic return of nationwide treasures » follows a number of years of negotiations between the Khmer artwork restoration crew, US federal prosecutors in New York, investigators from the US Division of Homeland Safety and the Metropolitan Museum.

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