Ancient Greek treasures recovered from the wreck of Lord Elgin’s ship

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Marine archaeologists have recovered ancient treasures from the wreck of the Mentor, a ship used by the controversial Lord Elgin to transport a hoard of artifacts taken from Greece.

The ship, which was carrying a cargo of 17 boxes of antiquities, sank in September 1802 after striking rocks off the island of Kythira. Much of the ship’s cargo, including the controversial “Elgin Marbles,” was recovered in a salvage mission after its sinking. However, many ancient artifacts remained on the seabed, according to Artnet News.

A team of archaeologists recently excavated the shipwreck site, recovering ancient objects that included an ornate gold ring, a pair of gold earrings, and part of an amphora, or jar. Other items recovered from the wreck site include part of a wooden leg and a pulley from the Mentor, according to a statement released by Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sports.

BIBLICAL SHIPWRECK DISCOVERY? ANCHOR FROM ST. PAUL’S SHIPWRECK IDENTIFIED, RESEARCHERS CLAIM

Thomas Bruce, 7th Early of Elgin, remains a controversial historical figure on account of his removal of ancient artifacts from Greece, most notably the “Elgin Marbles,” a set of frieze sculptures taken from the Parthenon in Athens. The “Elgin Marbles” have been on display at the British Museum in London since 1817, although the Greek government has long campaigned for their return.

Divers lifting wooden pulley lifts from the wreck site. (MeSEP/EUA/HCMR/Yiannis Issaris)

Elgin’s critics have accused him of looting the sculptures from the Parthenon.

On its website the British Museum writes that “the sculptures are part of everyone’s shared heritage and transcend cultural boundaries.”

STUNNING CARGO DISCOVERED ON WELL-PRESERVED ROMAN SHIPWRECK

Other Mediterranean shipwrecks have been garnering in recent years. Archaeologists, for example, recently discovered a hoard of Roman jars on an ancient shipwreck off the Spanish island of Mallorca.

A view of the wreck site from the west. (photo by A. Tourtas)

In another project, experts claim to have identified an anchor from St. Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta.

'UNDISTURBED' ROMAN-ERA SHIPWRECK DISCOVERED OFF CYPRUS

A gold ring recovered from the wreck site. (photo by P. Vezyrtzis)

Earlier this year, archaeologists discovered the wreck of an “undisturbed” Roman-era ship off the east coast of Cyprus.

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A pair of gold earrings recovered from the wreck site. (photo by P. Vezyrtzis)

In 2017 archaeologists in Egypt discovered three Roman-era shipwrecks and other stunning ancient artifacts on the floor of the Mediterranean, off the coast of Alexandria.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers