...
These mosaics, worth $50million were stolen by Turkish inhabitants of Cyprus and have been found all over the world, the prior mosaics being found in Germany and Britain. One piece, stolen from Cyprus, was actually found in British musician, Boy George's house, after a TV program gave a tour of his house. According to Boy George, after the program aired, a representitive from Cyprus contacted him, asking him to return the piece to its rightful home. Boy George agreed enthusiastically, stating he had not known where the piece had originated from, or the means by which it was procured.
Wiki Markup
Slowly, buy surely, the Cyprus Churches are getting their art returned to them from the various museums and private collections in which they have been housed. However, many of these art houses are not as willing as Boy George was to give up their historic pieces, and with it begins the never ending debate of who owns the art? According to the current owners of these pieces, they paid a great deal for the art, and thus it should be theirs now. However, according to the Churches in Cyprus, because they originated there, and were stolen from them, they are still to be considered theirs. Although in theory, it makes sense that if something was stolen from you, it should be returned, no matter who bought it, in practice it is much more difficult. Many museums who boast of having collections from every part of the world, have acquired these collections through the first archaeologists, stealing them from the countries, or from black markets. Thus, without stealing, one would be unable to go to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and see anything but art from the United States.
...
Another problem arises with stolen art, and that is the issue of whether or not institutions should buy art that is sold on the black market. By not purchasing art that was acquired illegally, it could be lost forever, with no hopes of being restored to its proper homeland, however by dealing with these looters, institutions, such as museums, are encouraging the trade of selling art illegally. It seems to be a major catch-22 to which, I cannot see an end. With the Middle East in turmoil, more of civilizations greatest artifacts are being illegally acquired and sold, with no end in sight.unmigrated-wiki-markup
More information about stolen art of Cyprus:
\
[https://cypruslifeinpictures.wordpress.com/tag/turkish-invasion-1974/\]
\
[http://www.cyprusexpat.co.uk/blog/read/id:398/cyprus-church-welcomes-return-of-two-stolen-frescoes\]
\
[http://www.menil.org/ByzantineFrescoChapelNews.php\]
\
[http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/cyprus/\]
Frescos displayed in a Museum in Texas. These will be returned to Cyprus this year.