NOSTOS is the Greek word for homecoming.

NOSTOS Strategies, inspired by this concept, is dedicated to helping cultural heritage find its way back home. We believe in the profound significance of cultural artefacts as symbols of identity and timeless links between old and new. In many cases, artefacts are the only thing linking past, present and future.

Cultural artefacts have always been the subject of fascination and, for the same reason, loot and plunder. In the ages of imperialism and expansion, explorers and colonialists took what they liked and profited enormously. Much of that heritage now sits far from its roots: in museums, private collections, auction houses and state-sponsored storage.

Whilst efforts to repatriate those artefacts have gained momentum in recent years, it is complicated by challenges regarding ownership, legality, ethical responsibility and historical absolution. The question of return does not always have a straightforward answer.

The nostos of national treasures allows communities and its peoples to reclaim history, traditions, values. We believe in the ‘renewal of tradition’. It opens up, for future generations, a greater understanding of the past; things not possible when they are oceans apart. 

At NOSTOS, we champion the transformative power of return. Collaborating with states, communities, and organisations, we strive to repatriate cultural property, bridge the gap between past and present, and nurture the shared cultural heritage that unites us all.

“Let us, before we die, gather up our heritage, and offer it to our children.” - Will Durant

FOUNDER

Melina Antoniadis is a Canadian lawyer of Greek and Cambodian heritage. Her training is in international law, advising states on both territorial and human rights disputes.

The stories of Greece and Cambodia hold a special significance for her. But the issue is wider: works of art the world over are housed in places far from home, whether it’s Western museums, private collections, or state-sponsored storage, and it takes pressure and negotiation to get them back. These artefacts have a special meaning to the people they were taken from.

With experience advising on state disputes and human rights, Melina saw how international law was only one tool available to effect change. There are more: collaboration and diplomacy is a key part of cultural return, and Melina was eager to use all skills at her disposal to devise strategies to obtain results. 

Melina now offers her expertise on the return of cultural heritage to their countries of origin. That’s the driving force behind NOSTOS.

Melina was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She speaks English, French and Greek, and has a working knowledge of Spanish and Russian.

  • Member of the Bar of Ontario
    Transferring Lawyer to the Bar of England and Wales

    B.C.L./LL.B., McGill University
    LL.M., Leiden University