Getty Museum returns ancient fragments to Greece

PanARMENIAN.Net - Three ancient marble fragments from the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles have been repatriated to Greece following a deal in 2011.

The Greek culture ministry statement says two of the 2,400-year-old pieces are parts of the same broken gravestone decorated with relief sculptures, and will be joined onto a third section in a Greek museum, according to AP.

The Getty also returned an inscribed slab related to a religious festival.

The 5th century B.C. fragments arrived in Athens on March 9. Greece is discussing lending an ancient Greek inscription to the Getty in return.

In recent years, the Getty has repatriated to Athens another four significant ancient works, including a gold wreath allegedly illegally excavated in northern Greece.

Most of the Greek antiquities displayed in museums worldwide are of uncertain provenance.