Getty Museum repatriates antiquities to Greece

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

An inscribed ancient Greek marble slab returned to Greece by the J. Paul Getty Museum is seen at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on Friday, March 9, 2012. Greece's culture ministry said three ancient marble fragments from the collections of the Los Angeles museum have been repatriated to Greece following a deal last year. The slab is inscribed with a text relating to a religious festival and dates to 430-420 B.C [Credit: AP/Greek Culture Ministry]

A 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. 

The Getty also returned an inscribed slab related to a religious festival. The 5th century B.C. fragments arrived in Athens Friday. 

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. 

Source: Associated Press [March 09, 2012]