AP — GREEK ANTIQUITIES RETURNED FROM US

AVV 9-28 #713685

 

ATHENS, GREECE (AP) — An ancient stone coffin and sculpture of a lion’s head have been returned to Greece after being handed over by private owners in the United States, the Culture Ministry said recently.

The artifacts were presented by new Culture Minister Michalis Liapis. Both had been voluntarily turned over to the Greek consulate in Boston and brought back to Greece in July.

The undated marble sarcophagus bears the relief sculpture of a battle scene, while the lion sculpture dates to Roman times.

Greece has mounted an aggressive campaign for the return of ancient artifacts from museums and private collections abroad, part of an effort to recover Parthenon sculptures known as the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum in London.