Illegally trafficked sarcophagus fragment returned to Greece

Published February 11, 2017

The Manhattan District Attorney's office has returned an ancient marble sarcophagus fragment to Greece that had been illegally trafficked into the United States.

The item dates to 200 A.D. and depicts a battle between Green and Trojan warriors. It was stolen from Greece in 1988, then smuggled and transported through Europe before landing in New York City.

Prosecutors say it wound up at a Manhattan-based art gallery, which gave up the fragment once it was presented with evidence of the theft. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R Vance Jr. held a repatriation ceremony for the item.

The Consul General of Greece, Konstantinos Koutras said at the ceremony Friday that he was grateful.

The fragment will be displayed for public view and research at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

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