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Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 (1999 views)

Greek authorities are close to solving the theft of gold wreath that was stolen over ten years ago.

It is reported that a Greek public prosecutor pressed has now filed charges against a former museum curator at the Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and four other people for their involvement in the crime.

In 1993, the Getty museum paid $1.15 million dollars for the fourth century BC gold wreath. However, subsequent investigations have uncovered an international scandal involving illegal trading and antiquity theft.

The wreath is believed to have been discovered during an illegal dig of an ancient Macedonian tomb in northern Greece and was smuggled out of the country in order to be sold on to collectors or museums. It is claimed that the gold wreath may have originated from Greek Macedonia, the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

Paul Getty Museum has already been forced to return two objects to Greek authorities this year following extensive investigations - a fifth century BC marble relief and a fourth century BC inscribed tombstone.

 

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