A man has been arrested in southern Athens after being found in possession of four small, unadorned ancient Greek vases, authorities said Thursday.
A police statement said the 69-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Monday in his home in the capital’s Glyfada suburb. It said a search of the premises, following a tip-off, revealed three black-glazed pots – two skyphos double-handled drinking cups and a jug – and one smaller trefoil-mouthed wine jug.
All four vases were pronounced genuine by an archaeologist who examined them, police said. Photographs showed them to be common examples of their types that were all almost complete, with minor chipping to the lips and one broken handle.
The man faces charges of breaching Greece’s laws on cultural heritage. There was no suggestion that he was engaged in trafficking antiquities.
Undfer Greek law, all antiquities found in the country are state property.
