Two plundered ancient Greek vases are repatriated from Switzerland

Two plundered marble vases that marked ancient Athenians' graves more than 2,000 years ago, including one with an emotional family scene, have been returned to Greece from Switzerland.

Greece's Culture Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the two white marble works, which were decorated with relief sculptures, were brought back following a long legal battle.

Both are broken, with the necks and parts of the bases missing. One measures 60 centimeters (23 inches) in height, while the other is 54 centimeters (21 inches). They date to the 4th century BC and would have stood on family graves somewhere near Athens, but because they were clandestinely dug up and illegally exported it's unlikely the precise spot will be found.

The one is decorated with a family scene, showing a seated elderly man being bid farewell by his son — wearing the armor of an ancient...