German woman who stole 2,400-year-old Greek relic returns it 50 years later

A German woman who stole the top of an ancient Greek column more than half a century ago has returned it to Greece — ending a decades-long absence for the 2,400-year-old artifact taken from the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The Ionic column capital, made of limestone and measuring about 9 inches high and 13 inches wide, was taken from the Leonidaion, a 4th-century BC guesthouse in Ancient Olympia.

Greek officials said the relic was handed back during a ceremony on Friday at the Ancient Olympia Conference Center, after the woman voluntarily surrendered it to the University of Münster in Germany, which arranged its repatriation.

A German woman who stole the top of an ancient Greek column more than half a century ago has returned it to Greece. Greek Culture Ministry

The woman had