Disputed Antiquities

Art National Treasures stolen museums Getty Metropolitan Museum of Art British Museum Roman Rome Italy Greece Athens Egypt Egyptian Mummy
Kevin Scanlon for TIME

Victorious Youth
This rare Greek bronze of a young athlete, which dates from between 300 and 100 B.C., was pulled from the Adriatic by Italian fishermen in 1964. Thirteen years later it was purchased for the Getty Villa in Malibu. Italy is now seeking its return, claiming it may have been found in Italian territorial waters and that it was smuggled out of the country. The Getty is digging in its heels, insisting the statue was discovered in international waters.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.