Greece receives Getty pieces

Two ancient Greek artifacts that officials said had been smuggled out of the country came home Thursday as part of an agreement with the J. Paul Getty Museum.

A 2,400-year-old, black limestone stele and a marble votive relief dating from about 490 BC went on display at Athens’ National Archaeological Museum only hours after being flown in from L.A.

They are the first installment of a deal to send back works of ancient art that were stolen from Greece and eventually bought by one of the world’s richest art institutions.

“The days when foreign museums and private collectors uncontrollably bought antiquities without any identity or passport have gone for good,” Greek culture minister George Voulgarakis, standing before the objects, told reporters.

Both items will briefly be displayed in Athens before returning to the locations where they were found, he said.

Getty officials have said they never knowingly purchased looted items.

The museum’s discussions with Greece regarding two other contested objects continue.