The United States has returned to Iran this 7th-century BCE silver griffin-shaped ceremonial drinking vessel, which was seized by U.S. Customs enforcement in 2003 when an art dealer attempted to smuggle it into the United States.
图为公元前7世纪作为礼器的银质鹰头狮身兽形饮具 。2003年有人试图将这件文物偷运进入美国，结果被美国海关(U.S. Customs)查获。美国已于9月25日在联合国大会(U.N. General Assembly)期间将这件文物送还伊朗。
The artifact, returned on September 25 at the U.N. General Assembly, was likely looted from a cave in northwestern Iran. It is considered the premier griffin of antiquity, with an estimated value of a million dollars or more, according to an NBC News report.
据全国广播公司(NBC)报道，这件文物原藏伊朗西北地区的石窟中，被视为古代文物精品，估计价值达100多万美元，可能遭遇偷盗流落他乡。
It is “a gift of the Iranian people to the world, and the United States is pleased to return it to the people of Iran, ” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
美国国务院发表声明指出，“这是伊朗人民为全世界创造的一件瑰宝。美国很高兴将这件文物送还伊朗人民。”
“The return of the artifact reflects the strong respect the United States has for cultural heritage property ― in this case, cultural heritage property that was likely looted from Iran and is important to the patrimony of the Iranian people. It also reflects the strong respect the United States has for the Iranian people, ” the State Department said.
“送还这件文物体现了美国对文化遗产的高度尊重 ? 这一次送还的文物是伊朗人民宝贵的遗产，原来很可能在伊朗遭遇偷盗。这也说明美国对伊朗人民的高度尊重。”
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