Which ancient Greek vase was repatriated from the Met to Italy in 2008?

The ancient Greek vase repatriated from the Met to Italy in 2008 was the Euphronios Krater.

Also called the Sarpedon Krater, it is a red-figure calyx krater made in Athens around 515 BC. The vessel was designed for mixing wine and water, and its main mythological scene shows the body of Sarpedon being carried by Hypnos and Thanatos while Hermes watches. The painter was Euphronios, one of the most celebrated artists of the red-figure technique.

The krater entered the Met’s collection in 1972 after being purchased for about $1 million. Investigations later connected it to illegal excavation at an Etruscan cemetery near Cerveteri and to the antiquities dealer Giacomo Medici. Those revelations contributed to negotiations between Italy and the museum.

Italy formally regained ownership in 2006, but the object remained on loan at the Met until its highly publicized return in January 2008. It was displayed in Rome before moving to the National Archaeological Museum of Cerveteri. The Niobid Krater and other named vessels are different ancient works.