©(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Pre-reading questions:
- If you could see an ancient artifact from any time in history, what would you choose and why?
- Why do you think museums sometimes display items from other countries?
Vocabulary:
- artifact /AHR-tuh-fakt/
- strength /strengkth/
- partnership /PAHRT-ner-ship/
- cooperation /koh-op-uh-REY-shuhn/
- rightful /RAHYT-fuhl/
[noun] – an object made by a human being, typically of cultural or historical interest
The museum proudly displayed an artifact from an ancient civilization that had recently been discovered.
[noun] – the quality or state of being physically strong or having great power
Her strength and determination helped her win the championship despite many challenges.
[noun] – an arrangement where two or more people, groups, or organizations work together
The school’s partnership with local businesses created new opportunities for students.
[noun] – the process of working together toward the same goal
The two communities showed great cooperation when organizing the town festival.
[adjective] – legally or morally correct; belonging to someone by right
The family fought hard to reclaim their rightful inheritance from distant relatives.
Article reading:
The griffin head, symbolizing strength and protection in ancient Greece, will now be displayed with a similar artifact in the Olympia museum. The Met has also increased its efforts to review its collection, hiring experts to trace the origins of its items. The museum’s director, Max Hollein, highlighted their ongoing partnership with Greece and stressed the importance of future cultural exchange. As part of this cooperation, Greece has agreed to loan the griffin head back to the Met for future exhibitions. This reflects a growing effort among museums to return artifacts to their rightful homes while still sharing cultural heritage with the world.
Comprehension questions
- Where was the ancient bronze griffin head returned to?
- What type of item was the griffin head?
- Where was the griffin head displayed before it was stolen?
- Why is Olympia an important place in Greece?
- Who helped bring the griffin head back to Greece?
Discussion questions
- Have you ever visited a museum before? If so, what was the most interesting item you saw there? If not, what kind of museum would you like to visit someday?
- Have you ever lost something important to you? If so, how did you feel when you found it again? If not, what would you do if you lost something valuable?
- Do you agree that museums should return important artifacts to their original countries?
- Why do you think some artifacts end up in museums far away from their original countries?
- What challenges do you think museums face when trying to return stolen artifacts?