The grandson of a former Italian prime minister has returned to Greece an ancient vase that was presented to Italy as a state gift over 70 years ago, the Greek culture ministry announced.

The 5th century BC vase had been presented to then prime minister Alcide De Gasperi by his Greek counterpart Alexandros Papagos during a state visit to Athens in 1953.

A few years earlier, Italy had ceded the Dodecanese Islands to Greece and Papagos “was expressing gratitude for (De Gasperi’s) decisive contribution to the union of the Dodecanese with Greece,” a statement from Greece’s Culture ministry said.

The vase was returned by the former prime minister’s grandson Paolo Catti De Gasperi in a ceremony at the Greek embassy in Rome.

“We thank him very much as, though it was in his possession entirely legally, he felt the need and had the generosity to return it to Greece,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said.

The Athenian red-figure vase, showing a warrior’s preparations for a journey, will now go on display at Athens’ Kerameikos Museum.