Some 558 historical artifacts including sculptures, earthenware, coins and jewelry, repatriated from Western museums over the last two years, went on display Monday at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran.

Tehran Times reports: "Last November, 30 historical artifacts which had been smuggled into Italy in 2008 were returned home as Iran, avidly seeking to reclaim the artifacts, brought the case to a European court together with some compelling evidence."

Many of the ancient works were repatriated from England, Belgium, Italy, and the United States. Some items came from the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute.

The Christian Science Monitor reports: "Many of these ancient objects, withheld for so long by Western museums, hold great meaning and value for modern Iranians, as a link to the illustrious and ancient past of the Persian Empire."

“The Exhibition of the Repatriated Cultural-Historical Objects” is on display through Feb. 18 although the museum may continue the exhibition depending on interest.