Stolen ancient treasures found at Australian museum — including artifact likely smuggled out of Italy under piles of pasta

Italian art detectives have found stolen ancient treasures at a leading Australian university, including an artifact likely smuggled out of the country under piles of pasta, the institution said.   

Australian National University (ANU) said Friday it was working with the "specialist art squad" of Italy's Carabinieri military police to return the priceless pieces.

The looted works discovered within the university's classics museum included a 2,500-year-old amphora depicting Greek champion Heracles fighting the mythical Nemean lion. It has been "a key object in the ANU Classics Museum for almost 40 years," the institution said.