Two ancient Indian sculptures have spent years on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In 2018, the Met and the Indian government agreed that both will be returned to India. An eighth-century stone sculpture of Hindu Goddess Durga Mahishasuramardini was donated to the Met in 2015. While researching the sculpture, the museum learned that it was formerly in a temple in northern India. A third-century limestone head of a male deity will also be returned. It was donated to the Met in 1986.
