On Monday the London Times reported that the patron offered to foot the bill for a legal team that includes Amal Clooney, the human-rights lawyer who made headlines when she married Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney in 2014.

The British newspaper identified its source as an official with ties to Konstantinos Tasoulas, the head of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports who first met with Clooney and other barristers from Doughty Street Chambers to discuss the case late last year.

The official told the publication that a Greek shipping magnate offered to foot the legal bill “as a patriotic gesture” a few months later when the government dismissed the quest to reclaim the sculptures as a costly extravagance it could no longer afford.

The source pointed out that the tycoon operates out of Athens and London and would prefer to remain anonymous but opted not to provide other clues. He also declined to discuss whether politicians approached the patron about the cause, or vice versa.

“The arrangement came immediately after Mrs. Clooney and her boss, Geoffrey Robertson, visited Athens three months ago,” the official told the Times.

He added: “The shipowner’s involvement proved pivotal. Ever since, billing fees have been going straight to him.”

When pressed about funding Robertson, the founder of Clooney’s law firm, told the publication that his team’s fees are being covered by “a group of philanthropists at no expense to the Greek people” but declined to elaborate further.

Doughty Street Chambers joined the crusade to repatriate the Parthenon Marbles after meeting with Tasoulas and other government officials in October of last year.

Clooney and her celebrity husband hosted a formal wedding ceremony in Venice a few weeks prior, which is why it probably comes as no surprise that the visit recieved alot of attention from tabloids and mainstream news outlets.

Many believe her firm will return to Athens this month since the UK must respond to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s request to mediate the dispute with Greece by no later than 30 March.

The legal battle involves the Elgin Marbles, the term the British Museum uses when referring to the collection of ancient statues that were procured by Lord Elgin during diplomatic trips to Athens in the early 19th century.

The museum claims Elgin acquired the artifacts in transactions that were sanctioned by an Ottoman sultan who ruled the region at the time.

Critics who prefer the term “Parthenon Marbles” contend that the statues were stolen and expatriated without permission from the proper authorities.

Today, a number of industry observers told TradeWinds that they were intrigued by the revelation about Clooney’s patron and would like to learn more but noted its not the first time a Greek shipping magnate has taken an interest in the Elgin Marbles.

They pointed out that dozens of prominent shipowners have rallied in support of efforts to repatriate the statues in recent years, while others backed initiatives aimed at pursuing monetary claims against the British Museum and Parliament.

In 2002 George Lemos emerged as the architect of a legal-action fund that intended to sue the museum. At the time, the Tsavliris brothers and other notable members of the Greek shipping community were fighting on the front line of the same cause.