admin Most of us are taught two important lessons at an early age. The first is not to accept what is not yours. The second is the importance of sharing.
Unfortunately, not everyone learns such lessons and some simply ignore them. Throughout history, countless priceless artifacts have been stolen. Some of them were not collected, while others were in the hands of overseas museums, which are stubbornly refusing to return them.
Here are seven of the most tragic thefts of artifacts in history and who stole them.
1. The Rosetta Stone: Stolen by the French, Then the British
For those interested in ancient Egyptian history, the Rosetta Stone is one of the most important relics ever discovered. This played a key role in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs from beautiful images into written language that we can actually understand.
Rediscovered by French soldiers during Napoleon Bonaparte’s expedition to Egypt. Approximately 114 cm high and 72 cm wide, this stone is a decree of Ptolemy V in 196 BC. inscribed.
This decree is written in hieroglyphs, demotic (the italic script used in ancient Egypt) and his three ancient Greek scripts. Since the Greek text was understandable at the time it was discovered, scholars were able to use it as a key to deciphering previously undecipherable hieroglyphs. The Rosetta Stone has made great strides in understanding the ancient Egyptian language and culture. After Napoleon’s defeat, the British decided that they liked the stone’s appearance so much that it was given to them under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria of 1801.
Not surprisingly to anyone with even the slightest interest in important historical relics, the stone has since been housed in the British Museum. His theft from Egypt is at the center of ongoing debate, with some calling for his return to Egypt. The British Museum objected, arguing that the Rosetta Stone was a world treasure and best preserved and studied in its current location, open to the public for educational purposes.
2. The Elgin Marbles: “Saved” by Lord Elgin
Elgin Marble, also known as Parthenon Marble, is a beautiful collection of Greek marble statues that once graced the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens. The Elgin His Marbles are believed to have been there for about 2,500 years, from 1801 until the arrival of Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, between 1805 and 1805.
Lord Elgin was the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and had requested the Ottoman authorities, who ruled Athens at the time, to remove the sculpture. His motives are still controversial.
The official story is that he tried to save the sculpture from possible neglect, damage or destruction. He believed it was important to preserve them for the benefit of posterity and culture. To be fair, the Ottoman Empire did not have the best track record when it came to managing ancient Greek sites and relics.
Others are less tolerant, believing that Lord Elgin simply wanted to add these sculptures to Britain’s already impressive collection of important historical artefacts. In any event, the Elgin Marbles, once removed, were transported to England, where they ended up in the British Museum in London, where they remain today. Their acquisition was controversial, however, as Greece had consistently insisted on their return to their homeland.
The Greek government and its supporters argue that Elgin marble is considered an integral part of Greece’s cultural heritage and should be reintegrated with the remaining Parthenon sculptures in Athens. Their removal is cultural appropriation and should be sent home.
The defenses of the British Museum are eerily similar to those of the Rosetta Stone. She maintains that the Elgin Marbles were legally obtained and are a valuable educational resource for London’s global audience. The museum claims that the sculptures are preserved and displayed in a museum setting and can be viewed alongside other ancient treasures.
Even though the statute was originally obtained legally, it still feels like theft. The idea that the statues are better maintained in England than in Greece sounds more than condescending. This debate continues to rage, and raises important questions about cultural heritage, ownership and the responsibility of museums in a global context.
3. The Amber Room: Culprit Unknown
This is (presumably) not stolen by the British. The Amber Room was a legendary room located in the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo, near St. Petersburg, Russia. It was famous for its opulence and stunning panels made entirely of amber, gold leaf and mirrors. One of the most beautiful spaces mankind has ever created.
In 1941, as World War II raged, German troops invaded the Soviet Union and marched on the Catherine Palace. Given Germany’s relentless pointing during the war, it was decided to demolish the Amber Room to prevent looting and damage.
Unfortunately, the clock was ticking and the demolition work was hasty and chaotic, meaning the Germans were closing in. After being dismantled, the Amber Room was transported to Königsberg Castle in what is now Kaliningrad, Russia, where it was reassembled and shown on screen. So far, so good.
Unfortunately, as the war progressed, the Germans intensified their bombing raids, and in 1945 Königsberg was heavily bombed. What happened to the Amber Room? no one knows
There are various theories. The simplest is that the room was destroyed by bombing. But if that’s true, surely there must be traces left?
Many believe that the room was dismantled again and secretly transported to another location to hide it from the Germans. Perhaps the person who hid it decided to keep it. Or maybe a German discovered his hiding place and a greedy Nazi decided to make it his own.
There have been several searches and investigations over the years to locate the Amber Room, but none have been successful. Despite our best efforts, the whereabouts of the Amber Room remain unknown and are considered one of the greatest unsolved art mysteries in history.
4. The Iraqi National Museum Thefts: Countless Treasures Lost
Founded in 1926, the National Museum of Iraq houses an extensive collection of important artifacts representing the region’s rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years. Until it was looted after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The fall of dictatorships tends to be somewhat chaotic, and after the fall of Saddam Hussein looters took advantage of this chaos to target the National Museum. The museum was left unguarded and looters raided it for several days, stealing or destroying countless irreplaceable artefacts.
The looted items included ancient sculptures, jewellery, pottery, manuscripts and other archaeological treasures from various civilizations such as Mesopotamian, Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian cultures. This was a devastating loss for the cultural community in Iraq and around the world, as many of these artifacts provided insight into the origins of civilization and the history of human development.
Not surprisingly, this looting has sparked outrage around the world and raised key questions about who was responsible. It was felt that the United States and its allies should have done more to protect and preserve the museum.
Efforts have been made to recover the stolen artifacts. Interpol, in cooperation with various governments, their law enforcement agencies and arts organizations, conducts worldwide searches to find and return the loot. Many of the stolen artifacts are found on international markets, confiscated at borders, or intercepted when attempting to sell.
But there is still a long way to go. A significant number of artefacts are missing or damaged beyond repair. The looting of the Iraqi National Museum was an important reminder of the devastating impact of armed conflict on cultural heritage and the urgent need to protect and preserve our common human history.
5. The Nefertiti Bust: “Looked After” by Germany
The bust of Nefertiti is perhaps one of the most iconic artifacts to emerge from Egypt, and it tells a story. It probably dates from the 14th century BC. This is a limestone sculpture depicting the head and shoulders of Queen Nefertiti, wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten and one of the girlfriends of ancient Egypt’s most famous rulers.
This bust was discovered in 1912 in the ancient Egyptian city of Amarna by a team of German archaeologists led by Ludwig Borchardt. The work was found in the workshop of the sculptor Thutmose, who is believed to have created it during the reign of Akhenaten. The bust is estimated to have been made around 1345 BC. make.
After its discovery, the bust of Nefertiti became the object of fascination and admiration around the world. It is considered one of the most remarkable and important works of art of ancient Egypt. Despite its age, it has been preserved in such remarkable condition that it is an invaluable resource for understanding ancient Egyptian art and culture.
In fact, it was so impressive that the Germans decided to keep it. As with other artifacts on this list, this led to a long-running debate over ownership. Egypt has insisted that the bust’s removal is illegal and has long called for the bust’s return. Berlin’s Neues Museum, with federal backing, insists the purchase was legal and the bust would be better placed there.
6. The Crown Jewels of Ireland: A National Embarrassment
The Irish Crown Jewels, along with the Great Collar of the Order of St. Patrick, were used in various monarch coronation ceremonies and have been worn on official national occasions for centuries.
and in 1907 they were stolen from Dublin Castle, then home to the British rule in Ireland. The jewels were kept in a vault in Bedford Tower, and access to this room was strictly controlled. However, on the night of July 6, 1907, the jewel was found missing.
An investigation into the theft was led by the Dublin Metropolitan Police, but was unsuccessful despite their best efforts. Neither the culprit nor the jewels were found. The whole affair was a serious scandal for Britain.
It is no exaggeration to say that the British government was not always friendly in Ireland, and the incident raised serious questions about the security and integrity of the regime. The Irish crown jewels were of immense historical and symbolic importance.
They were considered symbols of the old Irish monarchy and its connection to the Knights of St. Patrick, an order founded in 1783. The loss of these precious artifacts was a blow to Ireland’s national pride and traditions (and the fact that Britain ruled Ireland, one might argue).
There are many theories and speculations about what happened. Some have speculated that the crown jewels may have been disassembled and sold individually to attract attention. Some claim it was smuggled out of the country and ended up in the hands of private collectors.
To this day, there are occasional sightings and rumors, but nothing major. The theft of the Irish crown remains an unsolved mystery and a source of intrigue in Irish history. Efforts to retrieve the stolen relics have been ongoing for years without success.
7. Mayan Jade Mask: An Armed Raid
In 1985, a 7th-century Mayan jade mask was stolen from the National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. This mask forms part of a larger collection of Mayan artifacts and is one of the museum’s most prized possessions, with immense cultural and historical value.
Unfortunately, it also had considerable monetary value, and on September 25, 1985, gunmen raided the museum and, in a broad daylight robbery, stole the jade along with several other valuable artifacts. My mask was stolen. The robbers used guns to overwhelm the museum’s small security force and stole several items within minutes.
The theft has received international attention. The theft of the mask was especially devastating as it represented a unique and irreplaceable part of Mayan heritage. Crafted from intricately carved jade, this mask was not only an artistic masterpiece, but also of great importance in Maya religious and cultural practices.
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of law enforcement agencies around the world, the stolen items have yet to be recovered. The items are believed to have ended up in the hands of private collectors, and the latest theft serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges associated with the illegal trade and smuggling of cultural relics.
Stolen Treasures
The thefts on this list fall into his two categories. The first is what some call cultural appropriation, others cultural preservation, crafts taken from their homeland. Whether or not these are genuine “steals” depends on which side of the argument you take.
The second category is probably even worse. Valuable artifacts, likely stolen and sold, ended up in the hands of greedy private collectors. Sadly, many of these objects are never recovered and are destined to be shared only with a very privileged few.
The debate over where these relics belong will probably escalate. But who can say who really owns these relics? They are an important part of our common cultural heritage. It can therefore be argued that they should not be hidden in dusty back rooms or used as political scoring tools, but should be shared whenever possible.
Top Image: It belongs in a museum! But what if the artifact was stolen by the museum? Source: Gary Stewart Gary2880 / CC BY 3.0.
