I could read your posts all night loooong, /winki Dinki
Posted on 10/07/2009 6:33:33 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
Egypt's antiquities chief says Egypt is suspending ties with the Louvre, saying the French museum has not returned what he says are stolen artifacts.
Zahi Hawass on Wednesday said the Louvre has repeatedly ignored requests to return steles, or large reliefs, that date back to the time of the Pharaohs. Hawass said the Louvre purchased the four archeological reliefs that were stolen from a tomb in Luxor in the 1980s.
French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand said Wednesday that France is willing to return the relics if they were indeed stolen from the tomb site. He says he has asked a special commission to meet Friday to discuss the situation and rule on the matter.
Egypt has launched an extensive campaign to recover its antiquities abroad, including some objects currently exhibited in well-known museums.
In 2002, Egypt's Supreme Council ruled that all international museums must return antiquities that were stolen or smuggled from Egypt, including pieces that were purchased by museums but were ultimately proved to be stolen.
Can Hawass produce the original receipt ?
As much as I sympathize with a nation wanting its cultural heritage back, after what I saw the Taliban do to the statues of Buddha in Afghanistan, I’m in favor of as much human cultural heritage to be removed from their influence as possible.
It seems to me when you have something as significant as ancient Egyptian artifacts, you would want them dispersed as far and wide as possible to ensure throughout history, at least some is preserved. Imagine how much was lost of the Alexandrian library due to one fire.
Exactly. Egypt is thisclose to going fundamentalist, and a fundamentalist Egyptian regime would make me fear for the Sphinx and the Luxor statues.
|
|
|||
Gods |
Please, no pics of Zahi "Zowie" Hawass. Thank you. Blam....steles, or large reliefs, that date back to the time of the Pharaohs. Hawass said the Louvre purchased the four archeological reliefs that were stolen from a tomb in Luxor in the 1980s.It should extend to paintings and all other modern art as well -- IOW, all those impressionist works need to go back to France, the National Gallery needs to return that da Vinci painting to Italy, those big heads need to be sent back to Easter Island... |
||
|
· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
|||
I can't image any Egyptian regime, no matter how fundamental, would mess with the crown jewels of their heritage. It would be a very short lived regime.
“...a fundamentalist Egyptian regime would make me fear for the Sphinx and the Luxor statues.”
10,000 fundie muzzies chipping away at the pyramids with pickaxes would make a good scene in some twisted comedy.
Asking Freepers not to post pictures of someone is like spitting into a hurricane. It just don’t work well.
IMO the greatest historical loss in human history.
Yeah, it’s a lost cause.
But back to the article — the Louvre... imagine, an entire museum dedicated to toilets... Would be a cold bidet in hell before I’d pay money to go in there.
I could read your posts all night loooong, /winki Dinki
So what’s worse? Posting a pic of “Zowie”, or posting a pic of his mother?
I agree. They wouldn't be messing with just the crown jewels. They'd be messing with the archaeological expeditions that take place, and the tourist industry. Egypt relies on other countries to invest and conduct the expeditions that have uncovered a lot of their antiquities. They also rely on tourists to keep their economy going. They wouldn't let either of those go without a fight.
Maybe we can talk the Chinese or Russians or someone into make a good old fashioned middle ages run through Europe, pillaging as they go. We could scatter a lot of good art locked up in musty old European museums to the four corners of the earth. I’m picturing a Monet hanging in the tent of a Mogul warlord.
Probably not that much. Most of it was on perishable papyrus and what hadn't been filched by early Christians had pretty much turned to compost due to water damage well before any fires.
David Bowie? ;’)
"And the Pharaoh would say, 'you there! pull harder on that stone'."
Yah. I hate spiders 2.
BTW. Nice shot with the toidy humor. Refreshing...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
