[SteveH]

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[irishjuggler]

This story has the Dan Brown-quality that many folks find appealing, i.e., that the Catholic Church possesses some mind-blowing stuff (e.g.,, treasures of the Temple of Jerusalem, such as the menorah depicted on the Arch of Titus) but it’s hiding those things and lying about them for some vague but nefarious purpose. It’s not impossible that it’s true, but I’m skeptical of anything that conforms so closely to a popular yet paranoid fantasy.

[Tennessee Nana]

Im sure its always been there ...

plunder from the crusades etc

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Would be nice if true.

[ArtDodger]

The Vatican owns the world’s largest collection of erotic art. No telling what else they have squirreled away.

[Paal Gulli]

The pay of a Roman soldier was meager and part of appeal of becoming one was that after every victorious battle, a few days were set aside so the common soldiers could take plunder and slaves, but only after the higher-ups already had taken their fill of the good stuff.

Plundering the vanquished wasn't just institutionalized, it was a holy sacrament, evidence that the gods had granted them victory. When the emperor Trajan took the notion to assure his name would live forever by building an annex to the Roman forum, he funded it by invading Dacia (in modern Romania, early 2nd Century AD) specifically to plunder their gold mines, which were known to be among the richest in existence. He even erected a baas relief column in the new Trajan's Forum bragging of his exploits (still there today and very well preserved).

So there is no question but that the Imperial Romans were fond of gettin' their plunder on. The wealth of the entire empire was dependent on conquest ethos; to the winner go the spoils.

This image is from the baas relief interior of the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum. Which obviously depicts carting off the loot from the Roman sacking of the Second Temple of Solomon (temple menorah, trumpets, and, notably, the incense shovels mentioned in the linked story). At one time the Italians had fenced off this arch, preventing tourists (or anyone else) walking through it, and in the doing symbolically celebrating the events depicted.

[wildbill]

I love archeology that proves or disproves stories about people, places and things mentioned in ancient myths, documents such as the Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls or others, largely unknown to the general public [ref: Gnostic testaments found in 1920ish Egypt] and of course, tangible things like coins, implements, ornaments, etc. which can be dated to tell their part of ancient history puzzles.