I laughed way too hard at this. But seriously most antiquities need to be returned to their places of origin. It’s 2023 how is this still a conversation to be had?
You make a very well reasoned point, and I don’t disagree with you. I can see why museum curators won’t release antiquities because in your examples establishing provenance and actual logistics would be a nightmare. Not to mention the precedent of giving away some country’s items but not others. But, at this point in time it’s also a point of contention, rightfully so, that items obtained are still viewed as the property of the British museum in what amounts to a trophy case of imperialism. Ultimately we are in a period of growing pains as society and this is just another awkward period we have to get through to move forward.
Absolutely, and all the people that now have the artifacts benefit in keeping the status quo, so there is effectively little push to solve a very complex problem.
The problem is that you have governments like the Taliban in Afghanistan, pre-9/11, destroying ancient statues, trying to erase the history they don’t agree with.
Instead of returning stolen antiquities, countries that are currently in possession of them should be required to send an equivalent value of their own country’s treasure to be displayed in the victim country’s museums.
Imagine having to go to Egypt to see the crown jewels of England.
I absolutely agree that there are some locations that are too volatile/corrupt to have items returned. I never would have thought to have equivalent items sent out of county for display, that would really drive the emotional point home.
I laughed way too hard at this. But seriously most antiquities need to be returned to their places of origin. It’s 2023 how is this still a conversation to be had?
Removed by mod
You make a very well reasoned point, and I don’t disagree with you. I can see why museum curators won’t release antiquities because in your examples establishing provenance and actual logistics would be a nightmare. Not to mention the precedent of giving away some country’s items but not others. But, at this point in time it’s also a point of contention, rightfully so, that items obtained are still viewed as the property of the British museum in what amounts to a trophy case of imperialism. Ultimately we are in a period of growing pains as society and this is just another awkward period we have to get through to move forward.
Absolutely, and all the people that now have the artifacts benefit in keeping the status quo, so there is effectively little push to solve a very complex problem.
The problem is that you have governments like the Taliban in Afghanistan, pre-9/11, destroying ancient statues, trying to erase the history they don’t agree with.
Instead of returning stolen antiquities, countries that are currently in possession of them should be required to send an equivalent value of their own country’s treasure to be displayed in the victim country’s museums.
Imagine having to go to Egypt to see the crown jewels of England.
I think the Roman’s tried that.
I absolutely agree that there are some locations that are too volatile/corrupt to have items returned. I never would have thought to have equivalent items sent out of county for display, that would really drive the emotional point home.
We’re still looking at it.
For those who haven’t seen it:
https://youtu.be/x73PkUvArJY?si=DSku_hzu9L9s7qY3
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https://piped.video/x73PkUvArJY?si=DSku_hzu9L9s7qY3
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x73PkUvArJY
Thanks for sharing, I’ve never seen this guy before! Sooo funny!