National Treasures For Sale
Egypt has had a venerable tradition of guarding and safeguarding its ancient historical treasures. In fact the ancient Pharaohs held no illusions about human nature, knowing full well that if they did not employ clever architectural devices in the burial of the fabled treasures and the mummified corpses that accompanied them, it would take no time at all for feral robbers to avail themselves of what lay within, of value.Most Egyptian tombs were ransacked and looted despite efforts made by their architects to make entry difficult. Human ingenuity, put to the test by the prospect of gaining riches through the looting of treasures has long proven itself up to the task. Those treasures that managed somehow to linger through to posterity and to become the visible archaic wealth of the nation since then, have also been subject to vandalism and looting.
Which is what occurred in tandem with Egypt's famed Arab Spring uprising. Some of the looted treasures have been located and restored. Some things will have been tucked away out of sight for the personal delectation of conscienceless art connoisseurs who believe such magnificent and priceless treasures are safer with them than in the hands of those who cannot adequately secure them.
Should it really be surprising, then, to discover that Libya too was the target of archaeological-inspired thievery? The Treasure of Benghazi which held artefacts dating back to the time of Alexander the Great was a subject of great, intense interests to entrepreneurs with knowledge of just which fabulously wealthy connoisseurs would be willing to part with some of their riches to acquire ancient gold coins.
Ah, but the hoard of looted antiquities were inclusive of jewellery, rings, medallions, bracelets, anklets, gold arm bands,earrings, bronze figurines, glass, and ivory, precious stones. There is a vast world out there of avid collectors more than willing to part with cash for receipt of such irreplaceable goods of ancient beauty and heritage.
"It may have been an inside job. It appears to have been carried out by people who knew what they were looking for", was the opinion of a Libyan archaeologist based at King's College, London. Remarking on the robbery where metal storage cupboards at the National Commercial Bank of Benghazi had been smashed open and ancient gold coins purloined.
A single Greek coin dating from Carthage sold recently in Paris at auction for the record price of $428,000, to give a ball-park figure of the potential gain for these enterprising and gifted looters. Another bit of unsavoury publicity for the National Transitional Council. Particularly as Islamic and Greek gold coins were recently seen for sale in Benghazi's gold market.
Interpol has been alerted. UNESCO has been contacted. The thefts took place in May, and have just recently been publicly revealed to have occurred. As for ancient ruins and heritage sites themselves, not amenable to being carried off quite so handily, they're said to be in fine shape.
an UNESCO World Heritage site
Lepcis Magna or Leptis Magna, an ancient city along the Mediterranean Sea, located near the modern-day city of Al Khums in Libya. The city began as a trading port for the ancient people of Phoenicia around 1000 BC and then became part of the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis. Lepcis was the most easterly of the three cities that gave the North African region of Tripolitania its name.
arch of Roman emperor Lucius Septimius Severus (AD 146-211)
Labels: Corruption, Crime, Egypt, Heritage, Libya, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, October 30, 2011
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