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Egypt in a rift with the Louvre over stolen artifacts
According to this story, this isn't the first time Hawass has taken steps to close relations with a museum. He made a similar move with the St. Louis Art Museum over a golden burial mask that that museum has refused to return as well. This is, however, the first time that such a move has been taken against a museum of the incredible stature of the Louvre. Upon alerting officials at the museum of his actions, Hawass also suspended an archeological excavation being conducted under the direction of the Louvre, in Saqqara and canceled a scheduled lecture by former curator Christiane Ziegler, who was in charge of the Egyptology department while employed there.
A response from the Louvre and the French Cultural Ministry was swift in coming. Both said that they were interested in putting this incident behind them by returning the disputed pieces, indicating that Hawass' decision to play hardball was already paying dividends. When these pieces are returned, they'll join more than other artifacts that he has recovered since taking office in 2002.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Africa, Europe, Egypt, France, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kelli Oct 8th 2009 10:10PM
Anything that is found or unearthed in Egypt belongs to he Egyptian Goverment. If you take something of extreme value out of the country, it is considered theft. The Louvre should return everything they took...same as all other museums who had no written consent from the Egyptian Goverment.
Debera Oct 8th 2009 10:47PM
Louvre needs to do what is right and return the antiques to the Egyptian Government post haste. It is wrong for them to have taken them out of the country to begin with. Again France, how bold of you to assume. Shame on you yet again.
Nath Oct 9th 2009 10:30AM
One crucial piece of information is missing in this article: The Louvre acquired the artefacts legally, as they bought them.
The artefacts have been stolen in the 80's by somebody else and sold numerous time legally.
Heidi Oct 11th 2009 5:24PM
Nate, just becuse they were bought by the Louve, doesn't mean it was legal. Just the opposite, they bought stolen property. That does not make it legal.
When they were stolen in the 80's and then sold however many times, the people that stole them had no right to sell them.
In this country as many others it is against the law to buy stolen property.
By your logic, if someone stole a diamond necklace from you and sold it to someone then they sold it to someone and so on, the person who has present possecion of said necklace can keep it because they "bought" and sold it many times so you can no longer claim it as yours and you shouldn't have the right to get it back?
James Oct 8th 2009 11:16PM
I can see where the people that want things returned are coming from...but I don't entirely agree. The Egyptian government is in no way related to the civilization that MADE these artifacts.
I belive that these artifacts should belong to the world...and spend their time traveling from Museum to Museum.
Master Shake Oct 9th 2009 3:03AM
Somehow I doubt you would be saying the same thing if it was an American artifact that was stolen.
Denny Oct 9th 2009 3:04AM
Let me get this straight, even though most modern Egyptians have a direct blood line to the ancient Egyptians they're not related? You didn't MAKE the car you drive. Therefore using your logic your car should belong to the world and other persons should be able to drive when they need a car. Right? Those artifacts do belong to the world. Just hop a plane and go there and see them for yourself.
James Oct 10th 2009 8:09AM
If they were artifacts from some ancient American civilization...that had NO ties with the civilization that is in America now, but were important to the ENTIRE world: then YES, I would think it was best to let the world see and enjoy it. The vast majority of Egypts artifacts are never seen; they sit in vaults. Remember that the people you want these artifacts returned to are also decended from the people that DESTROYED the vast majority of the ancient civilization that made those artifacts. The pyramids were originally covered in marble...marble that was torn off of them to be used by the NEW civilization for it's temples and monuments.
Debera Oct 12th 2009 12:31AM
If something is stolen it can't be sold legally. In that case one would need to prove that they were not knowledgeable about the items being stolen if they can't then they too can be charged with receiving stolen items if they purchase them or are given them they are still stolen. And even if they can prove that they didn't know they were stolen they still will have to return the items in questions to the proper authorities. It is impossible to receive stolen goods legally.
Remember this Nath, for if you purchase something that was stolen you are receiving stolen merchandise and then you too are at fault unless you can prove you had no idea that they were indeed stolen.
Debera Oct 12th 2009 12:53AM
Egypt isn't the Egypt from centuries ago? As is Scotland isn't the Scotland that belonged to my ancestors due to the English. This sounds really strange. The world evolves and things change as in Governments, societies, cultures, people . I must agree on the Egyptian Government hiding their antiquities and if that is truly the case then it is sad for our societies and the world. The Egyptian people live where civilization began and they should allow the world to see these gems of antiquities. However, morally speaking you don't steal thing then sell them it is wrong.