Another crime against history, darn...

[Macedon]

Just shocking...

http://news.yahoo.com/history-goes-smoke...55641.html

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Damn... :o

[Quintius Clavus]

The current situation in Egypt has given the Islamists the cover to destroy what they (Morsi's government and the Muslim Brotherhood) have wanted to destroy all along. It is so criminally stupid. I, personally, am not sorry that Morsi was toppled.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

I say we get the funding together and move these artefacts to Europe or the US where they'll be safe. Because as the Moslem Brotherhood gains more and more control of the Middle East, this will keep happening.

Furthermore, the Egyptians still wonder why the British Museum won't give them their stuff back.

[AMELIANVS]

ad:

[Robert Vermaat]

Shocking indeed. So much of the world's heritage was lost by wars, I shudder to think what's being destroyed in Syria right now. ad: You don't want to imagine what we would have had if all had survived..

But this is no religious act, this was looting - Islamic heritage was destroyed as well.

Any comments about modern politics and religion please by PM, no discussing it here.

[Augustus Janus]

It's a crying shame that extremists become so driven by their religion that they can't accept anything else. Other people and history don't matter, only their twisted beliefs. It's sad, really sad. I still haven't forgotten the Taliban destroying the huge Buddha statues that were twice as old as their religion.

i also think many of those in this museum raid were common thieves out for their own greed like the ones that destroyed the Mayan pyramid for road gravel.

[Robert]

But crimes against history are not new, whether motivated out of greed or religious fervour. In Europe we had the "Beeldenstorm" (the storming of the statues) where hunderds of thousands of (semi) religieus statues and images were defaced and destroyed. Churches and monastries were looted and liturgical objects broken up for their gold. On 22 augustus 1566 the complete library, containing invaluable manuscripts, of the Dominicanenklooster Het Pand in Gent, Belgium was thrown in the Leierivier, allowing people to cross without getting their feet wet.
So when we chose to point the finger at others, we only need to look into our own (recent) history to see how our society has dealt with this issue. Nijmegen demolished it's historical medieval quarter as late as the '60, after letting it go to the dogs out of shear neglect. In 1987 300 meters of Roman city wall, the only one in exhistance in the Netherlands, was demolished to construct a casino. This does not make what has happened it right, but should act to put our outrage in a historical perspective. All things of value are vulnerable.

[Alanus]

Shocking indeed.... this was looting - Islamic heritage was destroyed as well.

Right on, Robert
These were thugs and riff-raff. 8+)

[Titus Marius Secundus]

Turned my stomach completely...just at breakfast time too! Now I will be angry all day!!!!! :-o :x :evil:

[Graham Sumner]

Sadly the destruction of historical monuments can happen elsewhere too, even in non war-zones or regions of unrest.

In the last few days a section of Offa's Dyke close to where I live was flattened by the new landowner who claims they did not know what it was. ad:

Easily done I suppose, the section was probably not marked in any way, even though it is a World Heritage site and not everyone gets excited over a mound and a ditch. :unsure:

Graham.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

We should form PETAH: People for the Ethical Treatment of Ancient History illy:

Seriously though, I remember how int he Middle Ages they destroyed Roman statues that didn't have religious affiliation. The statue of Marcus Aurelius survived because they thought it was of Constantine.

I'm sure the Romans destroyed things all the time, not knowing they would one day be of value as historical sites.

[M. Demetrius]

No, PETAH is already People Eating Tacos and Hamburgers. 8-)

[Augustus Janus]

I agree Robert that it isn't new. Such crime has been committed even more in the past than now. There was no organized protection of artefacts or archaeologists until the last 150 years or so. And Christianity has had its share of insane moments. Fortunately most Western nations have outgrown the over zealous religious obsessions. But the Nazis proved we can still slide back on occasion.

I think my suspicions will be proven out that this was more thievery than religious fervour. Most things were stolen not destroyed.

[Boreades]

I agree with all who have said this is nothing new - it's sad that it happens - it's even sadder when it happens here in the UK. for those that are concerned, please have a look at The Heritage Journal. It does a very good job of keeping an eye on ancient sites in the UK that are being neglected or "developed", usually by metal detectorists or housing developments.