06-28-2009, 07:52 PM
Quote: The document itself is lost, but there is an Italian translation.Indeed, the document is lost, and the Italian 'translation' shows omissions and lacks a seal. Which means that it's impossible for us to prove or disprove what was granted on paper. maybe the voivode looked away, or maybe he had granted more than was written in the Italian 'translation'. Anyway, to say that 'they were stolen' is, as my and Byron's point of view, too simple. The local authorities knew what was going on, and my guess is that the workmen hired to take down the statues were not Turks, nor British, but most probably local men of Athens. But that's (more) speculation.
If these goings on would be the basis of the return of the statues, then we'd best be prepared here to open up the museums, because i would want to bet a good deal of money the most items 'acquired' by museums before 1900 did not come with a proper receipt from the local owners. :evil:
OK, even if the legal part of the question is not that clear-cut, my second pont remains: why are these statues the focus of a problem that's far larger? Greece does not lack in stutues. Why make such a fuss for these?
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
