For the first time, Greece, Iran and Egypt have issued a joint statement at the United Nations, calling on certain museums to repatriate all remaining “looted cultural property to their rightful owners.” [4589×1200]
For the first time, Greece, Iran and Egypt have issued a joint statement at the United Nations, calling on certain museums to repatriate all remaining “looted cultural property to their rightful owners.” [4589×1200]
This follows a UN resolution introduced by Greece in 2024 to return the remaining artefacts to their country of origin, which the vast majority of member states backed.
I hope they don’t do it. Having cultural artifacts dispersed across large geographical regions gives an added level of security against regional crises, corruption, etc.
>Give us the artifacts back so whenever the next ISIS or regional war rises they can destroy them in peace!
WheelspinAficionado on
Would decimate museums all over the world and fill so many storage buildings that they would be incapable of conserving the artifacts much less displaying them.
The Elgin marbles sure, but ALL cuneiform tablets returning to Iran/MENA and all scientific study of them ending, yeah no thanks.
TangerineMost6498 on
No thanks!
lacostewhite on
So all the locals who stole artifacts and loot tombs and steal from archeological digs are going to return what they took?
wordswillneverhurtme on
yes lets have more artifacts melted down and I even heard some muslim countries straight up destroy artifacts to fake history
ColonelBillyGoat on
When countries can stop being subject to extremist governments, then we’ll talk. Giving precious treasures to Iran is like letting a grizzly babysit your child.
HAL9000_1208 on
Good.
Sylfaein on
Why? So they can melt those down, too?
dannypants143 on
I don’t think it’s great that colonial powers pulled away so many precious things from their countries of origin. That’s a sad story, absolutely. But sitting here, in 2025, I view these as accidents of history. Nobody alive today is responsible for taking those things, so I don’t think it’s entirely fair to demand that museums empty out their holdings.
One exception I would definitely make is looted Nazi art, as that’s still quite recent and there are still families that were robbed at gunpoint out there. I’m sure there may be other excellent exceptions, but that’s my hot take.
SPACEFUNK on
Being looted by the colonial powers is a part of these countries’ history now. If they want their stuff back, they should pull a heist.
gaoshan on
I wonder how many of these would have never been seen and studied if they had not been removed back in the day? Like, would the Rosetta Stone ever have been discovered and translated or would it have just disappeared in the mists of time?
This topic isn’t as black and white as “colonizer bad” or “origin country weak”. It deserves a proper discussion and investigation but online it always devolves to the least common denominator with one side seeing thieves, colonizers and invaders and the other seeing failed States, incompetent locals and looters.
The one side can be seen as preserving and uncovering history at a time when it otherwise might have been lost. Sharing the glory of these histories with the world and providing invaluable scholarship that has advanced humanity in its best cases. The other side can be seen as deserving what was taken from them to be returned. As being in a place where their history can be preserved and cared for perfectly well by themselves and as needing to be returned to where it arguably belongs.
It’s bigger than the silly black and white that Reddit convos usually devolve into.
0fiuco on
just a week after “a 5000 year old bracelet was stolen in our museum to be melted for gold”
ananix on
Its not even their culture. One of them is even devoted to destroy their regions former culture. Its world heritage and should be kept safe and not given to those who seek to destroy it.
ky420 on
Didn’t someone just steal a bunch of stuff from Egypt museum and melt down the gold.
16 Comments
This follows a UN resolution introduced by Greece in 2024 to return the remaining artefacts to their country of origin, which the vast majority of member states backed.
[https://www.parthenonuk.com/latest-news/64-2024-news/931-un-general-assembly-resolution-a-res-79-133-return-or-restitution-of-cultural-property-to-the-countries-of-origin-cultural-property-restitution](https://www.parthenonuk.com/latest-news/64-2024-news/931-un-general-assembly-resolution-a-res-79-133-return-or-restitution-of-cultural-property-to-the-countries-of-origin-cultural-property-restitution)
[https://mfa.gov.ir/portal/newsview/775397?utm_source=chatgpt.com](https://mfa.gov.ir/portal/newsview/775397?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
I hope they don’t do it. Having cultural artifacts dispersed across large geographical regions gives an added level of security against regional crises, corruption, etc.
[A 3,000-Year-Old Bracelet Belonging to an Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Has Been Stolen, Sold and Melted Down for Gold](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-3000-year-old-bracelet-belonging-to-an-ancient-egyptian-pharaoh-has-been-stolen-sold-and-melted-down-for-gold-180987374/)
>Give us the artifacts back so whenever the next ISIS or regional war rises they can destroy them in peace!
Would decimate museums all over the world and fill so many storage buildings that they would be incapable of conserving the artifacts much less displaying them.
The Elgin marbles sure, but ALL cuneiform tablets returning to Iran/MENA and all scientific study of them ending, yeah no thanks.
No thanks!
So all the locals who stole artifacts and loot tombs and steal from archeological digs are going to return what they took?
yes lets have more artifacts melted down and I even heard some muslim countries straight up destroy artifacts to fake history
When countries can stop being subject to extremist governments, then we’ll talk. Giving precious treasures to Iran is like letting a grizzly babysit your child.
Good.
Why? So they can melt those down, too?
I don’t think it’s great that colonial powers pulled away so many precious things from their countries of origin. That’s a sad story, absolutely. But sitting here, in 2025, I view these as accidents of history. Nobody alive today is responsible for taking those things, so I don’t think it’s entirely fair to demand that museums empty out their holdings.
One exception I would definitely make is looted Nazi art, as that’s still quite recent and there are still families that were robbed at gunpoint out there. I’m sure there may be other excellent exceptions, but that’s my hot take.
Being looted by the colonial powers is a part of these countries’ history now. If they want their stuff back, they should pull a heist.
I wonder how many of these would have never been seen and studied if they had not been removed back in the day? Like, would the Rosetta Stone ever have been discovered and translated or would it have just disappeared in the mists of time?
This topic isn’t as black and white as “colonizer bad” or “origin country weak”. It deserves a proper discussion and investigation but online it always devolves to the least common denominator with one side seeing thieves, colonizers and invaders and the other seeing failed States, incompetent locals and looters.
The one side can be seen as preserving and uncovering history at a time when it otherwise might have been lost. Sharing the glory of these histories with the world and providing invaluable scholarship that has advanced humanity in its best cases. The other side can be seen as deserving what was taken from them to be returned. As being in a place where their history can be preserved and cared for perfectly well by themselves and as needing to be returned to where it arguably belongs.
It’s bigger than the silly black and white that Reddit convos usually devolve into.
just a week after “a 5000 year old bracelet was stolen in our museum to be melted for gold”
Its not even their culture. One of them is even devoted to destroy their regions former culture. Its world heritage and should be kept safe and not given to those who seek to destroy it.
Didn’t someone just steal a bunch of stuff from Egypt museum and melt down the gold.