Article

2003-04-23 Iraq

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Posted by Showme 2003-04-23 02:43 am|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The above posting looks bogus. The lawyer whose website has been linked may be the victim of a sick hoax. As of this writing, it doesn't appear there's been any "find" of stolen Mesopotamian antiquities, let alone the famed Hammurabi piece. Fred, feel free to delete my comment (plus the above post, if you wish) if I am correct and this is a hoax. Otherwise, my apologies.

From WaPo:

The Disappearing Treasure of Iraq
Experts Keep Watch for Looted Artifacts

By Roger Atwood
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, April 23, 2003; Page C01

Nearly two weeks after looters rampaged through Iraq's National Museum of Antiquities, stealing thousands of artifacts dating from the dawn of civilization, art dealers and law enforcement people around the world are asking the same question.

Where's the loot?

Despite scattered rumors of artifacts turning up from Tehran to Paris, not a single one of the 90,000 or 120,000 or 170,000 plundered artifacts -- no one knows for sure how many -- is known to have been offered for sale anywhere in the world. And investigators and legitimate art dealers think they know why.

If not still stashed in Baghdad, the pieces are already trickling out of the country in trucks and suitcases, headed for a shadowy world of high-end, high-risk collectors of such loot who fancy themselves art connoisseurs and get a charge from owning forbidden objects. . .

snip

Posted by Ninevah 2003-04-23 04:13:16|| 2003-04-23 04:13:16|| Front Page Top

#2 Heard a report some artifacts found at Chicago airport.
FBI waiting for confimation and list of inventory.

Posted by raptor 2003-04-23 06:24:01|| 2003-04-23 06:24:01|| Front Page Top

#3 Of course it's a hoax. This is obviously a pretty hilarious "Scrappleface" or "Onion"-style satire, especially with the "Jacques Chirac could not be reached for comment" line at the end. One might also point out that entire portions, including the walls, of the ancient cities of Babylon and Nineva can be seen in Berlin's Pergemon Museum. We should probably be looking into this looting case as well.

Posted by JTE 2003-04-23 07:45:44|| 2003-04-23 07:45:44|| Front Page Top

#4 Obviously you have never been at the UN headquarter in New York. That's where that piece of art is exposed... a "gift from the Iraqi people".

Posted by True German Ally 2003-04-23 08:36:16|| 2003-04-23 08:36:16|| Front Page Top

#5 TGA - you sure for that particular piece - I was at the Univ of Pennsylvania Archaeology museum a few weeks ago, and in addition to original pieces they had a cast-copy of the Code of Hammurabi, original at the Louvre in Paris. I assume thats what the hoax is about - but I dont know how many stelae of the Code are in the West, nor do i remember what the one I say looked like (well aside from a lot of cuneiform, of course)

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-23 08:50:59|| 2003-04-23 08:50:59|| Front Page Top

#6 Has anyone checked George Galloway's flat yet?

Posted by Raj 2003-04-23 09:27:28|| [angrycyclist.blogspot.com] 2003-04-23 09:27:28|| Front Page Top

#7 This is indeed at the Louvre. The post is satire. And good satire at that!

Posted by Denny 2003-04-23 13:01:34|| [www.grouchyoldcripple.com] 2003-04-23 13:01:34|| Front Page Top

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