lycia
Stolen Antiquity : Xanthos
Archaeological art has always been subject to theft and smuggling at all times of the history. We see the destroyed graves everywhere, where the thieves aimed to steal valuable things buried with the deceased. It was so in the past, as well as now. Why? The answer is so simple: they are rare, they are attractive, they are beautiful, they are the traces of ancient times, they are….
But, the most important one over these facts is that they are great if they stay in the original place as the creator wished then thousands years ago. They are fantastic if they are still under the same sky of their construction years. Yet the message conveyed over thousands of years is limited, the ambiance makes you feel the life of the past if they are still in original position.
Until 19th Century, treasury search was very common among the folks in many countries of the world, as was in Turkey. Only precious metals and stones were thought as treasury, else was rubbish. Breaking the stone graves, or digging in the
historical areas were not under strict control as it is now. Although stricter, the officials believe the robbery and smuggling rate has been more ascending in trend every year.
I believe, the 20th Century was a milestone in a worldwide consciousness in cultural heritage. Even a ruler, Abdulmecid Khan of Ottoman Empire had not cared when Charles Fellows asked permission to move some stones (no
t precious, just engraved ordinary stones!) to his country, England. The permission had been issued to this archaeologist who discovered the Lycian ancient cities and famous Xanthos. The deal was good to both of them. Abdulmecid Khan would gain admire of the English Government, while Fellows was knighted as an acknowledgement of his success in bringing the invaluable Lycian antiquity to British Museum. I believe, Abdulmecid Khan was not conscious when he stamped this firman that allowed the English guys to move a treasury to England. Its permission to do this was equal to betrayal to the past. Beyond this, I also believe that Charles Fellows and his government was so conscious what they would do if they were allowed by The Ottoman Sultan. The principal supporter of Fellows in this operation was English Government that instructed the war ship HMS Beacon under the command of Lieutenant Spratt, to be in service of Fellows in this critical operation. A Journal Written During An Excursion in Asia Minor printed in London in 1839, richen with hand sketches by George Scharf played a good role in convincing the officials. The second print was “ An Account of the Discoveries in Lycia”, the popularity of which was tremendous in London public. When introduced to public by Fellows, via a series of seminars, the saloons had been cheering him with enthusiasm. The British Government did not delay to recognize the importance of the ancient matters, as those days, the British Museum had been attracting a tremendous number of guests, thus ad ups on the revenue was not so inconsiderable. When the war ship anchored against Patara shores, the boxes were ready to load on the ship. Seventy huge boxes carried the pieces from Patara sands to ship. From their own places where they stood since the time their constructors created them, they were forced to go to a place unknown to them since ever, even to their creators.
Gouged out their eyes, the remaining items are still in Xanthos. Some conscientious persons recently put some artificial faces on the Harpies Monument to sooth it, although it had not calmed down the Lycian souls there.
Yes, the Xanthos was subjected to a semi conscious destruction in 1842 by Charles Fellows with support of his government. This is unique in known archaeology. Nowadays, many English people visit Lycia, knowing that some beautiful parts were broken with hammers, chisels, and force in the past by one of their citizens to exhibit them in his country. I ask our lovely English guests, “Is there any difference between what Charles Fellows did to invaluable parts of Xanthos and a forest man put in a box by its hunters and brought to London to
exhibit to public?” Is world heritage so simple and inexpensive? Is it so abundant all over the world that you can find a Nereid Monument, a Pajava Grave, or a Harpies Monument everywhere?
I say the shame of the past should be rectified at the soonest. Since 1842, Xanthos Art serves in British Museum. The income of the museum has been partly due to Xanthos antiques that naturally belong to its original location. Since 165 years, these Xanthos beauties, forcedly in exile, caused the British Museum gain with their exhibition to public.
The British Museum can easily estimate how much has been accumulated since 165 years on behalf of Xanthos. The accumulated money should be returned to Xanthos as a fund for reconstruction of this ancient Lycia city, under the control of an international well known community.
Archaeological art has always been subject to theft and smuggling at all times of the history. We see the destroyed graves everywhere, where the thieves aimed to steal valuable things buried with the deceased. It was so in the past, as well as now. Why? The answer is so simple: they are rare, they are attractive, they are beautiful, they are the traces of ancient times, they are….
But, the most important one over these facts is that they are great if they stay in the original place as the creator wished then thousands years ago. They are fantastic if they are still under the same sky of their construction years. Yet the message conveyed over thousands of years is limited, the ambiance makes you feel the life of the past if they are still in original position.
Until 19th Century, treasury search was very common among the folks in many countries of the world, as was in Turkey. Only precious metals and stones were thought as treasury, else was rubbish. Breaking the stone graves, or digging in the
historical areas were not under strict control as it is now. Although stricter, the officials believe the robbery and smuggling rate has been more ascending in trend every year.I believe, the 20th Century was a milestone in a worldwide consciousness in cultural heritage. Even a ruler, Abdulmecid Khan of Ottoman Empire had not cared when Charles Fellows asked permission to move some stones (no
t precious, just engraved ordinary stones!) to his country, England. The permission had been issued to this archaeologist who discovered the Lycian ancient cities and famous Xanthos. The deal was good to both of them. Abdulmecid Khan would gain admire of the English Government, while Fellows was knighted as an acknowledgement of his success in bringing the invaluable Lycian antiquity to British Museum. I believe, Abdulmecid Khan was not conscious when he stamped this firman that allowed the English guys to move a treasury to England. Its permission to do this was equal to betrayal to the past. Beyond this, I also believe that Charles Fellows and his government was so conscious what they would do if they were allowed by The Ottoman Sultan. The principal supporter of Fellows in this operation was English Government that instructed the war ship HMS Beacon under the command of Lieutenant Spratt, to be in service of Fellows in this critical operation. A Journal Written During An Excursion in Asia Minor printed in London in 1839, richen with hand sketches by George Scharf played a good role in convincing the officials. The second print was “ An Account of the Discoveries in Lycia”, the popularity of which was tremendous in London public. When introduced to public by Fellows, via a series of seminars, the saloons had been cheering him with enthusiasm. The British Government did not delay to recognize the importance of the ancient matters, as those days, the British Museum had been attracting a tremendous number of guests, thus ad ups on the revenue was not so inconsiderable. When the war ship anchored against Patara shores, the boxes were ready to load on the ship. Seventy huge boxes carried the pieces from Patara sands to ship. From their own places where they stood since the time their constructors created them, they were forced to go to a place unknown to them since ever, even to their creators.
Gouged out their eyes, the remaining items are still in Xanthos. Some conscientious persons recently put some artificial faces on the Harpies Monument to sooth it, although it had not calmed down the Lycian souls there.
Yes, the Xanthos was subjected to a semi conscious destruction in 1842 by Charles Fellows with support of his government. This is unique in known archaeology. Nowadays, many English people visit Lycia, knowing that some beautiful parts were broken with hammers, chisels, and force in the past by one of their citizens to exhibit them in his country. I ask our lovely English guests, “Is there any difference between what Charles Fellows did to invaluable parts of Xanthos and a forest man put in a box by its hunters and brought to London to
exhibit to public?” Is world heritage so simple and inexpensive? Is it so abundant all over the world that you can find a Nereid Monument, a Pajava Grave, or a Harpies Monument everywhere?I say the shame of the past should be rectified at the soonest. Since 1842, Xanthos Art serves in British Museum. The income of the museum has been partly due to Xanthos antiques that naturally belong to its original location. Since 165 years, these Xanthos beauties, forcedly in exile, caused the British Museum gain with their exhibition to public.
The British Museum can easily estimate how much has been accumulated since 165 years on behalf of Xanthos. The accumulated money should be returned to Xanthos as a fund for reconstruction of this ancient Lycia city, under the control of an international well known community.
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