I could be wrong but I think they're still learning stuff from the Rosetta Stone aren't they? I suppose you could still always go and visit it if it were in Egypt. I do feel like perhaps we shouldn't be giving these things to dictators though.
What, like Sunak or Hunt?
Well quite. These are not the sort of people we should be giving a PR win and an opportunity to use it for their personal gain. In the British Museum it's not really that as it's the status quo and it's protected to some degree from government meddling by British laws. I do understand the opposing view on it though, there's not really a right answer in my book.What, like Sunak or Hunt?
Why would the political system of these countries matter when giving back looted artefacts?
Yeah I agree with you, there's no easy answer. I was just joking anyway.
Same way it matters when deporting asylum seekers.
Why is it up to The British to decide though? What gives them that right?
It doesn't.
What gives a dodgy Egyptian dictator the right either? You have to find a suitable guardian for the artifact, you can't just put it in danger or in the hands of someone who will use the profits to do bad things. I agree with the principle of giving it back. I'd happily just have a lottery to give it back to a random Egyptian citizen if I thought it would be fair on them or the artifact. Clearly it wouldn't be though so I wouldn't support that.
The ancient laws of finders keepers losers weepers
yep. just cos our grandads were harder than their grandads.
What? So not only have you stolen it from them knowing the right thing is to give it back, but they have to be someone you like and they have to verify how they’ll use it. Do you know how absurd and arrogant that sounds?
The political system of a nation isnt related to their ability to keep it safe. China is a dictatorship and would do a fine job. Afghanistan was a democracy two years ago. Even a dodgy nation in which artifacts have been known to "disappear" wouldn't have a problem guarding a high profile piece such as the Rosetta Stone and theyd have a financial incentive to do so as well.
The Rosetta Stone is completely scanned and reproduced, physically and digitally. There's no scientific benefit in having the actual thing.
Suppose it was a Russian artifact, would you give it back to Putin right now?
Right now, no, but that’s because they’re in active conflict and illegally invading their neighbour. This time last year, then yes.
Why would he need us to? He'll just swim into the ocean and find it.
The reasons it's not happening may or may not be the same as my reasons for being unsure of the correct course of action, it's not terribly relevant to my view. Think of it as supporting City over Liverpool. My reasons for supporting are not the same as a City fan's but the effect is the same.
If a country is, or should be, under sanctions, I'd be inclined to hold on to their artifacts for them personally. I'm sure that's not why the government are doing it, they're in bed with all sorts of horrible bastards all over the world.
Well now you’re moving the goalposts. The sanctions only started when they began invading Ukraine. They weren’t under sanctions prior to then. So, using your logic, there’d be no issue giving it to Putin this time last year.
Seriously? It's not about the dictator, the rosetta stone will be around long after Sisi and all of his successors die.
Yeah I've got a knock off copy of it but still haven't learned any French
I'd be all for helping Egyptians come and see it regardless of whether it's moved or not.
We should have had Russia under sanctions for many years, we were just too happy to take their bloody money and wash it through London. Same as with the Saudis. I'm not trying to defend British or European foreign policy here.
well, it kinda is
Why should they have to travel so far to see something that belongs to them? How would you feel if you had to travel to Cairo to see Big Ben?
Now the Benin Bronzes, they're one that should be given back no questions asked. Stolen in war, find a museum in Benin and come up with an agreement.
I'd find it quite funny tbf
It’s not the best example but it’s bloody hard to think of something inherently British as so much of it is nicked. Stone henge?I'd find it quite funny tbf
I'm not sure that's such a wonderful comparison.
My view is that there is a lot of nuance and difficulty in giving this stuff back. We ought to give most of it back for sure but how and when is not just mere details.
There clearly are. Loads of them. You wouldn't give it to someone who wants to throw it in the bin would you?
that clearly isn't the case though in any of this
The Benin Bronzes would be far more like someone having a bunch of British paintings or sculptures or something. And there are a metric feckton of them in other countries either in private hands or public museums. Difference is they were either given or sold not looted.
