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July 01, 2006
Tragedy?
I have to say that this is the most idiotic legal ruling I have ever heard about! A judge rules that the collection of Elamite and Old Persian tablets from Persepolis, housed at the University of Chicago, is to be auctioned off to pay damages to a family of victims of bombing in Israel on the grounds that the government of Iran is sponsoring terrorism! I wonder if anyone is going to sue for the possession of ancient artifects from Canaan because of Rachel Corrie's death.
I think even in the notoriously idiotic US justice system (remember the thief falling on the kitchen counter and cutting himself with a knife?), the Chicago court has topped itself! Where is the logic in this? What do the antiquities have to do with the government? These were recovered in the 1930's, during the reign of Reza Shah, from Iran and have been in Chicago for 70 years. They are some of the world's most interesting ancient documents, and many of them have not been properly studied yet. They don't really belong to anyone, they are antiquities for pete's sake! University of Chicago, the National Museum of Iran, and much less the Iranian government don't own these things, they are barely in their legal possession. These belong to the whole of the humanity and to the scholarship.
So, now after 100 years of progress in archaeology, learning to dig things up with a brush instead of a shovel, we have come full circle and are resorting to sell our antiquities like potatoes. I like to see this particular lawyer since he has declared that he and the family of the victim are "interested" in the antiquities. No kidding, for what reason? Are you antique dealers yourselves and already have customers lined up? I like to meet the twisted mind who even manages to think of suing to possess ancient remains. Much congratulations to law schools and the US justice system...
Posted by Khodadad at July 1, 2006 09:06 AM
Comments
I hope the collection will not be auctioned! It seems from the newspaper article that the lawyers for the U of C could have chosen a more effective defense strategy. This all seems rediculous to me too! As you said, the artifacts have nothing whatsoever to do with what the present day government of Iran does. I agree with you, the artifacts belong to humanity. But, I think that this case pales in comparison to the looting of Iraq and Afghanistan that has been going on since the U.S. invasions. I am quite sad that thousands of years of history are being dug up and scattered to the winds. Without their proper contexts, it may be impossible to learn much from these artifacts even if they are someday made available for study.
On a slightly selfish note, I am saving you a piece of cake from my new post launch party. It is interstellar chocolate with galactic mint icing! :)
Posted by: David at July 1, 2006 12:36 PM