[CPProt.net] Britain told by Ethiopia to give back treasures

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Van: shlomo at eastafricaforum.net [mailto:shlomo at eastafricaforum.net] 
Verzonden: woensdag 20 april 2005 15:55
Aan: shlomo at eastafricaforum.net
Onderwerp: Britain told by Ethiopia to give back treasures


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1576813,00.html
 

April 20, 2005 

Britain told by Ethiopia to give back treasures

By Richard Beeston
 
 
 
ETHIOPIA has appealed to Britain to match Italy's gesture by repatriating
hundreds of artefacts plundered by the British Army in the 19th century. 

 
Fisseha Adugna, Ethiopia's Ambassador to London, told The Times: "We wish to
encourage all others who possess Ethiopian cultural and sacred artefacts -
both institutions and individuals - to graciously return them to Ethiopia." 

The plunder of Ethiopian treasures after the Battle of Maqdala in 1868 was
not one of the finest chapters in British imperial history. An expeditionary
force under General Sir Robert Napier invaded Ethiopia after the British
consul and several missionaries were taken hostage by the Ethiopian ruler
Emperor Tewodros. The victorious troops looted the imperial treasury and the
Church of the Saviour of the World, taking crucifixes, Bibles, Christian
manuscripts and other irreplaceable religious artefacts. 

Many items were sold on by soldiers, but much remains in British hands. The
British Library has nearly 350 manuscripts, the British Museum 80 objects,
the Victoria and Albert Museum a gold crown and gold chalice and the Royal
Library in Windsor Castle six ecclesiastical manuscripts. 

A few items have been returned, and the British Museum has offered to
transfer nine tabots (engraved wooden tablets representing the Ark of the
Covenant) to the Ethiopian Church in London on long-term loan.