[MSN] Cavalier Daily. Greek sculptures spark controversy. Sculptures at University's Art Museum receive international attention after allegations of theft arise.

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Greek sculptures spark controversy
Sculptures at University's Art Museum receive international attention after
allegations of theft arise

Laura Hoffman and Thomas Madrecki, Cavalier Daily Senior Writers  
Two Greek marble statues on display at the University's art museum are the
center of an international controversy about who rightfully owns the
valuable artifacts.
Tallie Faircloth | Cavalier Daily

Two prized ancient Greek sculptures currently on display at the University
of Virginia Art Museum are at the center of an international art scandal. 

The artifacts in question, which date from the sixth century B.C., are known
as acroliths. They currently consist of two marble heads, three separate
hands and three separate feet. Originally, the acroliths may have also
featured a wooden trunk, but this trunk has since been lost. Evidence
suggests the sculptures were looted from Morgantina, an ancient Greek
settlement near Aidone, in Sicily. 

According to Carla Antonaccio, co-director of the ongoing U.S.
archaeological program in Aidone and chair and professor of archaelogogy and
classical studies at Duke University, the acroliths are exceptional examples
of a rare type of sculpture found in the ancient world. 

Since the late 1980s, Italian investigators and authorities have claimed
that the acroliths were illegally excavated. 

Antonaccio added that she did not know who completed the excavation of the
University's acroliths or how they arrived in the University's possession.
She noted, though, that the acroliths were not found during professional
excavations. 

"They were not excavated in a normal fashion," Antonaccio said. 

According to a recent New York Times article, Giuseppe Mascara, a former
tomb robber and antiquities dealer, testified in a 1988 deposition that the
acroliths had been offered for sale as early as 1979. An investigation,
conducted some years after 1979 by Italian prosecutor Silvio Raffiotta,
determined the acroliths to have later been in the possession of London
antiquities dealer Robin Symes, having reached England by way of
Switzerland. 

The article states that Symes, who is currently being investigated by the
Italian government for art theft, then sold the acroliths to Maurice
Tempelsman for a reported $1 million in 1980. Tempelsman, a Belgian-American
diamond merchant -- more commonly known as the long-time companion of
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis -- is a noted collector of art and other
archaeological artifacts, as well as the last recorded owner of the
acroliths. 

In 1988, according to the article, the acroliths were briefly on display at
Los Angeles' J. Paul Getty Museum thanks to an anonymous donor until
allegations of illegal acquisition caused the museum to return the acroliths
to the donor. 

For the past five years, however, they have been on display in the
University's museum. 

University Associate General Counsel Richard Kastsaid the artifacts were
also given to the University by an anonymous donor. 

Kast added that the University entered into an agreement with the donor to
neither publicize the acroliths nor reveal the identity of the donor. 

"Under the agreement that is in place, the University is not supposed to
openly publicize the fact that they have the acroliths," Kast said. 

Kast also said, however, that the University is "obviously" in the
possession of the marbles. 

"There is an agreement, and the agreement has been in place for a while,"
Kast said. 

Several Italian news outlets have reported that the acroliths will be
returned to the Aidone region in 2008. The New York Times article quoted
Beatrice Basile, the art superintendent for the Italian province of Enna, as
saying "We're happy they're coming back." 

According to Malcolm Bell, III, University professor of art history and
director of ongoing University excavations in Morgantina, the museum will
display the artifacts until the end of this calendar year. 

Bell added that he is "eager to see them returned" and "optimistic" about
the possibility of their return to Italy. Bell also said the Times article
was accurate. 

Kast declined to comment on the possibility of ongoing inquiries from the
Italian government to the University in reference to the acroliths. 

"All I can say is they are aware of what's going on," Kast said. 



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