SILK ROAD ARTEFACTS

Fascinating!

So what is your point?

not surprising

But I wonder what did they do with the artifacts. Just sold them for money?

Peter Hopkirk wrote an interesting book on the subject - I think it was called "Foreign Devils on the Silk Road". Many of the artifacts looted reside in national museums (British, French, US etc). Some were in Berlin, and were destroyed during the bombing in the Second World War.

Changing the subject a little, the Greek Parliament Station (similar to the US C-Span) shows documentaries every night, about half of which are in English and subtitled in Greek. Abour two weeks ago they had a show about a Soviet archeologist in Afghanistan during the Russian occupation. His team discovered priceless gold artifacts in 1st-4th century burial mounds, all of which were placed into the museum in Kabul. He begged the authorities to take the artifacts along when the Soviets evacuated, but they were left behind, and are now lost forever.

Were those Greek artifacts, Jim?

A question for all: Did anyone/author confirm what Marco Polo told about the Silk Road (countries, customs etc.) was correct? I read The Travels of Marco Polo and was pretty awed by all the things he described.

I wonder what language he spoke to communicate with all those people?

Are you calling Tamerlain a thief?

Hey, what happens when you write Google into google?

"Stealing History"
In his 2004 book, Robert Atwood addresses "this problem" - in other parts of the world: "Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World."

From the jacket: "Atwood's book is a compelling must-read. Thoroughly engrossing and meticulously researched and reported, it combines first-rate detective work with bracing scientific discovery. The result is stunning: The author strips away the veil of respectability that has cloaked so much of the antiquities trade for centuries. . . . "

This is a fascinating read! It's a fast-moving mystery story, but NOT fiction and it's probably available in many libraries. (Luckily, our copy was a very thoughtful Christmas gift!) [/color]

Bram - the Documentary said the Greek culture left over from Alexander's time had merged with the local cultures to become a hybrid (this was around 500 years after Alexander). For example, they showed pictures of a golden statue found in a grave of the Greek godess Aphrodite. The statue was identical to what was depicted in Greece, only this statue had wings, which came from one of the Hindu divinities (sorry, I don't remember which one).

Jim

I saw a picture of a Greek marble statue with wings too (but no head). I think it was Aphrodite also. Don't know if there is any relation.

I found the book you referred to. Can't wait to read it.

Marco Polo's languages


From the Catholic Encyclopedia - in the middle of the article, quite a few lines down (URL below):

. . .
Kublai conceived a great affection for the youthful Marco Polo, who readily adopted the Tatar custom and soon learned the four languages as well as the four writings of which they made use (probably Mongolian, Chinese, Persian, and Uighur). . . .

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12217a.htm

There is other information about the European languages that Marco Polo spoke. I don't remember whether this is in the above article or on one of the other sites I looked at.[/color]

Now see what you started, Alvin!

An awesome link. Thanks, Charli!

Jim, I just finished reading the book. I recommend anyone who is interested in Asia to read it.

What did Alvin start, Merry Andrew?

Everything. This whole thread. He just made one statement to start the thread and then disappeared. Cunning li'l devil.

Oh, does that bother you?

We are here, aren't we?

Doesn't bother me a bit. Wonder if it bothers Alvin.