Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T07:07:55.146Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Priam's Gold: the Full Story

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

D. F. Easton
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

“I have seen Priam's Treasure … I have held these vessels in my own hands.” This claim by Yevgenii Sidorov, the Russian Minister of Culture, in an interview in Literaturnaya Gazeta on 25th August 1993, was the first official admission that Priam's Treasure, thought lost since 1945, is now in Russia. It helps us to complete the story of this famous find, from the day of its discovery to the present. Research by David Traill, Reinhard Witte, and myself has clarified the earliest parts. Correspondence published by Joachim Herrmann, Gustav Mahr and Leslie Fitton helps illuminate the late 1870s and the 1880s. For the turbulent years of World War II we have an important publication by Mechthilde Unverzagt and intensive research by Klaus Goldmann. And finally from Russia comes documentation unearthed by Konstantin Akinsha and Grigorii Kozlov. The full story can now be told, and that is what I should like to attempt in this paper. There remains, however, the question, to whom does the Treasure properly belong?—to which I hope the outline of an answer will emerge.

Type
Research Article
Information
Anatolian Studies , Volume 44 , December 1994 , pp. 221 - 243
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute at Ankara 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Akinsha, K. 1991a: “A Soviet-German Exchange of War-Treasures?” ARTnews May, 134–9.Google Scholar
Akinsha, K. 1991b: “The Turmoil over Soviet War Treasures,” ARTnews December, 110–15.Google Scholar
Akinsha, K. 1992: “War Loot: Drawings for Deutsche Marks?” ARTnews September, 35.Google Scholar
Akinsha, K. and Kozlov, G., 1991a: “Spoils of War: The Soviet Union's Hidden Art Treasures,” ARTnews April, 130–41.Google Scholar
Akinsha, K. 1991b:“The Soviets' War Treasures: A Growing Controversy,” ARTnews September, 112–19.Google Scholar
Akinsha, K. 1994: “Trophäen der Roten Armee: die Kostbarkeiten des Berliner Museums für Vor- und Frühgeschichte,” Antike Welt: Troia-Kaleidoscop Sonderausgabe, 67–72.Google Scholar
Barnard, A., 1993: “Let's make it a Humankind Museum Property,” Archaeology Nov/Dec, 39.Google Scholar
Becker, H. and Nagel, W., 1992: “Der Schatz des Priamos—;Übersetzungen und Kommentar zu der Gelehrtendiskussion um Schliemanns Funde,” Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 24, 191–203.Google Scholar
Bloedow, E. F., 1986: “Schliemann on his Accusers,” Tyche 1, 30–40.Google Scholar
Bloedow, E. F. 1991/1992: “The Authenticity and Integrity of “Priam's Treasure',” Boreas 14/15, 197–206.Google Scholar
Borlase, W. C., 1878: “A Visit to Dr. Schliemann's Troy,” Fraser's Magazine 17 (Feb.) 228–39.Google Scholar
Calder, W. M. III, and Cobet, J., (eds.), 1990: Heinrich Schliemann nach Hundert Jahren (Frankfurt am Main).Google Scholar
Calder, W. M. III, and Traill, D. A., (eds.), 1986: Myth, Scandal and History: The Heinrich Schliemann Controversy and a First Edition of the Mycenaean Diary (Detroit).Google Scholar
Calvert, F., 1875: Letter in The Guardian, 11th August 1875, 1024.Google Scholar
Comnos, S., 1874: “Hissarlık and Mycenae,” The Athenaeum 8th August 1874, 178.Google Scholar
Covington, R., 1992a: “The Stolen Gold of Troy,” Art and Antiques October, 74–9.Google Scholar
Covington, R. 1992b: “Twisted fate of the Trojan Gold,” Art and Antiques November, 74–9.Google Scholar
Decker, A., 1991: “A Worldwide Treasure Hunt,” ARTnews, Summer, 130–8.Google Scholar
Easton, D. F., 1981: “Schliemann's Discovery of Priam's Treasure: Two Enigmas,” Antiquity 55, 179–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Easton, D. F. 1984a: “Schliemann's Mendacity: A False Trail?” Antiquity 58, 197–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Easton, D. F. 1984b: “Priam's Treasure,” Anatolian Studies 34, 141–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Easton, D. F. 1989: Schliemann's Excavations at Troy, 1870–1873, 3 vols., London PhD Thesis; copies at University College, London; Troja Projekt, Tübingen; Troy; Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati.Google Scholar
Easton, D. F. 1990: “Reconstructing Schliemann's Troy,” in Calder and Cobet 1990, 431–47.Google Scholar
Easton, D. F. 1992: “Was Schliemann a Liar?” in Herrmann 1992, 191–8.Google Scholar
Eckenbrecher, G. von., 1843: “Über die Lage des homerischen Ilion,” Rheinisches Museum für Philologie NF 2, 1–49.Google Scholar
Eckenbrecher, G. von. 1874: “Ein Besuch auf der Stätte des alten Troja,” Daheim 10, 251–5.Google Scholar
Fitton, L., 1991: Heinrich Schliemann and the British Museum, British Museum Occasional Papers 83 (London).Google Scholar
Geupel, F., Griesa, I., and Trabert, I., 1981: “Katalog der ausgestellten Funde aus Troja,” in Hühns, E. (ed.), Troja und Thrakien: Katalog zur Ausstellung (Berlin) 70–86.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K., 1987a: “Unternehmen ‘Sonnenuntergang’ Operation ‘Sunrise’: Berliner Museen zwischen 1937 und 1987,” Museums Journal 1, 1–5.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1987b: Interviews in Verschollen—Versteckt—Vereinnahmt? Der Schatz des Priamos: Film shown on SFB III, 8th November 1987.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1987c: “Berliner Kulturschätze—unterwegs,” in Berliner Festspiele GmbH, Die Reise nach Berlin (Berlin), 318–26.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1990: “Der Phönix aus der Asche,” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 11th October, Nr. 237, 35.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1991: “Der Schatz des Priamos: Zum Schicksal von Heinrich Schliemanns Sammlung Trojanischer Altertümer,” Antike Welt 22/3: 195–206.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1992: “Der Schatz des Priamos. Zum Schicksal von Heinrich Schliemanns Sammlung Trojanischer Altertümer,” in Herrmann 1992, 377–90.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1993a: “Ausblick,” in Saherwala et al., 1993: 48–57.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1993b: “Weltkriegs-Archäologie,” Mut 313 (September), 58.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1993c: “Heinrich Schliemanns ‘Sammlung Trojanischer Altertümer:’ Die Schenkung an das ‘deutsche Volk’ 1881,” in Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 1993: 13–17.Google Scholar
Goldmann, K. 1993d: “Alteuropas Altertümer: ‘Unersetzliches—Wertvollstes—Übriges:’ Sicherung und Auslagerung,” in Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 1993: 18–23.Google Scholar
Griesa, I., 1992: “Bemerkungen zum heutigen Stand der Schliemann-Sammlung,” in Herrmann 1992: 390–95.Google Scholar
Hartshorne, B. S., 1877: “Dr. Schliemann's Trojan Collection,” The Archaeological Journal 34: 291–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heinz, K. M., 1991: “Die Spur führt nach Moskau,” Süddeutsche Zeitung 92, 21st April: 16.Google Scholar
Herrmann, J., 1992: Heinrich Schliemann: Grundlagen und Ergebnisse Moderner Archäologie 100 Jahre nach Schliemanns Tod (Berlin).Google Scholar
Herrmann, J. and Maaß, E., 1990: Die Korrespondenz zwischen Heinrich Schliemann und Rudolf Virchow, 1876–1890 (Berlin).Google Scholar
Hoffmann, B., 1993: “The Spoils of War,” Archaeology Nov/Dec, 37–40.Google Scholar
Holm, K., 1991a: “Das Geheimnis der Sondermagazine,” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 12th April.Google Scholar
Holm, K. 1991b: “Wann öffnen sich die Sondermagazine?” Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 30th April.Google Scholar
Janssen, K-H., 1990: “Dürer für Deutschland,” Die Zeit Nr. 40/28, September: 17–21.Google Scholar
Korfmann, M., 1992: “Troia-Ausgrabungen 1990 und 1991,” Studio. Troica 2: 1–41.Google Scholar
Ludwig, E., 1932: Schliemann: The Story of a Goldseeker, transl. Tait, D. F., (Boston).Google Scholar
Luyken, R., 1993: “Wer hebt den Schatz des Priamos?” Die Zeit, Nr. 42, 15th October: 17–19.Google Scholar
Meyer, E., 1936: Briefe von Heinrich Schliemann (Berlin/Leipzig).Google Scholar
Meyer, E., 1953: Heinrich Schliemann Briefwechsel I (Berlin).Google Scholar
Meyer, E. 1958: Heinrich Schliemann Briefwechsel II (Berlin).Google Scholar
Meyer, E. 1969: Heinrich Schliemann: Kaufmann und Forscher (Göttingen).Google Scholar
Meyer, K. E., 1993: “The Hunt for Priam's Treasure,” Archaeology Nov–Dec., 26–32.Google Scholar
Murray, A. S., 1877: “Dr. Schliemann's Trojan Antiquities,” The Academy 12, 22nd December, No. 294: 581.Google Scholar
Physick, J., 1982: The Victoria and Albert Museum: The History of Its Buildings (London).Google Scholar
Ruhrlandmuseum der Stadt Essen, 1991: Schliemanns Troia (Essen).Google Scholar
Saherwala, G., Goldmann, K., and Mahr, G., 1993: Heinrich Schliemanns “Sammlung Trojanischer Altertümer” (Berlin).Google Scholar
Schliemann, H., 1872: Unpublished Troy Excavation Notebook for 1872, in the Schliemann Archive, Gennadius Library, Athens.Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1873a: Unpublished Troy Excavation Notebook for 1873, in the Schliemann Archive, Gennadius Library, Athens.Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1873b: “Der Schatz des Priamos,” Allgemeine Zeitung Beilage zu Nr. 217, 5th August (Augsburg): 3309–10.Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1874a: Trojanische Alterthümer (Leipzig).Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1874b: Atlas Trojanischer Alterthümer (Leipzig).Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1875: Troy and Its Remains ed., Smith, P., transl. Schmitz, L. D., (London).Google Scholar
Schliemann, H. 1880: Ilios: The City and Country of the Trojans (London)Google Scholar
Science and Art Department, 1878: South Kensington Museum: Arrangements for April 1878 (London, HMSO).Google Scholar
Siebler, M., 1993: “Internationales Tauziehen um das Gold von Troia,” Antike Welt 24/4, 348–9.Google Scholar
Siegl, E., 1991: “Troja-Gold gehört zur “Beute-Kunst’,” Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, 4th April.Google Scholar
Smoltczyk, A., 1993: “Wo ist Gold? Der Fluch des Priamos,” Wochenpost Extra Nr. 44, 28th October: I–VIII.Google Scholar
South Kensington Museum, 1879: A Guide to the South Kensington Museum (London).Google Scholar
Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, 1993: Schliemanns Gold und die Schätze Alteuropas aus dem Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte: Eine Dokumentation (Berlin).Google Scholar
Steiner, A. M., 1992: “Novita sul ‘Tesoro di Priamo’,” Archeo: Attualita del Passato VII No. 11 (93), November: 20–21.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A., 1982: Interview in “The Man behind the Mask,” Chronicle, BBC Television, 20th January.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1983: “Schliemann's Discovery of Priam's Treasure,” Antiquity 57, 181–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1984: “Schliemann's Discovery of Priam's Treasure: A Re-examination of the Evidence,” Journal of Hellenic Studies 104: 96–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1986a: “Schliemann's Mendacity: A Question of Methodology,” Anatolian Studies 36: 91–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1986b: Priam's Treasure: Schliemann's Plans to make Duplicates for Illicit Purposes,” in Calder and Traill 1986: 48–80.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1988a: “Bloedow on Schliemann's Accusers,” Tyche 3: 235–9.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1988b: “Hisarlık, 31 May 1873 and the Discovery of Priam's Treasure,” Boreas 11: 227–34.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1988c: “How Schliemann smuggled Priam's Treasure from the Troad to Athens,” Hesperia 57: 273–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1990: “Heinrich Schliemann,” in Briggs, W. W. and Calder, W. M. III (eds.), Classical Scholarship: A Biographical Encyclopaedia (New York): 424–46.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1992: “Priam's Treasure: Further Problems,” in Herrmann 1992: 183–90.Google Scholar
Traill, D. A. 1993: Excavating Schliemann, Illinois Classical Studies Supplement 4, ed., Calder, W. M. III, (Atlanta).Google Scholar
UNESCO, 1954: Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, adopted at The Hague, 14th May.Google Scholar
UNESCO, 1970: Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property adopted 14th November; United Nations Treaty No. 11,806.Google Scholar
Unverzagt, M., 1988: “Materialen zur Geschichte des Staatlichen Museums für Vorund Frühgeschichte zu Berlin während des Zweiten Weltkriegs—zu seinen Bergungsaktionen und seinen Verlusten,” Jahrbuch Preußischer Kulturbesitz 25: 315–84.Google Scholar
Vaio, J., 1990: “Gladstone and the Early Reception of Schliemann in England,” in Calder and Cobet 1990: 415–30.Google Scholar
Watkins, J., 1876: “View of the South Court,” Engraving in the Print Room, Victoria and Albert Museum, accession no. 8089L.Google Scholar
Womack, H., 1991a: “Searching for Stalin's Hoard of Nazi Art Treasures,” The Independent, 29th March: 10.Google Scholar
Womack, H. 1991b: “Trojan Treasure Traced to Moscow,” The Independent on Sunday, 14th July: 1.Google Scholar
Womack, H. 1991c: “Moscow's Stolen Gold,” The Independent on Sunday, 14th July: 17.Google Scholar
Witte, R., 1990: “Endlose Diskussion um den “Schatz des Priamos” -neue Erkenntnisse durch Briefe Schliemanns an seinen Verleger Brockhaus?” Ethnographisch-Archäologische Zeitschrift 31: 440–55.Google Scholar
Yakovich, Y., 1993: “Trojan Horse in a Russian Museum,” Literaturnaya Gazeta No. 34 (5462), 25th August: 7.Google Scholar