.
Police in Jaen in Spain say that on a finca (estate) in Pedro Abad near Cordoba, owned by two brothers, they have recovered a pair of first century AD bronze statues about to be sold on the black market. The Roman figures, 1.50m and 1.30m in size, depict two naked males, with each piece weighing about 30 kilos and in a good state of conservation (although one has lost part of his chest and the other his genitals). They have been shown to have been taken from the ancient Roman site of
Sacilis Marcialis (modern Adamuz) and are believed to form part of a
Castor and Pollux sculpture in Cordoba. The statues will now be taken to the Cordoba Museum to be conserved.
The two brothers who own the estate were planning to sell the statues. Although they have been valued at six million euros each, according to police commissioner Daniel Salgado they were about to be sold on the black market for about half their market value to an Italian buyer via an intermediary. Interpol are now hunting for the buyer. One of the brothers has also been arrested and two other people charged with a crime against heritage and the attempted smuggling of historic property.
R. Castro, 'Recuperan dos estatuas de bronce valoradas en 12 millones', Europa Press, March 23, 2012
'Roman statues rescued in Spain', The Olive Press March 28, 2012
Photos: Europe Press.
Police in Jaen in Spain say that on a finca (estate) in Pedro Abad near Cordoba, owned by two brothers, they have recovered a pair of first century AD bronze statues about to be sold on the black market. The Roman figures, 1.50m and 1.30m in size, depict two naked males, with each piece weighing about 30 kilos and in a good state of conservation (although one has lost part of his chest and the other his genitals). They have been shown to have been taken from the ancient Roman site of
Sacilis Marcialis (modern Adamuz) and are believed to form part of a
Castor and Pollux sculpture in Cordoba. The statues will now be taken to the Cordoba Museum to be conserved.The two brothers who own the estate were planning to sell the statues. Although they have been valued at six million euros each, according to police commissioner Daniel Salgado they were about to be sold on the black market for about half their market value to an Italian buyer via an intermediary. Interpol are now hunting for the buyer. One of the brothers has also been arrested and two other people charged with a crime against heritage and the attempted smuggling of historic property.R. Castro, 'Recuperan dos estatuas de bronce valoradas en 12 millones', Europa Press, March 23, 2012
'Roman statues rescued in Spain', The Olive Press March 28, 2012
Photos: Europe Press.
No comments:
Post a Comment