Legal action has been taken against Phoenix Ancient Art Gallery in Geneva for the seizure of a 20-ton sarcophagus featuring a sculpted rendition of the 12 labours of Heracles. The object was seized following an anonymous tip-off to Swiss Customs in Geneva because it is alleged to have been smuggled out of Antalya’s ancient city of Perge (modern-day Antalya’s Aksu district), in 2001 before the dealer acquired it:
the Swiss prosecutor met with A.Ç., who is imprisoned in Elmalı prison on a separate smuggling charge and is suspected of smuggling the artifact out of Perge. In discussions with the Swiss prosecutor, A.Ç allegedly confirmed that the artifact had been smuggled. International legal proceedings began with the aim of repatriating the sarcophagus to Antalya. The case [...] will be completed by the end of the year, facilitating the return of the sarcophagus to Antalya.Doğan News Agency, 'Stolen sarcophagus might return to Turkey
Vignette: the sarcophagus (Hürriyet Daily News)
UPDATE 20/10/2014
This seems to be more or less the same article: ' Officials confirm Heracles smuggled from Antalya’s Perge', Hurriyet Daily News,October 22 2014.
No comments:
Post a Comment