Frank Gaydos on tue 21 feb 06
U.S. MARINE COLONEL MATTHEW BOGDANOS TELLS STORY BEHIND 2003 THEFT, =
LOOTING-AND PARTIAL RECOVERY- OF IRAQ MUSEUM ARTIFACTS AT PENN MUSEUM =
TALK SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2 P.M.=20
FEBRUARY 2006-U.S. Marine Colonel and New York assistant district =
attorney Matthew Bogdanos visits the University of Pennsylvania Museum =
of Archaeology and Anthropology Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m., when he =
offers a special talk, "Thieves of Baghdad," detailing the investigation =
into the 2003 theft and looting of the Iraq Museum.=20
A book signing of Thieves of Baghdad, written by Colonel Bogdanos with =
William Patrick, follows his presentation. Royalties from the book sales =
go to the Iraq Museum. The program, co-sponsored by the University of =
Pennsylvania's Center for Ancient Studies, is $10 and includes Museum =
admission donation (free for Penn Museum members). Reservations are =
recommended: 215/898-4890.
In April 2003, people around the world watched in shock and sadness at =
televised footage taken after the pillaging of the Iraq Museum in =
Baghdad. The list of missing objects read like a who's who of =
archaeology: the Sacred Vase of Warka, the world's oldest known carved =
stone ritual vessel; the Mask of Warka; the treasure of Nimrud, a =
collection of more than 1,000 pieces of gold jewelry from the eight and =
ninth centuries B.C.E.=20
In the wake of the looting, the United States dispatched a highly =
specialized multi-agency task force to determine what had happened at =
the museum and to recover as many antiquities as possible. Marine =
Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, who holds a master's degree in Classics from =
Columbia University, volunteered to lead the investigation.
At the Penn Museum program, Colonel Bogdanos tells the story of the =
creation of the U.S. government's multi-agency task force, the first =
ever deployed to a war zone (in the frozen hills of Afghanistan), and =
that team's recovery more than one year later of over 5,000 of history's =
most priceless antiquities.=20
The investigation also exposed the presence of a flourishing =
international black market in stolen Iraqi antiquities, and Colonel =
Bogdanos addresses the future of national and international efforts to =
stop the smugglers.
Matthew Bogdanos has been an assistant district attorney in Manhattan =
since 1988. A colonel in the Marine Reserves, middleweight boxer, and =
native New Yorker, he holds a degree in classics from Bucknell =
University, a law degree and a master's degree in Classical Studies from =
Columbia University, and a master's degree in Strategic Studies from the =
Army War College. Recalled to active duty after September 11, 2001, he =
received a Bronze Star for counterterrorist operations in Afghanistan, =
and then served two tours in Iraq. Released back into the reserves in =
October 2005, he returned to the DA's Office and continues the hunt for =
stolen antiquities.=20
The book Thieves of Baghdad: One Marine's Passion for Ancient =
Civilizations and the Journey to Recover the World's Greatest Stolen =
Treasures (Bloomsbury USA; October 26, 2005, $25.95 hardback), by =
Matthew Bogdanos with William Patrick (author of Blood Winter) will be =
on sale in the Museum Shop before and after the program.=20
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is =
dedicated to the study and understanding of human history and diversity. =
Founded in 1887, the Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and =
anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the =
world.=20
Penn Museum is located at 3260 South Street (across from Franklin =
Field), Philadelphia, PA 19104. Museum hours are Tuesday through =
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays, =
holidays, and summer Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. =
Admission donation is $8 for adults; $5 for senior citizens and students =
with ID; free to members, PENNcard holders, and children 6 and under; =
free Sunday afternoons through May 21, 2006. The Museum can be found on =
the web at www.museum.upenn.edu. For general information call =
215/898-4000.
View Exhibitions, Events, and Announcements=20
Press Releases
View Exhibitions, Events, and Announcements=20
Press Releases
Frank Gaydos
"Actual space is intrinsically more powerful and specific than paint on =
a flat surface."
=20
-Donald Judd =20
| |
|
