Iranian Government Objects Israeli transfer of Art
Photo: Prioryman via Wikimedia Commons
Hey everyone, I've got some intriguing news to share about a historical gem that's been causing quite a stir. Let's dive into the story of the Cyrus Cylinder, a renowned antiquity that's been a star at the British Museum. Now, this isn't just any old artifact; we're talking about a piece that's often hailed as the "first charter of human rights," dating back to 539 BC. Picture this: an ancient clay drum inscribed with a story of Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon and his groundbreaking orders for humane treatment.
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So, here's the deal: the British Museum had this plan to loan the Cyrus Cylinder to a library in Jerusalem later this year. But, This move didn't sit well with government officials in Iran. The Tehran Times dropped the news that Hadi Mirzaei, Iran’s big shot in charge of museums, is not just upset but is even hinting at legal action against the museum in London. Talk about drama!
The cylinder's been on a bit of a world tour, currently dazzling visitors at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in the U.S. And get this: during a board meeting at the British Museum back in March 2022, they gave the green light to send this ancient artifact to both the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem and the Yale Peabody.
Now, Hadi Mirzaei isn't just sitting back. He's gone all out, penning a fiery letter to Ali-Akbar Mottakan, the top National Commission for Unesco-Iran. The letter, which got some airtime on the Mehr news agency, basically says: "Hey, sending this priceless piece of history to Al-Quds [the Arabic name for Jerusalem] from October to November 2024? Not cool, guys." He's worried about risks and all that.
The British Museum spokesperson chimed in, telling The Art Newspaper that the Cyrus Cylinder is chilling at the Yale Peabody until the end of June. As for what's next for this ancient artifact? They're playing it close to the chest – details to come later.
