Stolen, sold, and destroyed
Sacred art is alive: it is a major component of the identities of living people and communities. Theft of sacred art is theft from everyone. Destruction of sacred items is profoundly destabilizing. The theft, trafficking, and destruction of sacred art is a special subset of the larger study of the movement of illicit art and antiquities. It has its own unique causes and, perhaps, its own unique solutions.
The purpose of this site is to try to understand this phenomenon better by collecting information. Find here articles and papers about the theft and destruction of the art and architecture of the world’s religious traditions and documentation of efforts to protect these sites and items.
Kundapur: Theft at Uppunda Venkataramana temple, ornaments worth lacs stolen
(India)Silvester D'Souza (2018). Kundapur: Theft at Uppunda Venkataramana temple, ornaments worth lacs stolen. Daiji World. 7 April.
Bringing our Gods home
(Nepal; United States of America)Sahina Shrestha (2018). Bringing our Gods home. Nepali Times. 6 April.
The Met Will Return Looted Statues of Sages and Goddesses to Both India and Nepal
(Nepal; India; United States of America)Sarah Cascone (2018). The Met Will Return Looted Statues of Sages and Goddesses to Both India and Nepal. ArtNet News. 5 April.
New York Met returns stolen idols to Nepal
(Nepal; United States of America)AFP (2018). New York Met returns stolen idols to Nepal. The Nation. 5 April.
Stolen idols returned to Nepal
(Nepal; United States of America)The Himalayan Times (2018). Stolen idols returned to Nepal. The Himalayan Times. 4 April.