VOA文化艺术2024--Italy Celebrates Return of Stolen Arts

 

Italy Celebrates Return of Stolen Arts

Italy celebrated¹ the return of hundreds of its antiquities² from the United States this week. The property included ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics⁴ and documents valued at $65 million.

The pieces were stolen years ago. They were later sold to American museums, galleries and collectors. Their return came after a successful criminal investigation⁵.

Officials of Italy's Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage presented the returned objects at a press event in Rome.

A team of American officials attended the presentation. They included U.S. Ambassador Jack⁶ Markell and Matthew Bogdanos, chief of the antiquities trafficking unit of the New York district attorney's office.

It marked the latest presentation of property return in Italy's long effort to recover antiquities stolen from its territory. The thieves, called tombaroli in Italy, sold to antiquities dealers⁸ who often lied on ownership records to resell the antiquities.

Markell said that the United States is firm in its goal of returning stolen property "to where it belongs...We know that safeguarding this history requires care and vigilance, and this is why we do what we do."

Among the most valuable pieces presented was a fourth-century Naxos silver coin. The coin has an image of the Greek god of wine, Dionysius. It was taken from an illegal dig site in Sicily and transported to Britain. Bogdanos said the coin was found in New York last year as part of an investigation into a noted⁹ British coin dealer⁷. It was being offered for sale for $500,000.

Bogdanos said that other objects were returned from New York's Metropolitan¹⁰ Museum of Art.

The returned objects also included a life-sized bronze statue of a person, as well as several vases from the ancient Etruscan civilization.

Italian officials said the returned property also included paintings from the 16th and 19th centuries that once belonged to Italian museums, religious centers and private homes.

Words in This Story

antiquities - objects from ancient times

mosaic³ - n. a decoration on a surface made by pressing small pieces of colored glass or stone into a soft material that then hardens to make pictures or patterns

museum - n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

gallery - n. a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc.

vase - n. a container that is used for holding flowers or for decoration

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 antiquities   

n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 )；古迹；古人们；古代的风俗习惯

参考例句：

• There is rest and healing in the contemplation of antiquities. 欣赏古物有休息和疗养之功。 来自辞典例句
• Bertha developed a fine enthusiasm for the antiquities of London. 伯沙对伦敦的古迹产生了很大的热情。 来自辞典例句

3 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

4 mosaics   

n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案

参考例句：

• The panel shows marked similarities with mosaics found elsewhere. 这块嵌板和在其他地方找到的镶嵌图案有明显的相似之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The unsullied and shining floor was paved with white mosaics. 干净明亮的地上镶嵌着白色图案。 来自辞典例句

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

8 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。