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by Should you suspect that, in the Controversy, only one calamity of the preceding exists, then, in the name of God, I ask you to speak up and demand justice, i.e. that the Collection be researched and re-assessed in a scholarly manner. This also would be for the sake of justice and truth, as well as for the sake of the Mansoors and the Collection and, of course, for the public. I hope the reader understands that I am not generalizing, and that I am not either holding that many or all Egyptologists and museologists are responsible for the Controversy. Actually, two museums are: The BMFA and the BM, and at this time I have no respect for either. To be truthful, I despise both -- even though I've had, in general, the highest respect for museums. As for the Egyptologists, in reading "The Truth...," the reader will be inclined to believe that both Dr. Cooney and Dr. Bothmer were misled by Mr. Young and his "advice." Most other Egyptologists, believing blindly in the opinion of these two scholars followed suit. And the rumors traveled fast around the world. Needless to point out that in the previous generation as well as in this one, few Egyptologists popped as authoritarians, declaring and imposing themselves as experts in Egyptian and Amarna art. Clearly, it is not because some Egyptologist is attached to an important museum housing rare Egyptian artifacts that he would be, or considered to be an infallible expert in Egyptian art. I could own the fastest racing car, and if I am a lousy or mediocre driver and do not understand well the mechanism of racing cars, I could, to show off my prowess, kill myself or kill others by driving it fast. This is precisely what's happening today in Egyptology. Where Egyptian and Amarna art are concerned, few playing prima donas or authoritarians, would, by uttering nonsense and/or absurdities, destroy their own reputation and at the same time degrade Egyptology. In the science of Egyptology, "art and science must co-exist." To be able to tell for certainty whether an Egyptian artifact is, or is not ancient, one should and must also take into consideration scientific evidence, reasoning and opinion. This is the "mechanism" that should be applied by anyone competing for championship in Egyptian art. Where Amarna art is concerned, scientific what-not is, from miles away, more important than any personal opinion as Amarna art is, at least to any intellectually honest mind, enigmatic. It should be noted that just like in any other profession or field, Egyptologists do not agree among themselves on certain issues and particularly on art. Examples are numerous, and a case in point is the Amarna head acquired by the Kestner Hanover Museum (The Truth...p. 95) in which some most eminent Egyptologists did not agree on its authenticity. And for those who haven't read "The Truth...," I'll repeat again what a most respected Egyptologist of the Oriental Institute of Chicago, Prof. Keith Seele, stated: "Detecting forgeries on the basis of style and technique is a really difficult and tricky business, and many great scholars have been deceived, even though they have devoted their lives to the study of ancient art." (The Truth... p. 58.) Needless to state that I also have the highest respect for Egyptologists. Most unfortunately, those who, today, do not believe in the genuineness of the Collection are prejudiced and have not seen one single piece of it, but only photographs. And possibly haven't either read the reports. By "most," I mean a good 90% if not more. Writers Wanted I beg the reader to be kind enough to forgive any repetition I make as I am no writer. At this time, I am looking for a professional writer or journalist -- even two working together to condense and/or edit all that concerns the Collection. Not only all that was written, but there's much more untold that would, truly, make a sensational true story. Actually, an Egyptologist or perhaps two together would do an outstanding job in researching and relating the story of the Collection in a scholarly manner. But for the love of God, where would I find at this time someone among them who would not mind, or would dare and have the courage to stand up against any prima dona, or authoritarian? I must be dreaming, so I won't even think of it from fear of being once more deceived. As a matter of fact, quite few people suggested to me to have a professional writer/reporter relate the story instead of myself doing it. Understandably, this is very true, since I am, or rather was a dealer and have an interest in the Collection. (I retired eleven years ago.) Among those people, Prof. Edward H. Mikhail, English, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. (He is the author and editor of many books (20?) on Anglo-Irish drama, and the author of the "Cassell Dictionary of Appropriate Adjectives, Cassell, London, 1994). After sending Prof. Mikhail the manuscript of "The Truth...," he wrote to me saying:
And he added a P.S. at the end of the letter saying:
This explains why I am now looking for a professional writer/journalist in case I get no intervention, in the very near future, from Egyptologists and/or museologists. * * * * * The reader should forgive my way of showing no respect to certain institutions and/or to the Egyptologists responsible of feeding negatively the Controversy. Clearly, my previous fervent appeals to them (begging and kneeling) were totally ignored. I would certainly be stupid if I use again the same approach. Consider that in the last fifty years, I've gone through tremendous distress and devastation, and while I'm writing at this very moment, I am outraged and revolted that none of those I've appealed to seems to care a bit about this entire situation. We have here a case of miscarriage of justice (or of a mistaken identity?). An innocent (a beautiful collection, "too beautiful to be true"), was condemned, let's say through errors. And for fifty years, her attorney, with concrete proof attesting to the innocence and sincerity of his client, appealed constantly to the judges that judged the case. And these didn't even have the courtesy to answer those appeals -- remaining silent all the way. What can you call such judges? Would you trust them or have any respect for them? Home - Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Photo Album |
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