Court Rules That Venus of Cyrene Should Be Returned to Libya

Venus of Cyrene Roman copy of a Greek original 2nd c. BCE, marble, National Roman Museum, Rome, Italy

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A promise was made to Muammar Gaddafi in 2002 by Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi to return the Venus of Cyrene to Libya. The move was blocked however by "Our Italy," a group who aims to retain ownership of Italy's cultural treasures.

There has been much talk about looted works of art in the news in recent years with the return of items of Nazi stolen art to the families of their rightful owners. It is felt by some that Italy is being systematically looted of its 'naturalized' artistic heritage, many of which works which were originally taken by the Roman Empire as they conquered and assimilated new territories.

Some concern has been expressed by Fabio Rampelli, Italy's National Alliance deputy, that the Venus not "suffer the same fate" as the renowned Axum Obelisk, an ancient relic from former Abyssinia, confiscated by Mussolini's troops in 1937. Rampelli states that the obelisk was returned to Ethiopia only to be 'abandoned on a rooftop.' The ancient Axumite kingdom was the home of the legendary Queen of Sheba during the time of the biblical King Solomon.

Brenda Harness, Art Historian

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