The emperor’s treasure hunters – German archaeologists looking for booty in the Orient

[ in German ] While the debate on looted art has so far focussed on works of art from African and Asian colonies, Jürgen Gottschlich and Dilek Zaptcioglu-Gottschlich focus on archaeological finds in the former Ottoman Empire in their 2021 book Die Schatzgräber des Kaisers. Deutsche Archäologen auf Beutesuch in Oriënt.

They not only tell the story of the Pergamon Altar, but also that of the Market Gate of Miletus, the Lions of Babylon, the bust of Nefertiti, are in German museums.

Where do they come from, when and under what circumstances?

Are we the rightful owners of these world-famous cultural artefacts?

Not only do excavators such as Carl Humann, Theodor Wiegand and Robert Koldewey pass by but also the predominantly nationalistic motives of their forays in the service of Kaiser Wilhelm II is dealt with.