The Jesus College cockerel is in the news again (Daily Telegraph).
Prince Edun Akenzua quite rightly wants back what was stolen (along with hundreds of other priceless artefacts, most now in the B.M.), from his great-grandfather, Oba Ovoramwen.
There is a difference between the Benin snatch in 1897 and Elgin's robbery of Parthenon marbles: the latter at least had the veneer of diplomacy and legality, whereas the Benin episode was just a crude British imperialist reprisal raid! But the outcome is the same in both cases: cultural objects that belong meaningfully in their original locations have been forcibly removed and replaced in alien environments.
For the article in the Daily Telegraph, follow the link.
Professor Paul Cartledge
Vice-Chair
BCRPM
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