Missing Treasures
We’re on a bit of treasure kick here and following last time’s discussion of salvage we wanted to talk about some treasure lost throughout history. Some are mere legend, while other artifacts are confirmed to have existed. These are treasures lost to time… perhaps forever. Guess which ones are real and which are legend. Answers will be at the bottom.
- Menorah from the Second Temple
- Looted by Romans in 70 BCE, the Menorah is depicted on a frieze on the Arch of Titus in Rome. The Menorah was moved to the Temple of Peace in Rome which later burned down in 191. Whether sacked and stolen by the Vandals, or it was lost in the fire we may never know.
- Kusanagi
- This sword is one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, an item that legitimizes the power and rule of the Emperor. This sword was lost at sea during the Battle of Dan-no-ura. The Japanese government claims they possess the sword but have not allowed anyone to verify it.
- The Just Judges
- This lower left panel of a larger work, the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, was on display in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium when it was stolen on the night of April 10th, 1934.
- Treasure of Lima
- A mass of gold, silver, and jewelry stolen from the Spanish in 1820. The English Captain was to deliver the treasure from Lima to safe keeping in Mexico but went pirate along the voyage and supposedly buried it on Cocos Island.
- The Tsar’s Treasure
- ~$4 million (in 1909 value) in American coins meant to reach the Russian Baltic Fleet lost when the RMS Republic went down off the coast of New England.
Answer Key:
True: 1, 3, 5 Legend: 2, 4, 5
That’s right, 5 is both confirmed and legendary, as there were numerous valuables that went down, however the truth of the value of money heading towards the Imperial Russian government is unverified. If true, that would value the wreckage of the RMS Republic at close to $5 billion. Anyone interested in marine salvage?
