The Emperor’s Treasurer Hunters

German Archaeologists and the Plundering of the Orient

By (author) Jurgen Gottschlich By (author) Dilek Zaptcioglu-Gottschlich

Book cover: The Emperor’s Treasurer Hunters

Extent: 212, 212 pages

Publisher: Lockwood Press

Subjects: Art & Art History, Mediterranean Archaeology

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(April 2026)

ISBN: 9781957454771

6 x 9 inches

Price: $24.95

In stock

PDF (Published)

(April 2026)

ISBN: 9781957454672

Price: $24.95

The Pergamon Altar, the Market Gate of Miletus, the Lions of Babylon, the bust of Nefertiti – these are all treasures that we admire in German museums today. Where do these works come from? When and under what circumstances did they come to Germany? Are we actually the rightful owners of these world-famous cultural assets? Jürgen Gottschlich and Dilek Zaptcioglu-Gottschlich take an in-depth look at the history of archaeological excavations and their transportation to the German Empire. The focus is on the expeditions of famous excavators such as Carl Humann, Theodor Wiegand and Robert Koldewey on the one hand and the predominantly nationalistic motives of their forays in the service of the Kaiser on the other. While the debate on looted art has so far tended to focus on works of art from African and Asian colonies, this is the first book on archaeological finds in the former Ottoman Empire. Just as important as the demand for restitution is the question: How do we make this world cultural heritage accessible to as many people as possible?

  • By (author) Jurgen Gottschlich
  • By (author) Dilek Zaptcioglu-Gottschlich