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the treasure missing treasure Abuna's crown The British Government has already resisted one attempt to restore this gold crown to Ethiopia in 1923. Adulis fragments Captain W. Goodfellow of the Royal Engineers made some quick excavations in Adulis (in modern day Eritrea) in the aftermath of the seige, from May 28 to June 9 1868. He sent two cases of fragments home including "a bas-relief representing a cross", suggesting an early Christian site. British Library manuscripts (349) Maqdala manuscripts make up almost half of the British Library's collection of Ethiopian parchments. They were originally stored in the British Museum Library which was recently incorporated into the British Library. Divided drum A ceremonial drum was seized at Maqdala and sliced into three pieces, so that it could be handed out as battle honours to three regiments involved in the raid. The present day descendants of those regiments have refused to return the drum pieces, despite appeals. Dundee scroll This scroll, inscribed in red and black ink, is currently in the collection of the University of Dundee Museum. Edinburgh University's manuscripts (5) Edinburgh University Library has 11 manuscripts written in Amharic or Ge'ez. Three of them are positively linked with Maqdala in the catalogue. Two others are dated from the same era. Edinburgh's torn manuscript This double page was torn out of a manuscript of the Miracles of Mary, found in one of the churches at Maqdala. The page, which is beautifully illuminated on both sides, is listed as a "fragment" and kept in the National Archives of Scotland in Edinburgh. Gold chalice Check back for more information on the golden ecclesiastical chalice, currently held in London's Victoria & Albert Museum. Halifax miscellaneous The Duke of Wellington's Regimental museum has a number of smaller items from Maqdala in its collection. They include a fly-whisk with a ram's horn for a handle, an ammunition belt, complete with powder and shot, and a sword. John Irving's loot Ensign John Beaufin Irving, of the 4th King’s Own regiment, reportedly broke into Maqdala single-handedly on the eve of the final battle. According to regimental accounts, he emerged with "some sacred vessels and a manuscript". Apparently his family still has "various trophies of the campaign". King's Own Bible The 4th King’s Own regiment returned with a number of battle trophies from the campaign, including what regimental records describe as "an illuminated bible". Kwer’ata Re’esu Icon This painting, showing Jesus Christ looking downward, was taken from Maqdala by Sir Richard Holmes, representative of the British Museum on the expedition. He did not disclose his acquisition during his lifetime. The Kwer’ata Re’esu, purchased in London in 1950, is now the property of a Portuguese collector who wishes to remain anonymous. Lancaster miscellaneous The King's Own Royal Regiment Museum has an exhibit dedicated to the Abyssinian Campaign. The case includes an illuminated bible and a large number of smaller exhibits. Lancaster's crosses The King's Own Royal Regiment took four processional crosses from Maqdala. They are currently on display in The King's Own Regimental Memorial Chapel in Lancaster Priory. Manchester's manuscripts (42) Manchester's John Rylands University Library picked up 42 Maqdala manuscripts in 1901 when it bought a private collection of papers owned by the 26th Earl of Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay. Panel of tablet-woven silk This ecclesiastical cloth, part of a triptych that would have screened off the inner sanctum of a church, is currently on display as part of the British Museum's African collection. Reed shirt Check back for more details on this this shirt, apparently made out of a delicate mesh of reeds, currently kept at the Duke of Wellington's Regimental museum in Halifax, England. Shield with lion's mane This hide shield with velvet and silverwork, with a lion's mane pendant, is currently on display as part of the British Museum's African collection. Skull Mr W. Jesse, the expedition's official Zoologist, from the UK's Zoological Society, records finding an "aboriginal skull". Stanley's loot Henry M. Stanley, on the verge of a career as an African explorer, was at Maqdala, working as a journalist. After the fall, he boasted of acquiring a shield, a "royal cap", part of Emperor Theodore's tent and a decorated, be-jeweled saddle. Studland's cross A processional cross taken at Maqdala is currently kept at the Norman church of St Nicholas, in Studland, in the English county of Dorset. According to one report, the church rector at the time obtained permission from Emperor Haile Selassie to keep it. Ta'amra Maryam, 33 Miracles of the Virgin Mary and Document concerning a conciliation This combined manuscript went on a remarkable journey after it was taken by a British soldier at the battle of Maqdala. The soldier sold it, along with a number of other Maqdala papers, to London's Quaritch bookstore, a dealer in antique manuscripts. The British Museum looked into buying it but was in effect outbid by Lady Meux, a flambouyant figure in Victorian London, known for her collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts. She left it to the descendants of Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, in her will. Tabots (9) The British Museum currently holds nine tabots taken in the aftermath of the battle of Magdala. Given the sacred nature of the tabots, Museum staff have promised never to put them on display. The gesture is appreciated. But it raises the question of why the Museum is insisting on holding on to exhibits that it can never show. Tents (2) Check back for more information on these marquee-style tents, currently held in the Museum of Mankind in London. Throne cloth Emperor Tewodros's magnificent throne-cloth was taken by Captain Sandys Wason of the 33rd Regiment at Maqdala. It was later donated to the regimental museum in Halifax, England. Windsor Castle manuscripts (6) Six magnificently illustrated ecclesiastical manuscripts from Maqdala are currently part of the Queen of England's personal collection in the Royal Library in Windsor Castle. |
treasure count: (still counting)468 items still missing 10 items returned search treasure full list of missing treasure returned treasure see more human remains icons manuscripts military hardware miscellaneous personal effects religious artefacts royal regalia tabots current locations The British Library The British Museum Duke of Wellington's Regimental Museum Halifax Dundee University Museum Edinburgh University Library The John Rylands Uni Library Lancaster Museum & Priory National Archives of Scotland The Schřyen Collection The Victoria & Albert Museum Windsor Castle Other locations powered by Movable Type 2.63 |