May 21, 2007
Smuggled Roman ring
I'm not sure how important this ring is, though it sounds quite interesting. What struck me was this article's inapt description of it as "Turkish":
A Turkish ring, dating back nearly 2,000 years, will be returned to its country after it was discovered in Derby.Is this the state of historical awareness in England nowadays? "Lucius Versus"? "co-emperor of Ephesus"? Oy.The ring, which dates back to between 161AD and 169AD, was taken to Derby Museum for valuation by a member of the public.
It was passed on to the British Museum, which discovered that it had been taken from an archaeological dig at Ephesus, in Turkey.
The item was brought to the UK by an aircraft passenger. It is now with customs officers at East Midlands Airport, who will return it to the Turkish government on Tuesday.
Engraved with gemstones and made of iron, the ring features an image of Lucius Versus, who was co-emperor of Ephesus.
Posted by David on May 21, 2007 1:50 PM
And the Turks have such a good reputation for taking care of Greco-Roman antiquities....
Posted by: Mike on May 22, 2007 3:33 PM
I started laughing at that point.
Love it that they have such incredible Historians on staff.
"Lucius Versus"...
Don't you hate it that they don't list a writer? I usually will send snotty letters to folks who do shoddy reporting.
Posted by: Circe on May 23, 2007 2:43 PM
From reading the text you quoted, I would venture it is a transliteration (as opposed to translation) of some source article by some fairly un-qualified staffer (maybe the mail clerk?). Who, with English as a first tongue, would come up with the construction "an aircraft passenger?" Airline passenger, maybe, or airplane, or plane - but "aircraft" for passengers went out with the Hindenburg.
Posted by: teqjack on May 24, 2007 10:48 PM
cronaca.com