Image Details

Ardon Barhama

Antiquities collector Shlomo Moussaieff owns several house shrines similar to the one discussed in the accompanying article. The three shown here also have columns flanking the openings; in this shrine, a figurine appears behind the right column. All three have bird-like figures on the top. Moussaieff opens his collection to study by scholars, but pressure by academic groups is forcing some scholars to avoid objects purchased on the antiquities market. They claim that publishing such objects encourages looting, though others say that publication has little effect on the problem and that all antiquities—no matter how they have come to light—have much to teach us.