There was a time in human history when artifacts had power and relics could heal. I have often speculated that in a world where people had little tangble ocular proof of faith systems their entire lives were built on, that the shreds of shoud, bone, and “evidence” they did have became vitalizing. We have all perhaps gone to see something that we had only previously seen in pictures (Fenway park, the mask of King Tut, Grand Canyon, a movie star). In some way, we are moved when we see them in real life. There is something physically and chemically inspiring and empowering in the moment. I suspect that Medieval pilgrims felt this spine tingling and assumed that the power existed in the object itself rather than in the mind that saw it. And thus relics obtained their “power”.
In the film Stone of Destiny a few Scottish students set out to retrieve the Stone of Scone from under King Edward’s chair in Westminster Abby. For centuries, English monarchs have been sitting on it when they are crowned, legitimatizing in a way, the right of the English monarchy to make decisions for Scotland.
Is it theft when you set out to get something back that was taken by force? It is interesting to speculate what Egyptian youth might do if they set out to get back all their stolen artifacts. The Rosetta Stone, the statue of Ramses. The bust of Nefertiti, etc. Hundreds of Egypts treasures lie in the museums of Western cultural capitals.
The Stone of Destiny is a nail biter. It is tough not to find yourself rooting for these “keystone cops” amateur heist. It’s sort of like Oceans 11 but without the sophistication. Makes me want to go steal something that someone has stolen from Vermont. Has anyone ever stolen something from Vermont?
Question for Comment: If you could go steal back something that was once taken from you or from people you identify with, what would you go after?
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