They should have left them down there. That's like stealing your ring from your grave.
Or like looting the Egyptian tombs.
Okay I do find it fascinating and I love that I can see them, but STILL.
I saw that article! The top two rings and the necklace are absolutely amazing.
I've seen two different Titanic exhibits, and they've been amazing. I'd definitely go again if I got the chance.
@HeathenSwan: My thoughts exactly! Those three are my favourites.
@Ms_Midori: doubtful. In October I went to the Dead Sea scroll exhibit at the same place. and they only let us take pictures of the 3 pots in the intro room. Everything else was off limits. Same thing happened with cleopatra too
@peachacid: I agree with you. Something about this feels very wrong. As much as I love jewelry, especially of that time period, this does feel like grave robbing.
I always feel strange about seeing the Titanic items. We have alot of history with the Titanic in Halifax.
@peachacid: I agree. But being a history nerd, it would still be interesting to be able to see the pieces. But they are better left at the site. It makes me uneasy.
It's artwork. Most historical artwork's creators and original owners have died. I do not think it is disrespecting them to put the art on public display. According to the article these were found in a jeweller's purse? If I would have been that jeweller, I'd want my work on display right now, not sitting in the muck at the bottom of the ocean.
@joya_aspera: They were in a purser's bag, so they were like...in the safe. Basically it's the Heart of the Ocean. Basically. While I understand that it's "art", it should be left where it was. The whole site should never have been touched. About 1500 people died there -- it should be considered a tomb.
I do like the exploration of the wreck despite the fact that the pictures give me nightmares.
I studied anthropology and archaeology in undergrad, so I have no qualms about excavating "tombs" for knowledge (in most cases). If these items were being sold for a profit, then I'd have an ethics issue with it. I so wish I could see the show!
I guess my perspective is also affected by the fact that I disagree with the practice of placing valuables in a tomb. It gives weight to the concept "you can take it with you" and takes away from the sense that life is temporary and that we are not material beings...and we cannot "own" material goods forever. We only "borrow" the material world. We should not too closely attach our sense of our own or another's identity to materials.
It is also a great blessing that we can communicate to each other through what we create, well past our own lifetimes. But not if we were buried with everything we ever created! Nobody intended to place valuables in the resting-place of the people who died in this tragedy, but I still don't see a need to leave the art in the resting-place. These are seperate issues, in my mind.
As interesting as I find it, I too think the remains of the Titanic should have just been left alone. Whether it's a ring or a fork makes no difference to me. To me it has nothing to do with "taking it with you" but more about showing respect for the tragedy itself and the fact that it's a resting place.
@joya_aspera: "It gives weight to the concept "you can take it with you" and takes away from the sense that life is temporary and that we are not material beings...and we cannot "own" material goods forever. We only "borrow" the material world. We should not too closely attach our sense of our own or another's identity to materials."
I totally agree with your opinion with regards to this, but not everyone does -- and so I think it's important to respect other people's wishes. We don't know what each person who died on Titanic's personal belief about death was, so we cannot assume it is what ours is...but I choose to believe they'd want to be left alone rather than bothered. With Egyptian tombs, the Egyptians obviously believed people would need their awesome shit after death -- and Westerners did not respect that at all.
I find the history of that era fascinating and would love to see a Titanic exhibit. I don't think of it as grave-robbing, but I would if the pieces were being sold for any reason. Putting them on display I think makes it a memorial and a tribute rather than robbing.
@MrsWrangler: I think there's a permanent display in Vegas...I went to one there, anyway, and it was really neat. I still felt really weird about it, but I LOVE Titanic. So I HAD TO GO. There was a huge piece of the hull...ugh it gave me the creeps! But it was very interesting and worth the $26 or whatever it was.
I routinely impress my students with my vast knowledge of Titanic-ia. Titanicabilia. There must be a word. lol.
@peachacid: Haha that sounds really interesting - If/when I get to Vegas I will have to check it out! I am fascinated by the Titanic and the stories of the passengers, what their lives were like and how they ended up on a ship they completely trusted that failed so terribly. Probably don't have your store of Titanicabilia but I am working on it :)
That is amazing! While I get the idea of respecting the dead, SOO much of what we know about history is from tombs! Especially in cultures whose belief in the afterlife was that it was this life, only better because the things in the tombs were a reflect of what life was like for them daily. I think there is a huge difference in scientific and historical study with artifacts out for the world to see and tomb raiding to make a profit.
@MrsWrangler: I highly recommend the book Unsinkable by Daniel Butler. Now I want to read it but I lent it to someone! Boo.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2231949/Titanic-treasures-Precious-jewels-belonging-passengers-doomed-ship-public-display-time-100-years-disaster.html
They are absolutely gorgeous and of course priceless! All you Bees stateside are so lucky that you can go and visit the exhibition!