1 20 2 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/1d03618dfc4acc1a36de4bbe6466ba91.jpg?Expires=1792627200&Signature=hiKD3magWf2OpewDhMaCcEPUqU23wtGhgalRj%7E7iDY0lbz83Je9W7Ti4qq9zmY0WB3VSC4poFBmQShDN1D8yfHeO6JBaQalHb1a-dFLfMfMBSkNOQ92Qr1urRrixCC%7E7PLyhHZQcLmKhO85YzFV1LEqnbjmB3uX-sEjiFFrlIL1zTGDfT4ScuFBADNE2SBjzYJ5fx2HHrvztCIUQzdhFLpeQNN7GuiJKfoIOt2vKA3gdSENhbW3Ury1Zjpe3GboRn5j0QvKukYsiVPNqWDpu-0nmecEwxRKB8n%7EJS8f7P442TmfwEEAj9C9XXeASQKCW8agRU3I7hAw9zKmRJhXPug__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 295e28a151a9b04b9aba7ab01deeb1ff Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. 32 Papyri Fragments Stolen From the Egyptian Exploration Society Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. In June 2021, Hobby Lobby sued Oxford scholar Dirk Obbink over $7 million it had paid for the acquisition of 32 ancient papyri fragments excavated at Oxyrhynchus, Egypt. The museum had acquired the fragments along with other antiquities in batches over several years, court records show: Purchase #1 - February 6, 2010: Papyri fragments for $80,000 Purchase #2 - February 15, 2011: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $500,000 Purchase #3 - July 22, 2010: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $350,000 Purchase #4 - November 20, 2010: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $2,400,000 Purchase #5 - July 20, 2011: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $1,345,500 Purchase #6 - March 7, 2012: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $609,600 Purchase #7 - February 5, 2013: Papyri fragments and other antiquities for $1,810,000 The fragments were later identified as having been stolen by Obbink from the Egyptian Exploration Society, part of Oxford's Sackler Classics Library. This library houses the largest collection of ancient papyri in the world. This collection includes those from the Grenfell and Hunt excavations that took place during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries at the site of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt. Hobby Lobby alleged that Obbink, "one of the world’s leading scholars of ancient papyri, also acted throughout his career as a private dealer of papyri fragments and other antiquities to the world’s greatest museums and private collectors.” Public records show Obbink operated a UK company called Castle Folio Limited along with a Michigan man named Mahmoud Elder. According to Castle Folio’s website, the company “help[ed] private collectors of ancient books and manuscripts to identify, preserve and research their holdings. The Castle Folio works with an established network of academics, experts and collectors.” The now-defunct company ceased operations around November 2017, according to UK business filings. The company, which was responsible for both buying and selling antiquities, is listed as a subsidiary of Elder’s investment company, the Elder-Marini Group, on its website. Elder was separately named as the owner of a collection of stolen EES manuscript fragments that were sold to American collector Andrew Stimer. Elder also operated a London business called Wisla Limited with an Israeli dealer named Alan (Alaa) Baidun, records show. The Hobby Lobby also acquired stolen artifacts from Baidun in a separate case, court records show. In 2020 Obbink was detained by British authorities on suspicion of theft and fraud but was released after questioning. He left his position at Oxford in 2021. As of 2024, he has not been charged with a crime. Hobby Lobby returned the stolen fragments to Oxford. In March 2024, an Oklahoma court issued a default judgement against Obbink, awarding the Hobby Lobby $7,085,100 plus interest. Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 1 Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Information Artifact – books, seals, plaques, scrolls Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 32 Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Egypt UK Dealer Person(s) who offered the object for sale. Dirk Obbink Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. Hobby Lobby Sues Oxford Professor Over Stolen Bible Artifacts <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/hobby-lobby-sues-oxford-professor-over-stolen-bible-artifacts/">https://www.courthousenews.com/hobby-lobby-sues-oxford-professor-over-stolen-bible-artifacts/</a> Police Arrest an Oxford Professor for Allegedly Stealing Ancient Papyrus Fragments and Selling Them to the Museum of the Bible <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/oxford-professor-arrested-stolen-papyrus-1837650">https://news.artnet.com/art-world/oxford-professor-arrested-stolen-papyrus-1837650</a> The Owners of Hobby Lobby Are Returning Biblical Antiquities That Were Allegedly Stolen by an Oxford Professor <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hobby-lobby-illicit-antiquities-1679329">https://news.artnet.com/art-world/hobby-lobby-illicit-antiquities-1679329</a> <a href="https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/50825853/Hobby_Lobby_Stores_Inc_v_Obbink">Default Judgement</a> Documents Link to key records or publications related to the object that are not available online. <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/hobby-lobby-oxford.pdf">https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/hobby-lobby-oxford.pdf</a> Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Oxyrhynchus, Egypt Private Collector Person who acquired the object for their personal collection. Hobby Lobby CEO Steve Green Museum Name Name of the institution that held this object before it was repatriated. Please use the official name of the institution. Museum of the Bible Year Acquired Year that the object was acquired by the institution. 2010-2013 Museum Donation or Purchase? How did the museum acquire the object(s)? Select from drop-down list. Purchase False Provenance A false story about the object’s ownership history, used to hide the illicit activities through which the object was trafficked. According to court records, Obbink represented to Hobby Lobby, expressly and unequivocally, in the Purchase Agreements and in conversations, based on his actual knowledge of the Fragments’ ownership history, that (i) the Fragments had been previously owned by private collectors; (ii) Obbink owned all right, title, and interest in and to the Fragments; (iii) Obbink had the unencumbered right to sell the Fragments to Hobby Lobby; and (iv) Hobby's Lobby’s purchase of the Property would not infringe upon the rights of any third party. Last Known Price, Valuation or Estimate The most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. 7,095,100 Year of Last Price Year of the most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. 2013 Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. UK Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Theft (stolen from a documented collection, rather than looted) Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. USA Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Other Value in 2024 US Dollars Value in 2024 US Dollars, adjusted for inflation. Use inflation calculator here: https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en/?from=EUR&to=USD&amount=1 9,568,732 Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2021 Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). Hobby Lobby Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Oxford University's Sackler Classics Library MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Damien Huffer Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="https://brentnongbri.com/2019/10/14/how-many-oxyrhynchus-papyri-have-been-sold/">https://brentnongbri.com/2019/10/14/how-many-oxyrhynchus-papyri-have-been-sold/</a> See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1264">Steve Green Collection</a> Provenance Summary A chronological history of the object's ownership history, starting with the oldest date first. Enter a year and summary of the transaction for reach provenance event. stolen from the EES Court Case and Number Title of the civil or criminal case and number (e.g. New York v. Subhash Kapoor, CR-022431-19NY). Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. v. Obbink, 5:23-cv-00879 Operation Name The trafficking network, or the name given to investigation by law enforcement entity. Hobby Lobby Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. Jason Felch Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 32 Papyri Fragments Stolen From the Egyptian Exploration Society Egyptian Exploration Society Hobby Lobby Stores https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/77763/archive/files/3d63673e388e6096b22668b16d368a9e.jpg?Expires=1792627200&Signature=r5IC7WV5eBD7tToSsX6xrZ8XblMk9NCG5Qyo8uormVbxCA78kiI3dlLh2uM9jePw7bqbE83EKXPluzdf250gvU7SsHDr0mTdnTcayZ9vdxs2i-eMt%7E5RrHYQEUdvUvRF3JXXctvy6wtG16nhY86dDeMt9tFWTUnl-Mx0AGyRbGJirI5Do4eE7stqWY0CJGxu0x8EIPMWtenQxCJCpyoyrGLekpHuJcYKJ5CbU5NlE9wU3GvMdDLMNRnAQNr1CM3Xo7hNMRt-WsClS9-wszZWxvVg2h%7EJ6-LttlXwnBbrazAZ4W8JcdeZ98Qq4v8Rvf1IYsnAIdDtC8ATAdkTuEMktg__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 15aaffd7f571b1148c6838f403e34396 Physical Object An inanimate, three-dimensional object or substance. Note that digital representations of, or surrogates for, these objects should use Moving Image, Still Image, Text or one of the other types. Object or Group Name The common English name of the object or group of objects. Gilgamesh Dream Tablet Sources Reliable sources of information related to the object and its repatriation. Preference to primary sources (court records, documents, archival sources) and authoritative secondary sources (media reports, blogs etc.). For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. United States Files Civil Action to Forfeit Rare Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Portion of the Epic of Gilgamesh <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/united-states-files-civil-action-forfeit-rare-cuneiform-tablet-bearing-portion-epic">https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/united-states-files-civil-action-forfeit-rare-cuneiform-tablet-bearing-portion-epic</a> Christie's. The Dream Tablet. Relating Part of the Epic of Gilgamesh. <a href="http://trobisch.com/david/wb/media/material/Gilgamesh%20tablet_AW.pdf">http://trobisch.com/david/wb/media/material/Gilgamesh%20tablet_AW.pdf</a> Status Completion status of MOLA record. Select from drop-down list: Stub (Needs basic research), Incomplete (Missing key fields), In progress (Has been assigned), Ready for review (Complete; awaiting peer review) and Completed (Ready to publish). Only Completed records are made Public. Completed Case Summary Narrative summary of the object’s looting, identification by authorities and repatriation. This ancient cuneiform tablet, containing text from the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh and dating back 3,600 years, is one of the earliest surviving written records. The cuneiform tablet was on display at the Museum of the Bible until September 2019, when federal authorities seized it subject to to a civil forfeiture complaint. According to the complaint, the tablet surfaced on the art market in 2001, when an unnamed "American dealer" identified it in the London residence of Jordanian antiquities trafficker Ghassan Rihani, who died that same year. In 2003, the American dealer purchased the tablet and other objects from Rihani's family for a total of USD $50,350. In 2007, the dealer sold the tablet to two other American dealers for USD $50,000. Michael Sharpe's rare book dealership subsequently listed the object for sale in March 2007 for USD $450,000. It was later acquired by another antiquarian, Biblioctopus Rare Books, and finally "John Doe #1" who was later identified as Israeli collector Joseph David Hackmey. Hackmey, in turn, consigned it to Christie's London in the fall of 2013. In July 2014, Hobby Lobby Stores acquired the tablet from the auction house in a private sale, paying USD $1,674,000. Inquiries by the Museum of the Bible over the next several years allegedly did not shed any light on the object's provenance – or Rihani’s connection to it. After federal agents seized the cuneiform tablet from its display at the Museum of the Bible in September 2019, the family company behind the museum, Hobby Lobby, filed a lawsuit against Christie's and John Doe #1 for fraud and breach of warranty. The case concluded with an out-of-court settlement in November 2021. The seized tablet was returned to Iraq, along with thousands of other looted objects acquired by Hobby Lobby and the Museum of the Bible. Description of Object(s) Provide a brief description of the object or objects in the record. 3,600-year-old cuneiform tablet with part of the Sumerian poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh, renowned as one of the earliest works of literature on record. Dimensions: 6 1/4 x 4 3/4 in (16 x 12 cm) Number of Objects Count of objects reflected in this record. 1 Country of Origin The modern country of origin that this object came from (i.e. where it was found). Select from drop-down list. Iraq Culture Ancient culture associated with the object. Sumerian MOLA Contributor(s) Person(s) who contributed to the information in this record. Anonymous is an acceptable entry. Jason Felch Katie Paul Documents Link to key records or publications related to the object that are not available online. <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24252208-antiquities-smuggling-hobby-lobby-gerstenblith">Hobby Lobby, the Museum of the Bible and the Law A Case Study of the Looting of Archaeological Artifacts from Iraq Patty Gerstenblith</a> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24244881-schoyen-coll_seizure_expert-assessment">Report concerning objects impounded at Martin Schøyen’s residence August 24, 2021</a> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24252206-2022-03-24-cultural-heritage-predation-iraq-kathem-robson-tahan">Cultural heritage predation in Iraq The sectarian appropriation of Iraq’s past</a> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24548638-gilgamesh_tablet_complaint_0/">USA v Gilgamesh Dream Tablet</a> Size General size of the object (numbered 1-5); 1 - small or fragmentary (e.g. coins or sherds) 2 - medium (e.g. most vases) 3 - large (e.g. between a bread box and an adult) 4 - extra large (i.e. adult human sized) 5 - monumental (larger than an adult human) 2 Object Type Type of object based on its function. Select from drop-down list. Tablet Object Materials Material(s) that the object or group of objects is made of. Select from drop-down list. Stone Creation Date Year this object was created, in years BCE/CE; use circa if presenting a range. Use specific year, decade or century. circa 1500 BCE Findspot Approximate site or location where the object was found (i.e. the archaeological provenience). Unknown Date Looted Approximate year that the object or group of objects was excavated or stolen. Unknown Alleged Looter Person(s) who removed the object from the findspot or original location. Unknown Auction House Auction house(s) that offered the object for auction. Christie's London Auction Details Include details about the auction, such as: Location of the auction house branch (i.e. London, New York). Date of auction(s). Lot number used to offer the object at auction. Estimated value or value range in the auction listing, displayed in USD alongside price in original currency. Private sale Museum Donation or Purchase? How did the museum acquire the object(s)? Select from drop-down list. Purchase Repatriated? Repatriation status of the object. Select from drop-down list. Yes Sending Country Country from which the object was returned during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. USA Dealer Person(s) who offered the object for sale. Ghassan Rihani American dealer Museum Name Name of the institution that held this object before it was repatriated. Please use the official name of the institution. Museum of the Bible False Provenance A false story about the object’s ownership history, used to hide the illicit activities through which the object was trafficked. March 2007: “False Provenance Letter”, which did not mention Rihani and the United Kingdom, indicating, instead, that the object was purchased at a 1981 Butterfield & Butterfield auction in San Francisco as part of lot 1503, which consisted of “miscellaneous objects including several other antiquities, none of them completely described” and that “[a]t the time, this was said to have been deaccessioned from a small museum.” The Butterfield & Butterfield 1981 auction catalog describes lot 1503 as “box of miscellaneous ancient bronze fragments.” Alleged Smuggler Person(s) who moved the object out of its country of origin. Unknown Facilitator Person(s) involved in the trafficking of the object who did not own or sell it. John Doe #1 (later identified as Joseph David Hackmey) Last Known Price, Valuation or Estimate The most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. Should be displayed in USD, alongside list price in original currency. USD $1,674,000 Year of Last Price Year of the most recent reported price, valuation or estimate of the object. 2014 Year Returned Year of the return of the object to its country of origin. 2021 Returning Entity Institution or individual that returned the object to its country of origin (not a law enforcement agency). Museum of the Bible Receiving Country Country that received the object during repatriation. Select from drop-down list. Iraq Peer Reviewed By Person who peer reviewed this record. VG See Also Additional records within MOLA that are other objects of interest. These are objects related to a larger collection. Breakout records have omitted 2024 Value information and Number of Objects. <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/1264">Museum of the Bible Forfeiture (2017)</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/2143">Museum of the Bible Returns (2000)</a> <a href="https://mola.omeka.net/items/show/2144">32 Papyri Fragments Stolen From the Egyptian Exploration Society</a> Prosecuting Entity The prosecutorial entity involved in the object’s repatriation. US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York Court Case and Number Title of the civil or criminal case and number (e.g. New York v. Subhash Kapoor, CR-022431-19NY). UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v ONE CUNEIFORM TABLET KNOWN AS THE “GILGAMESH DREAM TABLET,” E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CV-2222 (AMD) Law Enforcement Entity The law enforcement entities that investigated the object before its repatriation. Homeland Security Investigation - NY Operation Name The trafficking network, or the name given to investigation by law enforcement entity. Hobby Lobby Case Reason for Return Why the object was returned. Select from list: Law enforcement seizure; court ordered civil forfeiture; claim from country of origin; voluntary return absent a forfeiture or claim; or other. Court ordered civil forfeiture Criminal Behaviors Alleged Criminal behavior associated with the case. Please select all that apply. Document falsification Modern conflict looting Current Location Place where the object is currently held. Provide as much information as possible (Institution, City and Country, when known). Iraq Museum Value in 2024 US Dollars Value in 2024 US Dollars, adjusted for inflation. Use inflation calculator here: https://www.oanda.com/currency-converter/en/?from=EUR&to=USD&amount=1 2,154,927 Images Source of the images uploaded to this record. Images should be labeled A, B, C, etc. For links, use a stable URL via Internet Archive. <a href="http://trobisch.com/david/wb/media/material/Gilgamesh%20tablet_AW.pdf">Image source</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gilgamesh Dream Tablet Hobby Lobby Stores Iraq