Search results for "treasure"
showing 10 items of 26 documents
El arte de la platería en la Concatedral de San Nicolás de Alicante
2020
The Co-cathedral of San Nicolás de Alicante still preserves an important treasure of pieces of silverware, ranging from the 17th to the 20th centuries, although the greatest development was known during the 18th century, with sumptuous commissions to the most prominent silversmiths both locally as at regional and national level. In this way, it can be said that the Alicante trousseau is a good example of a temple that, once built, focuses its efforts on the collection of silverware objects that enhance the cult and its ceremonies.
The Significance of Treasure Hunting: Past and Present
2012
It is certainly insufficient to explain treasure hunting as a reaction to poverty or a form of greed and avarice.1 Avarice has been seen as a part of the human condition and thus as a non-historical, that is, a quasi-anthropological constant. Anthropological constants hardly ever help to explain the behaviour of historical people. In our case, an alleged human tendency to accumulate material wealth does not explain why some people engaged in treasure hunting whereas others did not. Why did people look for treasure? Why did they talk about treasure? Why were they willing to suffer the repeated failure of treasure hunts and continue to look for hidden riches?
Defining “National Treasures” in the European Union. Is the Sky Really the Limit?
2019
The main objective of this article is to analyse the scope of EU Member States’ right to determine national treasures for the purpose of Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects. While investigating the issue at the EU, human rights, and constitutional levels, the authors argue that the right to define what constitutes national treasures is not an absolute right. The definition of this particular category of cultural objects cannot be used to circumvent the rules on the free movement of goods and to hamper this freedom in an unjustifiable and arbitrary manner. On the human rights and constitutional levels, Member States’ right cannot interfere with the right to enjoy one’s pos…
Introduction: Treasures and Magic
2012
Treasures were magical. Until the nineteenth century, buried treasures were shrouded with intricate webs of narratives. Most of these narratives had magical elements. Vestiges of that treasure magic have survived. In the summer of 2009, while I worked on this book, the spectacular discovery of an Anglo-Saxon treasure in Staffordshire made headlines. Metal detector enthusiast Terry Herbert, who had searched for treasure troves in vain for years, unearthed about 1500 gold and silver objects dating back to the seventh century. In an interview, Herbert told the press: I have this phrase that I say sometimes — ‘spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear’ — but on that day I changed coi…
Integrated three-dimensional models for noninvasive monitoring and valorization of the Morgantina silver treasure (Sicily)
2016
The Morgantina silver treasure belonging to the Archaeological Museum of Aidone (Sicily) was involved in a three-dimensional (3-D) survey and diagnostics campaign for monitoring the collection over time in anticipation of their temporary transfer to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for a period of 4 years. Using a multidisciplinary approach, a scientific and methodological protocol based on noninvasive techniques to achieve a complete and integrated knowledge of the precious items and their conservation state, as well as to increase their valorization, has been developed. All acquired data, i.e., 3-D models, ultraviolet fluorescence, x-ray images, and chemical information, will be…
Treasure Hunters’ Magic
2012
In the preceding chapter, we dealt with the magical beings that a treasure hunter had to face, his enemies and unreliable helpers. In this chapter, we will take a look at the treasure hunter’s arsenal. What kinds of magic did he use?
The Magical Treasure and Its Guardians
2012
On 17 June 1499, John and Agnes Clerk from Great Ashfield as well as their young daughter Marion had to answer charges before the consistory court of Norwich. The ecclesiastical court had learned that the girl worked as a healer and a soothsayer, and that she claimed she could locate buried treasures. Marion admitted everything immediately, even with an air of self-importance. She said that she got her abilities from God, the Virgin Mary and from the fairies. The ecclesiastical judge seems to have amused himself asking the girl about the details. The fairies, Marion explained, were little people who gave her information whenever she needed it. They did not believe in Jesus and the Holy Spir…
The precious treasure of Mariano Valenza: The history of Ludovico Sicardi and the birth of geochemical volcano monitoring
2020
I was lucky enough to meet Mariano Valenza in September 1995. I was hitchhiking on the highway that leads from Cefalu to Palermo to go back home. I had spent my summer holidays in the beautiful and wild Madonie mountains. An off-road vehicle (a Land Rover Defender) stopped and a refined gentleman with a curious and charismatic gaze offered me a ride. During our journey, we chatted pleasantly and he told he was originally from that area. When I told him, I was a Geology student, he smiled at me and said Then we will meet again soon, I am going to be your Teacher of Geochemistry!. After a few weeks the lessons began and I met again Professor Valenza in Via Archirafi 36, at the University of P…
La financiación de las empresas mediterráneas de Alfonso el Magnánimo. Bailía General, Subsidios de Cortes y Crédito Institucional en Valencia (1419-…
2003
This article studies the role of the General Bailía of Valencia—the office for the management of the royal domain resources of the kingdom of Valencia- in the political and military projects of Alfonso V the Magnanimous in the Mediterranean. In this way its also analysed the role of the Parliament, a class representation of the kingdom, and the city of Valencia, main urban centre The incomes from the royal domain, the donations from the Parliaments as a representative assemblies, and the loans provided by the city of Valencia contributed in a decisive way to the guarantee of the economic viability of Alfonso Vs military expansion. It is right that the main instruments that the king had to a…
Il tesoro recuperato. L’inventario dei beni delle regine di Sicilia confiscati a Manfredi Alagona nel 1393
2007
Partendo dal ritrovamento, presso l’Archivio di Stato di Palermo, di un inventario di beni confiscati a Manfredi Alagona nel 1393, il lavoro ricostruisce il percorso del tesoro delle regine siciliane (Costanza d’Aragona, Maria di Sicilia) che era stato incamerato dagli Alagona, potente famiglia di origine aragonese trapiantata in Sicilia. Uno studio dettagliato degli oggetti inventariati permette l’analisi di vari aspetti legati al costume e alla società sul finire del XIV secolo, dall’abbigliamento alla tavola, dal gusto e la moda del tempo alla cura della persona, dalla passione per i gioielli al culto per le reliquie. Beginning from the discovery, in the “Archivio di Stato” of Palermo, o…