- Title: Plunder
- Date: 28th May 1995
- Summary: THE PERGAMON ALTAR: THE REMOVAL OF THE FRIEZE OF THE PERGAMON ALTAR BY THE GERMANS WAS ONE OF THE MOST RUTHLESSLY EFFICIENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL COUPS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. NW-J VISITS THE RUINED ACROPOLIS OF PERGAMON, NOW BERGAMA, IN WESTERN TURKEY - THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THE ALTAR. HE DESCRIBES HOW THE FRIEZE, ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE ANTIQUE WORLD, WAS FETED ON ITS ARRIVAL IN BERLIN, AND HOW A SPECIAL MUSEUM WAS BUILT TO HOUSE IT. FOR THE ATTALIDS, RULERS OF PERGAMON, THE SUBJECT OF THE FRIEZE - THE MYTHOLOGICAL TRIUMPH OF THE OLYMPIAN GODS OVER THE GIANTS - CELEBRATED THEIR VICTORY OVER THE GAULS; FOR THE GERMANS IT WAS THE PERFECT SYMBOL FOR THEIR EXPANDING EMPIRE - AND LATER AN IDEAL WORK TO PROMOTE THE AFFINITIES WITH THE ANCIENT GREEKS CLAIMED BY THE NAZIES. TODAY, CONFLICT OVER THE ALTAR CONTINUES. THE MAYOR OF BERGAMA - THE MODERN NAME FOR PERGAMON - SAYS THE GERMANS PLUNDERED THE ALTAR AND HE WANTS IT BACK. NW-J TALKS TO HIM, AND TO THE ALTAR'S CUSTODIANS IN BERLIN ABOUT ITS HISTORY AND POSSIBLE FUTURE.
- Description:WE GO ON THE TRAIL OF THREE CELEBRATED MUSEUM MASTERPIECES TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ENTERED THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIONS AND WHICH LAWS WERE BROKEN TO DO SO.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Documentary and Factual
- Producer:BRIAN LAPPING ASSOCIATES LTD
- Programme Episode:Episode 2
- Transmission Date:28/05/1995
- Rights:On Request
- Decade: 1990s