Chasing Aphrodite
@chasingaphrodite.bsky.social
Researching the illicit antiquities trade for two decades as an investigative reporter, author, blogger, tweeter, investigator, founder @MuseumofLoot and now...skeeter?
https://ChasingAphrodite.com/
https://MuseumofLoot.org/
https://AchillesResearch.org/
https://ChasingAphrodite.com/
https://MuseumofLoot.org/
https://AchillesResearch.org/
Pinned
Working on antiquities trafficking, provenance research, collecting ethics, repatriation issues?
I’m building a list here. Ping me if I missed you.
go.bsky.app/MHUgHyF
I’m building a list here. Ping me if I missed you.
go.bsky.app/MHUgHyF
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
What impact did this handful of specialized HSI agents have in recent years?
Working with Manhattan DA's ATU, they helped convict 18 antiquities traffickers, recovered approximately 6,100 antiquities valued at $480 million, and returned approximately 5,770 of them to 32 countries, with more daily.
Working with Manhattan DA's ATU, they helped convict 18 antiquities traffickers, recovered approximately 6,100 antiquities valued at $480 million, and returned approximately 5,770 of them to 32 countries, with more daily.
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 AM
What impact did this handful of specialized HSI agents have in recent years?
Working with Manhattan DA's ATU, they helped convict 18 antiquities traffickers, recovered approximately 6,100 antiquities valued at $480 million, and returned approximately 5,770 of them to 32 countries, with more daily.
Working with Manhattan DA's ATU, they helped convict 18 antiquities traffickers, recovered approximately 6,100 antiquities valued at $480 million, and returned approximately 5,770 of them to 32 countries, with more daily.
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
Denver Post confirms what we’ve been hearing: nearly all federal HSI agents with expertise on cultural property crimes have been reassigned to immigration duties in recent months.
Major loss of law enforcement capabilities in the world’s largest art market.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/u...
Major loss of law enforcement capabilities in the world’s largest art market.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/u...
The U.S. was a leader in cultural heritage investigations. Now those agents are working immigration enforcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the department’s investigative arm, once had as many as eight agents in its New York office investigating cultural property cases.
www.denverpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Denver Post confirms what we’ve been hearing: nearly all federal HSI agents with expertise on cultural property crimes have been reassigned to immigration duties in recent months.
Major loss of law enforcement capabilities in the world’s largest art market.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/u...
Major loss of law enforcement capabilities in the world’s largest art market.
www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
Soft power: At the end of his talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister, Hegseth handed over a leather box, a belt and a small knife — wartime artifacts once taken by U.S. soldiers.
Such returns have become part of broader reconciliation efforts between the two countries
infonews.ca/news/7409764...
Such returns have become part of broader reconciliation efforts between the two countries
infonews.ca/news/7409764...
Hegseth in Vietnam to strengthen defense ties and reassure a cautious partner | iNFOnews.ca
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Vietnam on Sunday, reaffirming a partnership built on healing the scars of the Vietnam War in
infonews.ca
November 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Soft power: At the end of his talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister, Hegseth handed over a leather box, a belt and a small knife — wartime artifacts once taken by U.S. soldiers.
Such returns have become part of broader reconciliation efforts between the two countries
infonews.ca/news/7409764...
Such returns have become part of broader reconciliation efforts between the two countries
infonews.ca/news/7409764...
Billions in treasure lie on the seafloor. Finders keepers?
As treasure hunters pursue gold and silver, they both aid and compete with archaeologists.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
As treasure hunters pursue gold and silver, they both aid and compete with archaeologists.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Billions in treasure lie on the seafloor. Finders keepers?
As treasure hunters pursue gold and silver, they both aid and compete with archeologists.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Billions in treasure lie on the seafloor. Finders keepers?
As treasure hunters pursue gold and silver, they both aid and compete with archaeologists.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
As treasure hunters pursue gold and silver, they both aid and compete with archaeologists.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
A head, a body, and two antiquities dealers...
Have you ever come across this Gudea statue? It's in the Louvre Abu Dhabi now, but until last year it had been in the Louvre Paris since 1953. HOW did get there though?
Let me tell you the story 🕵️♀️🔎👇
www.academia.edu/144706747/Ib...
Have you ever come across this Gudea statue? It's in the Louvre Abu Dhabi now, but until last year it had been in the Louvre Paris since 1953. HOW did get there though?
Let me tell you the story 🕵️♀️🔎👇
www.academia.edu/144706747/Ib...
October 30, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A head, a body, and two antiquities dealers...
Have you ever come across this Gudea statue? It's in the Louvre Abu Dhabi now, but until last year it had been in the Louvre Paris since 1953. HOW did get there though?
Let me tell you the story 🕵️♀️🔎👇
www.academia.edu/144706747/Ib...
Have you ever come across this Gudea statue? It's in the Louvre Abu Dhabi now, but until last year it had been in the Louvre Paris since 1953. HOW did get there though?
Let me tell you the story 🕵️♀️🔎👇
www.academia.edu/144706747/Ib...
A thief or crew of thieves recently carried out one of the largest art heists in California history, breaking into a storage facility for the Oakland Museum of California under the cover of darkness and making off with more than 1,000 precious artifacts.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
'A real violation.' More than 1,000 artifacts stolen from California museum in brazen heist
Items stolen from the Oakland Museum of California included Native American baskets, jewelry, laptops, historic photographs and intricately carved ivory tusks.
www.latimes.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A thief or crew of thieves recently carried out one of the largest art heists in California history, breaking into a storage facility for the Oakland Museum of California under the cover of darkness and making off with more than 1,000 precious artifacts.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
LACMA workers unionize “Many employees are struggling with wages that have not kept up with the rising cost of living in the sixth-most expensive city in the world,” workers wrote in a letter addressed to the museum’s executive team and the board of trustees.”
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
LACMA employees unionize as museum works to open $720-million new building
Employees at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced they are forming a union. The effort comes six months before the opening its new $720-million David Geffen Galleries and just days before it...
www.latimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
LACMA workers unionize “Many employees are struggling with wages that have not kept up with the rising cost of living in the sixth-most expensive city in the world,” workers wrote in a letter addressed to the museum’s executive team and the board of trustees.”
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
🌟The Wildlife Crime Research Hub at the soon-to-be Adelaide University is hiring! 🌟
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or share within your networks! Adelaide is a lovely city and you'll get to see plenty of 🦘🐨🦜!
careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or share within your networks! Adelaide is a lovely city and you'll get to see plenty of 🦘🐨🦜!
careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
Learn more about South Australia's new university for the future.
careers.adelaide.edu.au
October 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
🌟The Wildlife Crime Research Hub at the soon-to-be Adelaide University is hiring! 🌟
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or share within your networks! Adelaide is a lovely city and you'll get to see plenty of 🦘🐨🦜!
careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
If this sounds like you or someone you know, please apply or share within your networks! Adelaide is a lovely city and you'll get to see plenty of 🦘🐨🦜!
careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
New Case: Persephone of Cyrene, contributed by Julia Granato
This ornate marble sculpture of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was looted from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene (Cyrenaica) in Shahhat, Libya during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
This ornate marble sculpture of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was looted from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene (Cyrenaica) in Shahhat, Libya during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
October 28, 2025 at 9:44 PM
New Case: Persephone of Cyrene, contributed by Julia Granato
This ornate marble sculpture of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was looted from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene (Cyrenaica) in Shahhat, Libya during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
This ornate marble sculpture of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, was looted from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cyrene (Cyrenaica) in Shahhat, Libya during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
NYT: Museum’s Treasures to Be Sold as Founder Faces $50 Million Legal Bill
Masterpieces of Asian art held by the Okada Museum of Art in Japan are being auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong to settle a $50 million legal bill by the museum’s “Pachinko King” founder.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/a...
Masterpieces of Asian art held by the Okada Museum of Art in Japan are being auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong to settle a $50 million legal bill by the museum’s “Pachinko King” founder.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/a...
Museum’s Treasures to Be Sold as Founder Faces $50 Million Legal Bill
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
NYT: Museum’s Treasures to Be Sold as Founder Faces $50 Million Legal Bill
Masterpieces of Asian art held by the Okada Museum of Art in Japan are being auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong to settle a $50 million legal bill by the museum’s “Pachinko King” founder.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/a...
Masterpieces of Asian art held by the Okada Museum of Art in Japan are being auctioned by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong to settle a $50 million legal bill by the museum’s “Pachinko King” founder.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/a...
Louvre museum security was outdated and inadequate at time of heist
Nearly two-thirds of rooms are without cameras in some galleries
The Louvre has ample funds, which could have been used for urgently needed improvements of security equipment, govt report found
apple.news/ANJ19C0gNTpe...
Nearly two-thirds of rooms are without cameras in some galleries
The Louvre has ample funds, which could have been used for urgently needed improvements of security equipment, govt report found
apple.news/ANJ19C0gNTpe...
Louvre museum security ‘outdated and inadequate’ at time of heist — The Times and The Sunday Times
The Louvre’s security systems were rated as outdated and inadequate by an official report written before the theft of crown jewels from the museum on Sunday morning. The failings laid bare in the repo...
apple.news
October 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Louvre museum security was outdated and inadequate at time of heist
Nearly two-thirds of rooms are without cameras in some galleries
The Louvre has ample funds, which could have been used for urgently needed improvements of security equipment, govt report found
apple.news/ANJ19C0gNTpe...
Nearly two-thirds of rooms are without cameras in some galleries
The Louvre has ample funds, which could have been used for urgently needed improvements of security equipment, govt report found
apple.news/ANJ19C0gNTpe...
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
Important and detailed analysis on the extent of looting and cultural heritage destruction in the Sudanese Civil War and the heroic work done to document the destruction and protect Sudan's heritage. Also reveals that this year a list has finally been drafted of known looted antiquities from Sudan.
October 20, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Important and detailed analysis on the extent of looting and cultural heritage destruction in the Sudanese Civil War and the heroic work done to document the destruction and protect Sudan's heritage. Also reveals that this year a list has finally been drafted of known looted antiquities from Sudan.
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
Breaking: Thieves broke into the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the French crown jewels.
They targeted two display cases and fled on motor scooters within seven minutes, taking jewelry that had “patrimonial” and “historical” value that made it “priceless.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
They targeted two display cases and fled on motor scooters within seven minutes, taking jewelry that had “patrimonial” and “historical” value that made it “priceless.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
Louvre Closed After Brazen Daylight Robbery
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Breaking: Thieves broke into the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the French crown jewels.
They targeted two display cases and fled on motor scooters within seven minutes, taking jewelry that had “patrimonial” and “historical” value that made it “priceless.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
They targeted two display cases and fled on motor scooters within seven minutes, taking jewelry that had “patrimonial” and “historical” value that made it “priceless.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/w...
A C.I.A. Secret Kept for 35 Years Is Found in the Smithsonian’s Vault…while its author is trying to sell it at auction
“the auction room is a strange place.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/s...
“the auction room is a strange place.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/s...
A C.I.A. Secret Kept for 35 Years Is Found in the Smithsonian’s Vault
www.nytimes.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:02 AM
A C.I.A. Secret Kept for 35 Years Is Found in the Smithsonian’s Vault…while its author is trying to sell it at auction
“the auction room is a strange place.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/s...
“the auction room is a strange place.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/s...
The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist
As many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bigger forces at work?
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
As many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bigger forces at work?
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist
The long read: Between 2022 and 2023, as many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bi...
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The Pushkin job: unmasking the thieves behind an international rare books heist
As many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bigger forces at work?
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
As many as 170 rare and valuable editions of Russian classics were stolen from libraries across Europe. Were the thieves merely low-level opportunists, or were bigger forces at work?
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
Trade based money laundering in the antiquities trade
New Case: Statue of Dionysus, contributed by Emily Hamann
In 1996, this life-size Roman bronze statue of Dionysus was seized from a Swiss warehouse that belonged to Turkish trafficker Nevzat Telliagoglu after he was convicted in the UK of drug trafficking charges.
In 1996, this life-size Roman bronze statue of Dionysus was seized from a Swiss warehouse that belonged to Turkish trafficker Nevzat Telliagoglu after he was convicted in the UK of drug trafficking charges.
October 9, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Trade based money laundering in the antiquities trade
Reposted by Chasing Aphrodite
A Naga-Garuda Balustrade Terminal in the Battambang Museum. Carved in late 12th century it was removed from Banteay Chhmar temple to avoid it being stolen. #Cambodia
October 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A Naga-Garuda Balustrade Terminal in the Battambang Museum. Carved in late 12th century it was removed from Banteay Chhmar temple to avoid it being stolen. #Cambodia
Chasing Aphrodite was stolen by the AI monkeys.
You can now search the Anthropic database for your books 📚 and then file a claim directly if your work was stolen: secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Chasing Aphrodite was stolen by the AI monkeys.
Inside the Battle for The Smithsonian
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/i...
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/i...
Inside the Battle for The Smithsonian
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
www.vanityfair.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Inside the Battle for The Smithsonian
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/i...
Donald Trump’s unprecedented measures to take control of The Smithsonian Institution have rattled staffers, enraged artists, and even put the future of its vast collection in doubt.
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/i...
“Optical due diligence” remains the coin of the realm in the art market, with Art Loss Register profiting off the illusion.
Looted objects are not registered as stolen, so they’re not in stolen art databases like ALR!
NYT should do better than to promote this myth
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...
Looted objects are not registered as stolen, so they’re not in stolen art databases like ALR!
NYT should do better than to promote this myth
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...
Collecting Antiquities Is a Growing Trend. But It Can Be Tricky.
www.nytimes.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:44 AM
“Optical due diligence” remains the coin of the realm in the art market, with Art Loss Register profiting off the illusion.
Looted objects are not registered as stolen, so they’re not in stolen art databases like ALR!
NYT should do better than to promote this myth
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...
Looted objects are not registered as stolen, so they’re not in stolen art databases like ALR!
NYT should do better than to promote this myth
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/a...
Six years after admitting its 14 fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls were forgeries, the Museum of the Bible is borrowing the real deal from Israel
www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news...
www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news...
The Dead Sea Scroll Exhibition with the Oldest Biblical Texts Arrives at Museum of the Bible in November 2025
www.morningstar.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Six years after admitting its 14 fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls were forgeries, the Museum of the Bible is borrowing the real deal from Israel
www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news...
www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news...
Nine days after launching a virtual museum that documents crimes by the Assad regime against prisoners, activist and journalist Amer Matar was arrested and confined overnight by Syrian authorities.
www.icij.org/news/2025/09...
www.icij.org/news/2025/09...
Syrian authorities arrest and briefly detain prominent activist as country’s president makes UN debut - ICIJ
Amer Matar, the Syria Prisons Museum co-director and a former political prisoner whose testimony helped secure the first international war crimes conviction against a Syrian official, was held after a...
www.icij.org
October 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Nine days after launching a virtual museum that documents crimes by the Assad regime against prisoners, activist and journalist Amer Matar was arrested and confined overnight by Syrian authorities.
www.icij.org/news/2025/09...
www.icij.org/news/2025/09...
So far, about 4,000 antiquities have been counted missing in Sudan. 700 pieces disappeared from museums in the cities of Nyala and El GeneinaI, where the museum’s curator was killed when the building was shelled
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
Sudan preservationists struggle to restore country's shattered cultural treasures
The shattered remains of antique pottery and shards of ancient statues lie among broken glass and bullet casings at Sudan’s National Museum, not far from where the Blue and White Nile meet in the capital Khartoum.
www.reuters.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:08 AM
So far, about 4,000 antiquities have been counted missing in Sudan. 700 pieces disappeared from museums in the cities of Nyala and El GeneinaI, where the museum’s curator was killed when the building was shelled
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
How millennia of history vanished in Sudan's war
Last spring, a group of foreigners were arrested in Sudan with antiquities in their possession. Another group in Egypt offered to return looted antiquities in exchange for money.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Last spring, a group of foreigners were arrested in Sudan with antiquities in their possession. Another group in Egypt offered to return looted antiquities in exchange for money.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
How millennia of history vanished in Sudan's war
In the scorched courtyard of Sudan's National Museum in Khartoum, a towering black granite statue of Kush Pharaoh Taharqa now stands alone, surrounded by shards of broken glass and shattered stone.Sin...
www.al-monitor.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:40 PM
How millennia of history vanished in Sudan's war
Last spring, a group of foreigners were arrested in Sudan with antiquities in their possession. Another group in Egypt offered to return looted antiquities in exchange for money.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Last spring, a group of foreigners were arrested in Sudan with antiquities in their possession. Another group in Egypt offered to return looted antiquities in exchange for money.
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
A Rush to Save Ancient Artifacts in Gaza Highlights All That Has Been Lost
A bombing delay enabled rescue of some objects, but archaeologists fear the wider loss of antiquities from the many cultures living there over thousands of years.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/w...
A bombing delay enabled rescue of some objects, but archaeologists fear the wider loss of antiquities from the many cultures living there over thousands of years.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/w...
A Rush to Save Ancient Artifacts in Gaza Highlights All That Has Been Lost
www.nytimes.com
September 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
A Rush to Save Ancient Artifacts in Gaza Highlights All That Has Been Lost
A bombing delay enabled rescue of some objects, but archaeologists fear the wider loss of antiquities from the many cultures living there over thousands of years.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/w...
A bombing delay enabled rescue of some objects, but archaeologists fear the wider loss of antiquities from the many cultures living there over thousands of years.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/w...