Might there be some aspect of the identity of this “American born in Egypt” that might make him more likely to treat these sculptures with such contempt? He could be a Coptic Christian who was overcome with anger over not being allowed to see the pope. Or he could be a Muslim who believes that representational art is a temptation to idolatry, and that he must imitate Muhammad in destroying these idols.
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proceeded until he approached the (Black) Stone. He kissed it and circumambulated the Ka’ba. He reached near an idol by the side of the Ka’ba which was worshipped by the people. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had a bow in his hand, and he was holding it from a corner. When he came near the idol, he began to pierce its eyes with the bow and (while doing so) was saying: Truth has been established and falsehood has perished.” (Sahih Muslim 1780a)
If we had any journalists, they would explore this possibility. But we don’t.
“American tourist demands to see pope, smashes two sculptures at Vatican,” by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, October 6, 2022:
An American tourist has been taken into custody after officials say he damaged two ancient Roman sculptures at the Vatican Wednesday afternoon, multiple outlets are reporting.
The incident took place in the Museo Chiaramonti, part of the Vatican Museums, Adnkronos, an Italian news agency in Rome, reported.
The space joins the Palace of the Belvedere to the Vatican Palaces and holds more than 1,000 ancient sculptures and boasts “one of the finest collections of Roman portraits” in the world.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told Adnkronos the tourist, a 65-year-old American born in Egypt, threw two sculptures on two shelves in the gallery to the ground. The tourist, whose name was not released, he said, was later handed over to the Italian authorities to face charges including aggravated damage.
The outlet reported it will take about 15,000 euros (about $14,800 U.S. dollars) and about 300 hours of work to restore the damaged sculptures….
The man had demanded to see the pope, according to Il Messaggero, a newspaper based in Rome, and when he was told he could not, he allegedly hurled one Roman bust to the floor.
As he ran off, with staff in pursuit, he knocked down another, both outlets reported….
somehistory says
“born in Egypt.” Could he be mozlum? No Christian would do damage on purpose.
a later report said that the damage was “minor” and the value of the work was not the highest of the collection…and could be repaired…but of course, money will be involved.
somehistory says
The culprit threw a; head…guess that was a decapitation.
bill carr says
Unless the christian was mentally ill, which is the mitigation normally offered by lawyers of Moose Limbs. I have not much sypmpathy for his hopelessness, who not only sucks up to Moose Limbs but ignores the sufferings of his flock at their hands. There have been some quite awful popes and the bar is set low, but he is trying to join that company
࿗Infidel࿘ says
“Those yanks…. must be something to do w/ their gun & drugs culture” 👿
gravenimage says
’65-year-old American born in Egypt’ demands to see pope, smashes two sculptures at the Vatican
…………………………………….
Of course what they mean but will not say is that he is Muslim.
I have been worried about Muslims targeting the great art collections of the West, especially in Europe.
And if he did this to art, what would he have tried to do to the Pope if he *had* given him an audience? I shudder to think.
abigfan says
Do you think the Pope may have reflected that this bloke’s behaviour is unlikely to have come from a Christian, Atheist, Buddhist or Hindu from Egypt. And that his head was next on this bloke’s list. Process of elimination. “Must be mental illness or am I wrong about the r. of peace!”
We live in hope that the Pope wakes up.
James Lincoln says
Out of curiosity, just wondered what this 65-year-old American wanted to see the dopey Pope FOR…
Larry_Mondello says
The clues are “born in Egypt” and then no further identification. I’m going to go way out on a limb here and say he was a…Muslim. I know, pretty far-fetched.