JAKARTA — In the mid-19th century, Dutch colonial officials climbing an Indonesian volcano spotted an ancient statue meant to serve as protection against misfortune, looted it, and took it to the Netherlands.
Today, the volcanic rock likeness of the Hindu god Ganesha, bearing four arms and the head of an elephant, stands tall inside Indonesia's National Museum in the capital Jakarta.The country is repatriating hundreds of similarly pillaged treasures, reclaiming parts of its history lost to looting under its former colonial ruler from the late 17th century to independence in 1945.
As of mid-December, 828 cultural items have been returned to Indonesia from the Netherlands, according to the Indonesian Heritage Agency.They represent a mosaic of tradition, culture and craftsmanship from across the Southeast Asian archipelago nation — from coins and jewelry to textiles and weapons.The Netherlands government has pledged to return cultural artifacts stolen during more than three centuries of Dutch control, based on a 2020 recommendation from a government advisory committee.
Embrace Plundered Treasure's Return
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