Stolen Fragments

Roberta Mazza is Associate Professor of Papyrology at the University of Bologna. She previously held positions at the University of Manchester, where she was honorary curator of the Manchester Museum, and at the University of California, Berkeley.

"Stolen Fragments is at once scrupulously researched and cinematic, reading like a proper detective story but with a renowned scholar as the lead investigator and our guide to the murky world of papyrus hunters. This is the definitive book on the multifaceted mummy-liquefying soap opera, starring the Museum of the Bible and a Dickensian cast of always quirky and often shady characters. Roberta Mazza is a rock star of this field, and her book sings with brilliance."—Noah Charney, author of The Thefts of the Mona Lisa: The Complete Story of the World's Most Famous Artwork "Roberta Mazza brings us along as she cuts through the lies and evasions of the collectors who seek to manipulate the past with stolen cultural goods. A dark academia mystery come to life, Stolen Fragments weaves together a history of cultural treasures, with stories about just how poorly we've treated our inheritance."—Erin Thompson, author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments "Roberta Mazza's book is a revelation, and a romp: an entertaining and infuriating account of the illicit trade in papyri, a blistering expose of the dealers, scholars, museums, and auction houses among whom Mazza has lived and worked. Her diligence, bravery, and wit are all on full display."—Joel Baden, author of The Book of Exodus: A Biography "Roberta Mazza has given voice to the thousands of papyri stolen from Egypt, a crime whitewashed under a pretext of scholarship. Her book is a harrowing read as it depicts the violation of a rich cultural heritage, and serves as crucial testimony against those who were complicit and, worse, turned a blind eye. A masterpiece."—Monica Hanna, author of The Future of Egyptology "Roberta Mazza charts the murky, tangled webs of the antiquities trade, raising complex ethical questions about the market in ancient papyri. Stolen Fragments is a compelling account of how and why papyrology has been so easily swept into the illicit global trade in ancient objects."—William Carruthers, author of Flooded Pasts: UNESCO, Nubia, and the Recolonization of Archaeology "Roberta Mazza's investigation was, in and of itself, a stunning feat, comprising thousands of hours and bringing on risks, including physical threats, that would be enough to deter many other people. Stolen Fragments is a record of that work; it reveals industry secrets, draws attention to the importance of preserving human history, and speaks to the necessity of honesty."—Nick Gardner, Foreword "As someone with inside knowledge of New Testament papyrology, Ms. Mazza is rightly incensed. [P]erhaps her greatest anger is reserved for members of her own profession who published unprovenanced Green papyri in pursuit of academic glory."—Hugh Eakin, Wall Street Journal "In many ways, the events documented in Stolen Fragments feel like a true-crime drama. We encounter an impossibly complex network (even for insiders!) of individuals, institutions, artifacts, motivations, and points of view. We know the outcome.... But that outcome is not really the point. It is rather the way in which Mazza depicts the events in all their perplexing detail that makes this story so compelling."—Gregory Fewster, Review of Biblical Literature "For those of us committed to upholding the integrity of the antiquities trade and ensuring that cultural heritage is protected for future generations, Stolen Fragments reinforces the need for greater diligence in combating the illicit trade and serves as a call to action for stronger legal and ethical standards."—Liz Fraccaro, Egyptian Archaeology "For anyone interested in ancient art history, archaeological finds, early texts and how these come to market, this book is necessary reading.... Mazza has managed to dedicate herself to her academic career while using every available moment to monitor and document the stratagems and deceits associated with this corner of the antiquities market."—Eleni Vassilika, Society for the History of Collecting Newsletter

• PrologueOne. Out of EgyptTwo. Biblical BeginningsThree. The Provenance ProblemFour. A Ghostly FragmentFive. The New SapphoSix. eBay PapyriSeven. Turning PointEight. Caves of DeceptionNine. Mark, Born AgainTen. Oxford TheftsEleven. Back to Christie'sEpilogueAcknowledgmentsBibliography and SourcesNotesIndex