The Shocking Betrayal from a once Honored Museum

The Shocking Betrayal from a once Honored Museum

The Shocking Betrayal from a once Honored Museum

Alexis Drakopoulos

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April 1, 2024

Archeology, History

Dr. Takey Crist was a remarkable figure who dedicated his life to defending women's rights, pioneering reproductive education, and preserving his Greek heritage. Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1959 and later earned his medical degree from the UNC School of Medicine in 1965. During his time as an associate professor at the UNC School of Medicine, Dr. Crist participated in informational sessions for women in college dorms, providing valuable fact-based information about women's reproductive health. His innovative approach to sexual health education led to the creation of a column called "Elephants and Butterflies" and a class at UNC.

The Cyprus Museum of Jacksonville

Dr. Takey Crist soon opened the Cyprus Museum in Jacksonville, which opened its doors in 1988, and acquired several cultural artifacts that were at risk of being lost after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

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The modest museum was soon filled with incredible artifacts from Cyprus, and soon after saw visits from key peoples from the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and in 1990 even received a signed letter from the President of Cyprus, George Vassiliou, thanking Dr. Crist for his efforts in preserving the cultural heritage of Cyprus.

The president had a "deep appreciation for the initiative and the hard work of Dr. Takey Crist and all those who have contributed to the establishment of the Cyprus Museum in Jacksonville North Carolina.".

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The museum continued to see success and was even featured in the local news, with Dr. Crist being interviewed about the importance of preserving cultural heritage.

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Sadly, Dr. Crist began to feel ill for an extended period of time, recusing himself from work and museum activities, before passing away in 2023 at the age of 85. During this period, a letter was signed by Dr. Takey Crist pledging that all the contents of the museum were owned legally with the full knowledge of the Cypriot government. It also listed a myriad of officials from the government that had visited and endorsed the museum.

The Department of Antiquities' Support and Endorsement

At the time things seemed fantastic for the Cypriot Government and its Department of Antiquities. A museum had stood for 30 years spreading the culture of Cyprus and preserving its heritage. However, the museum was soon to face a shocking fate.

Over the years, the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus had invested considerable time, resources, and its reputation in endorsing and supporting Dr. Takey Crist and the Cyprus Museum in Jacksonville. Officials from the department, including its director, had made multiple visits to the museum, meeting with Dr. Crist and expressing their gratitude for his tireless efforts in preserving and promoting Cypriot cultural heritage.

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The department saw the museum as a vital outpost for sharing Cyprus' rich history and artifacts with the American public. They provided expertise, guidance, and official endorsement to help the museum thrive. This included sharing knowledge about the historical significance and provenance of the artifacts, advising on proper display and preservation techniques.

The signed letter from the President of Cyprus himself in 1990, thanking Dr. Crist for his initiative in establishing the museum, was a testament to the level of support and appreciation from the Cypriot government. It validated the museum's importance and the department's confidence in entrusting Dr. Crist as a custodian of Cyprus' cultural treasures.

The department's reputation was closely tied to the museum's success. By putting their weight behind it, they signaled that this was a reputable institution housing an authentic and valuable collection of Cypriot antiquities. It elevated the museum's profile and drew visitors eager to engage with Cyprus' storied past.

Shock and Betrayal

Given this long history of support and partnership, the events that unfolded following Dr. Crist's passing came as a shock to the Department of Antiquities. The abrupt closure of the Cyprus Museum in 2018 without any prior notice or consultation was the first blow. For an institution that had stood as a beacon of Cypriot heritage for over three decades, its shuttering came as a surprise. The museum had multiple directors and staff members, it was not immediately clear that the museum would close following a decline in Dr. Crist's health.

The subsequent revelations of the sale and dispersal of the museum's entire collection came as not only a surprise but a betrayal to the Department of Antiquities. The letter signed by Dr. Crist shortly before his death, pledging that all artifacts were legally owned with the full knowledge and blessings of the Cypriot government, had provided a false sense of security. The listed endorsements from government officials, including those from the Department of Antiquities itself, now rang hollow. If anything, the endorsement of the Cypriot government now made these items more valuable to private collectors.

The department was blindsided by the liquidation of the very artifacts they had entrusted to Dr. Crist's care. From their perspective these were irreplaceable pieces of Cyprus' cultural patrimony, each imbued with historical and artistic significance. To learn of their sale to unknown private buyers, scattered to the winds without any regard for their cultural context or the Cypriot people's right to their own heritage, was shocking to say the least.

The Cypriot government tried using the 1970 Unesco Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transport of Ownership of Cultural Property, as well as a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Cyprus and the United States concerning antiquities renewed in 2017 to stop the sale.

A Chilling Effect on Future Collaborations

The fallout from the Cyprus Museum's closure and collection sale will likely reverberate for years to come, casting a pall over the Department of Antiquities' dealings with private collectors and foreign institutions. The breach of trust cannot help but color future interactions.

Going forward, the department will surely be far more cautious and skeptical when approached by private individuals seeking to establish museums or collections focused on Cypriot artifacts. The vetting process will be more rigorous, the legal safeguards more ironclad. Endorsements, if given at all, will be hard-won and contingent on airtight contracts and frequent oversight. Even with such precautions, a sense of wariness will pervade any new partnerships. The specter of another Dr. Crist, another Cyprus Museum fiasco, will loom.

This is a deeply unfortunate outcome, as collaboration between governments, academic institutions, and private enthusiasts can yield tremendous benefits for the study and appreciation of cultural heritage. The sharing of knowledge, resources, and artifacts across borders enriches our collective understanding of the past. By erecting high barriers to such cooperation, all parties lose out.

The Items Sold

The sale of the Cyprus Museum's collection came as a surprise to even private collectors. The collection was vast and included a wide range of artifacts that the price of Cypriot antiquities plumetted with items that were deemed to be worth thousands going for hundreds.

To avoid the items being lost to history within splintered private collections, we have collated them all in our Collections page here.