by Aldus Marius on Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:55 am
Disclaimer: I didn't look at the whole thing.
Advisory: I couldn't look at the whole thing; my eyes were watering too hard!
The shop sells (let me see if I have this straight) "reproductions" made from "molds" of "original artifacts". Anyone who has tried to make a copy of a copy of a copy will know how muddy that gets. Strangely, none of his items can be sourced beyond "An antiquities dealer in Beaverville". The owner's other interests are King Arthur, "Lost Secrets of the Knights Templar", and the Amazons. He's really proud of having produced things for Hollywood. "Would you buy a used parazonium from this man?" ...Na, I'll pass.
In the circles I run in, if anyone had discovered an entire Attic helmet, Greek or Roman, I'd have heard about it the semester after Mike Bishop [Authority in the Field] did. I'd have remembered it, too, if it'd come out looking as much like those plastic Hallowe'en jobs as that one does. There's the "original artifact" *that* mold was made from...
The rest of the stuff pretty much follows suit. None of it is described in the terms used by archaeologists to make sure they're all talking about the same thing. The art pieces are not Roman in style, let alone accurate for their supposed period. I admit I have no idea what "Romano-Sarmato-Chinese" would look like or how it would end up in Teutoberg Wald, so maybe those bits are accurate...but I wouldn't stake my ring-finger or any amount of money on it.
Gratias tibi, mi Aule, for siccing me on this fraud, albeit unintentionally...and for treating me to a very hearty laugh at the proprietor's expense. >({|;-)
In fide,
Aldus Marius Peregrinus.