Dirk Obbink

[malkhos]

I see that Dirk Obbink has been arrested.

Despite his name, he comes from Nebraska. He is also the world's leading expert on Greek Papyri.

In the late 1890s an organization called The Egypt Exploration Society excavated the garbage dump in a town called Oxyrhhynchus in the Fayum in Egypt. Among other things, it contained all the book and papers that

Comments

[claidheamhmor]

That was really interesting, thank you. Such a fall from grace.

Did he sell to the owner of Hobby Lobby?

[malkhos]

Yes. I didn't dwell on what is in the linked article.

[daphnep]

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
I know this story from the other direction, the so-called “museum” they tried to found before the IRS seized their stolen “collection”, so they had to proceed without artifacts, creating a “digital experience” etc etc. It’s all filled with scandal, every which way. The museum scandals continue right through to this day. They can’t keep any respectable professional staff (very abusive environment) so they keep increasing what they’ll pay for newly hired positions, and now it’s turning into a boondoggle for museum professionals-if you think your reputation and stomach are both sound enough to handle it, people will go there for a year or two to make bank for a bit in the field, but the fear is that you’ll be tainted for better jobs afterwards.

Hmm, that’s all going to change now...people will just be grateful for any museum job, anywhere.

[malkhos]

Sounds like they might be desperate enough to hire me.

[benicek]

The Guardian left out the bit about the Iraq loot.

[malkhos]

He bought 4000 cuneiform tablets from Isis. Although the joke was on him since he paid them for 5500. They are all back in Iraq now (a wonderful solution since there are no scholars there to read them) and he paid a 3 million dollar fine. Then got in touch with Obbink.

[vonjunzt]

I have been following the story, but didn't know the details of his character. Interesting anecdote. Sadly many professors are just that bitter, even the ones who came of age when academics were privileged enough to be able to loom forward to tenured jobs. But as shameful as what he did is, I can imagine someone brilliant who devoted his life to such scholarship looking ruefully on as others make much more money in business while he has trouble keeping up with his bills.