Idrimi: a 3,500-year-old refugee from Aleppo | Curator's Corner S2 Ep 5

[@britishmuseum]

Want to find out more about Idrimi and the scanning techniques being used to spread his blessing around the world? Jamie Fraser has written a blog you might just be interested in: blog.britishmuseum.org/idrimi-the-3500-year-old-refugee/

[@leonardniamh]

The British Museum Please rethink your presentation & add respect

[@mikeappleget482]

You should’ve said “Habiru” instead of “outcasts”. Idrimi chilled with the Habiru (and the Shasu of YHW, imo) for 7 years in Canaan.

[@donnaspear8494]

Are you any relation to the real James Fraser of Scotland?

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you!

[@mudfossiluniversity]

Please contact me I have DNA proven Giant Humans and much more. 8 years of deep research that overthrows EVERYTHING. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5uQpH6JhtF8j7M

[@sabriele]

Wait why do we have to remember the six older brothers I thought they were gonna come back into the story sometime

[@therealb888]

lol

[@billyt.of.WV.]

yeah!!

[@quixotic4233]

Looked up the official translation. Apparently they reappear in the story later on: "My brothers heard of this [military victory] and came to me. My brothers and I swore mutual alliance; I placed my brothers under my protection." It says some scholars think Idrimi was exaggerating his own successes and how big of a place he was king of, given he also says elsewhere, "I made my regime like the regime of kings. I made my brothers like royal brothers, my sons like their sons and my relatives their relatives. The inhabitants who were in my land I made to dwell securely, and even those who did not have a dwelling I settled." This may imply those other 'Kings' were equally important in the victories and Idrimi simply out lived them all so he could build statues and take credit for it. It may have been a smaller, more equal society than is implied; all 7 brothers collaborating and contributing, more like 7 city counselors than 7 independent Kings, as we use the term King today denotes more unilateral power.

[@katiekat4457]

sabriele oh yeah. Why did we need to know that. I wonder if they later edited it out without realizing that they left us hanging.

[@nashvillain171]

Seven brothers. It must be the seven years he had to wait.

[@suzaynnschick158]

Anyone who can spread the word from someone who lived more than 3,000 years ago is truly doing good work.

[@kayrosis5523]

Congrats Idrimi, no idea what you were like when you lived, probably a thorough shit by today's standards, but you achieved your dream of being remembered far longer into the future than anyone you knew and far longer than even greater men than yourself.

[@kaashee]

That’s the face I make when I realise I left the cooker on at home

[@beautyforashes2022]

Wow, this was so fascinating. I love when they find statues or stones with someone's story on it and they're speaking to you from thousands of years in the past. So many people and histories that have gone before us, it makes me feel small in that sense.

[@davidadams6863]

I work with a refugee from Syria, and found this story completely compelling. Thank you~☆

[@MarvelDcImage]

In the ancient world - Homer speaks on this - being remembered was what was considered a form of life after death.

[@alexramirezstudios8753]

"So long as men can breathe and eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee." Shakespeare Sonnet 18

[@Tacunga1]

Beautiful piece, one just has to admire and love the passion that Fraser is bringing to its story! Great Job!

[@jainck4]

Thanks for doing this. It's a real treat to be able to see these artifacts and statues that speak so much about our past. and thanks too, because I'm in Canada and I can see all these amazing things. This is great. I am going to look at Jamie Fraser's Blog now. This is the internet at its best.

[@sherylcrowe3255]

Absolutely love these segments! Thank you so much for posting.

[@KAhmed]

yessssssssssssss

[@taroman7100]

I love the British Museum. I could camp out there! I remember this guy in the case but had no idea he had such a fascinating story.

[@Andre-hu7nm]

Idrimi seems to have been more of a badass conqueror than a refugee. Amazing video

[@bruceschneider4928]

Excellent history! But the best part about the video is Jamie's enthusiasm.

[@donelmore2540]

I love Curator’s Corner! I run across it by accident from time to time and it’s always educational and entertaining. Many Thanks!!

[@nosuchthingasshould4175]

Great story, but why do I feel like he may have been a thoroughly unpleasant character?

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

Because he was a king

[@CanalTremocos]

@@Hobbyrepubliken He left his family, gathered a group of brigands and invaded someone else's kingdom. Not the best origin story for an enlightened ruler.

[@kayrosis5523]

He was a Near Eastern King, that's par the course.

[@PalmettoNDN]

@@CanalTremocos - Sounds like the story of North America

[@dorianphilotheates3769]

nosuchthingasshould - Yeah, I think you’re right - Idrimi looks like a douche...

[@Spiegelgeist]

Thanks for the awesome story! History owns!

[@mr.toucan1471]

Thank you, Idrimi.

[@guepardo-kg2wr]

In one of my first long visits to the Museum, I was so tired that I stayed resting sitted on the bench in fronnt of Idrimi for more than 30min. From then on, he is a kind of old friend.

[@curtisdurell9724]

These videos are brilliant. Please keep them coming!

[@dianehall2248]

I would love to visit the British Museum.

[@Ealsante]

*3,500 years after everything* *Phone notification noises* Idrimi, you have received a blessing!

[@jya5467]

The work your team is doing is awesome.

[@rohinimorey1115]

The blessing is today's version of a chain post. Idrimi over here knowing how the work the system 3500 years later

[@trailingarm63]

Great story and great presentation. I'm amazed at Idrimi's subsequent success. Especially taking on cities within the Assyrian empire. You would have thought the Assyrians could easily crush a cocky, nascent city state if they made it a priority. He must have been one hell of a tough dude - or a very shrewd negotiator - or both!

[@inessamaria2428]

Knowledge is priceless.

[@alexisbannerman9491]

Fantastic story! this curator is excellent :)

[@coreygrua3271]

An ancient object humanized in many creative ways. Bravo Mr. Fraser!

[@markkeeper7771]

A refugee from Aleppo I am, and this was awe inspiring...

[@Anomaly-uz9pr]

Interesting since you posted this comment on the internet you as well will be remembered for as long as the internet exists in some form or another.

[@markkeeper7771]

@@Anomaly-uz9pr i can feel that you're high, cuz i'm high too. let the internet remember that

[@Anomaly-uz9pr]

@@markkeeper7771 I am indeed fellow internet stranger I wish you well

[@markkeeper7771]

@@Anomaly-uz9pr this might be a proof that humans are one, a connection that exists deep within us. one subconscious that governs our interpretation of reality, that subconscious that contains all the filters that we all share, the filters that we use to interpret the world that is. And through that same subconscious I was able to interpret your comment, and feel on a deeper level your state of mind, which I was sharing and experiencing at the same time!

[@anthonyandrew3032]

Only just come across Curators Corner ,and all who live thair ,love love love it

[@carlingnugent]

The swag on this curator is next level 😍

[@AnuarAzar]

The year is 2020, Idrimi came back to life after all the world read his life history, his rule is just, the world is a better place

[@yaimamartinez9576]

Anuar Azar 2017 now, I don't think we are going in the right direction to be a better place

[@ithrilzyne4542]

Yaima Martinez hence his return

[@Alusnovalotus]

Anuar Azar i dream of Idrimi

[@lukpisimoh]

@@yaimamartinez9576 Funny you were saying that, seeing how 2018 is turning out

[@yaimamartinez9576]

@@lukpisimoh I think I can predict the future after all... 😲

[@astro-tbo9322]

One of the best videos of the "curator" series, and that's saying something.

[@TheSaneHatter]

A remarkably sophisticated piece of both artwork and history.

[@m.f.richardson1602]

Thank you.

[@deborahmelo7993]

That is amazing! O wait every day to come home and watch one video from this channel! It is wonderful

[@simon995pci]

thanks for the blessing idrimi

[@ianiles1722]

Thank you from the year 2020, Idrimi

[@raspberryblood]

Jamie Fraser? the first that came to my mind was Outlander :D

[@stephsmanicshenanigans8017]

Nina Sukarsono yes he is an imposter

[@snufflesboi03]

Ikrr i died

[@bkohatl]

Footnotes sometimes make the best histories and describe the most interesting characters. I remember as a schoolboy in the US reading Richard Burton's scandalous footnotes. Tell Idrimi it was a pleasure meeting him.

[@snowmiaow]

Love it. Its like a personal guided tour.

[@taroman7100]

so fascinating I love this!

this dudes magic actually worked... impressive

[@AnisHamadeh]

Fine video in the most positive tradition of British schloarship, bravo! The whole Curator's Corner series is excellent: history with passion. To be added is the fact that the artefact at hand is written in Akkadian, the first known Semitic language.

[@Jason1975ism]

Look on the bottom of his shirt, 'Matt Groening' is clearly visible.

[@Touphnya]

The statue shows a vintage concept of sharing in ways we do every day like school yearbook signatures. " You a beast Nathan, F- anyone who tries to say anything different -Tim, High school student 2011" They also can't all right, they thank the person who did the inscriptions. This is literally elementary, my dear Watson. This statue is a period dated facebook status with comments. And they even thank the facebook guy filtering their feed.

Great vid

[@katiekat4457]

I love the expression on this character. Except for where is looks like there are tears running down his eyes. Interesting as always from the BM

[@Whoiskevinjones]

Blessings to Idrimi. 🙏

[@sophiejones7727]

am I the only one who thinks this would be a great movie?

[@edpark]

That's so fantastic.

[@matthewriffel188]

Idrimi is an archetypal badass. Great video.

[@GraemeMarkNI]

That’s an amazing story; I was transfixed!

[@recurf7492]

Peoples lives are forgotten with time, but the objects they create can live forever.

[@ahmarsaeed6085]

Fascinating!

[@sneeringimperialist6667]

Wait... He wasn't just a refugee, he went back and reconquered his homeland as a king!

[@bobjohnbowles]

Next time you hear about a refugee somewhere in this world, remember that. In our time there are several million refugees from Syria, where Aleppo is.

[@markkeeper7771]

@@bobjohnbowles A refugee from Aleppo I am, and this was awe inspiring...

[@rochelleb973]

wow, this was very interesting

[@johnslaughter5475]

I would love to have seen Dr. Finkel with you to do some on the spot translation.

[@SouthPoleAntarctica]

exiled warlord turned into a bandit having divine vision. At least this one has a physical image of himself :)

[@rexmundi3108]

I think you have avoided the curse. And gained the blessing.

[@neferchitty]

I'm in love with your corner

[@snowmiaow]

Would like to know more about his clothes and the box.

[@rzrx1337]

Idrimi was a cunning bastard, he should've been a lawmaker instead of a warlord.

[@sandracasey6794]

Interesting & great fun.

[@keithrosenberg5486]

A refuge from Aleppo huh? The more things change...........

[@Noorthia]

That is actually very cool

[@s.klarsson2755]

God, i fucking love history!

[@Rajalord27]

awesome

[@bc8624]

Well, i was in Hatay Arcelogy museum, and saw a video about idrimi life story, and it was written that status taken by British Museium, thats the reasion why i watch this video. By the way idrimi's status taken from Hatay ( city in Turkey)

[@beavis6363]

And here it reads "I was awesome, don't forget me".

[@abreknoxcho]

A 3,500 year old refugee? but his documents clearly state he is 14

[@aspektx]

Very cool.

[@SamFreelancePolice]

This Idrimi fella is about to get ultra blessed and turn into a god

[@AnnieNYC1]

And those six older brothers we were to remember? ?????

[@Skibbityboo0580]

The curse reads "He who removes this my statue, , may the sky verfluchen, may his seed be closed in the underworld, may the Gods of sky and earth divide his kingdom and his country! He who always changes it, in any way whatever, may Teshub, the lord of the sky and the earth and the great gods in his land, destroy his name and his descendants! "

[@TheSeanoops]

We’re all blessing Idrimi then.

[@JGAbstract]

"wanna know how i got these scars?"

[@tonobe09]

Wow! Ancient Syria is awesome just like the Pre-islamic Arabia and other cultures of the Ancient Levant.

[@electrojones]

Set out a 3D print of the statue on the floor near the glass case, so children and adults can interact with it and feel the carving, ya Jabronies.

[@Dxco31]

meanwhile in heaven jesus: well well well, you got so many blessing lately, idrimi idrimi: are you jealous bro?

[@lacey3880]

Best thing..is..humble

[@chrisjbernier]

blessed be

[@kevgermany]

Thanks. Fascinating. Anyone else think the Simpsons characters were styled after him?

[@maruthanilaththon]

inspiration for Moses story? just wondering!

[@scienceexplains302]

Down the side of his head implies he is hearing it, correct, not speaking it. Indeed, they involve blessings upon him. Of course, the text is still coming from him either way.

[@bennyturbo]

How did it end up at the british museum then?

[@koenkeep]

theft by british imperialist, as usual

[@christianround2774]

Well if it was still in Syria ISIS might have destroyed it. So be grateful the Levant's greatest treasures aren't there.

[@koenkeep]

If the british imperialist didn't create an artificial country where the people hated each other, isis wouldn't be there in the first place.

[@christianround2774]

Islamic civilisations were destroying their own cultural heritage for "idolatry" long before the British got there. You can go on all you like about how these objects were "stolen" but the fact of the matter is the BM can look after them far better than their own countries so it's probably for the best that they were stolen. Honestly, look what Isis did to Palmyra, Nimrud, the Minaret of Anah, and Dair Mar Elia. What the Taliban did to the Bamiyan Buddhas, what the Saudis did to the Ajyad Fortress, What Egyptian rioters did to the Cairo Museum and Islamic Art Centre in 2011. Not to mention the countless Asian and African artifacts stolen, sold off, destroyed or kept in the collections of Tyrants and Oligarchs, not open to public viewing or to enhance our cultural legacy. Better off we have it, I don't trust these "rightful owners" one iota.

[@koenkeep]

Right, but the Taliban happened after the invasion of the soviet union, was it not? And ISIS was created after a power vacuum left by the americans, was it not? And yes, there were some riots in egypt, but the people explicitly protected the Egyptian museum, which still stands, does it not? The british museum is literally filled with treasure looted from colonized countries, and yet you still claim moral superiority. It's not really 'cool' to point out mistakes if you don't take responsibility. You have destroyed the social fabric of the arab world, which was once part of the Ottoman empire, known for its tolerance for other religions and peoples. You selectively shop in history. It doesn't make you look smart or well informed.

[@iansutton8802]

Yeah yeah yeah but what about the six brothers? It’s keeping me awake at night.

[@edlechleiter7042]

What is the language of the inscription ?

[@lacey3880]

Did .. Mr finkle .. Do something similar

[@SamFreelancePolice]

I wonder if there's a complete translation of the inscriptions available somewhere

[@snowmiaow]

My detergents clean my biofilms just fine.

[@za7840]

i love aleppo

[@KKovacsUSN]

They can 3D print it too.

[@IamAvidity]

hopefully Idrimi uses all his new blessings wisely.

[@papagarth]

I wonder what Idrimi means

[@solsdadio]

27,199 blessings so far.

[@johnifity]

I think he might also like to be returned to his native Syria. Strikes me that a refugee might not like that his legacy has been made a spoil of war.

[@davidbennett9691]

Sounds like this might be an origin of the Joseph-and-his-brothers story.

[@philippecolas4646]

does Idrimi"s curse protect the text digital aswell or only physical changes?

[@sophiejones7727]

do you want to find out the hard way? :D

[@philippecolas4646]

No