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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Marsyas Mike, post: 4493122, member: 85693&quot;]I too dimly recall reading that the closing of the pagan temples in Constantinian times and later was indeed a very profitable move for the powers that be, since the temple treasuries were loaded with loot.&nbsp; Piety or profit?&nbsp; History gets so confusing...</p><p><br /></p><p>Along the same lines I recently read a very good book on Egyptian archaeology where Dynastic tombs were being described.&nbsp; Of course most of them were looted in antiquity. </p><p><br /></p><p>What I did not know was that the robbers were often priests and their minions working in an official capacity to strip the gold and other valuables from older tombs.&nbsp; This was done to fill imperial coffers during times of war, economic troubles, imperial profligacy.&nbsp; Apparently the priests left tags describing the looting - they didn&#039;t call it that, of course.&nbsp; They described what they were doing as rededications, relocations, preservation and security efforts, etc. </p><p><br /></p><p>I don&#039;t have the source at hand, so sorry for the sketchy description.&nbsp; I&#039;m sure there are some Egyptologists on CT who can be more specific and accurate.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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