More than three hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a statue of Zeus of the Greek mythology was carved in marble in ancient Bactria. Bactria was the name of the country and civilization that flourished in Northern Afghanistan since the building of the city of Bakhdi, just south of the River Oxus, where the city of Balkh is located today. Much later the Arabs called this city the mother of cities. The Arian tribes of south central Asia inhabited it. It is believed that this was the very first city in the region that attracted the shepherding Arian tribes to urban living. The city had tall towers and flew colorful flags. This was some 5000 years ago.

It was about two thousand five hundred years later that the lure of the riches of the East brought Alexander the Great to Asia. With him also traveled the Greek God Zeus's image. The image was then carved in marble in a school of art that is known as Greco-Bactrian. This is one of the first schools of art that brings the East and the West together. It is also believed that the statue was about three meters tall. It was a masterpiece that later broke up and its parts remained buried for many centuries. It was only in 1960s that a French Archaeological team excavated the foot at Ai Khanum in Northern Afghanistan. It was kept at Kabul Museum, a small, but extremely rich institution that housed priceless historical relics depicting Afghanistan's history. And because Afghanistan was the gateway to the East, many conquerors, travelers and tribes passed through it and left behind relics of their civilization. Therefore, the museum also housed historical relics of importance to the region and to the world.

The left foot of Zeus is testimony to the fact that Afghanistan not only attracted people from other nations and civilizations but also their gods and goddesses, so much so that Zeus left his heavenly dwelling on Mount Olympus to find his way to the heights of the mighty Hindu Kush.

According to a report by Asahi Shimbun of April 26, 2001, the left foot of Zeus is 28.5 centimeters long, 21 cm wide and includes engravings that symbolize Zeus on the sandal strap that adorns the foot. In 1993 the foot vanished from Kabul Museum. Apparently like hundreds of other priceless relics of the museum, it too was looted during the factional war in Afghanistan. It surfaced last year in Pakistan, where a Japanese art dealer bought it from a Pakistani broker. It is reported that the dealer has said he has bought the artifact because of its immense historical value for safekeeping. He has also graciously agreed to let the foot be exhibited from May 12 at the museum in the Ikebukuro district. The dealer has preferred to remain anonymous, but has together with the Japanese museum authorities in Tokyo decided to return the piece to Afghanistan at an opportune time in the future. This is because of the recent destruction of the Statues of Bamiyan carried out by Taleban who are now believed to be ignorant of the value of art and historical treasures.

Kosaku Maeda, professor of Asian cultural history at Wako University, commented: "I am extremely pleased this artifact is now being protected out of good will. It is important that lost works of art are located quickly and shown to the public. This time around, the art dealer and the museum acted appropriately."

The foot of Zeus serves as just one example of priceless Afghan treasures that were looted and are being looted due to a futile war in the country. Other examples are the destruction of castles, buildings, historical sites, works of art such as books, documents, calligraphy, engravings, complete works of poetry etc. Afghan hawks in great demand by Arab Sheiks are now on the brink of extinction. Woods and forests are cut and destroyed. There is no plan and no effort by those in power to take any appropriate measure for safeguarding of Afghanistan's moral and material wealth. Afghanistan's buried treasures of precious and semiprecious gems and stones have also been looted and the earnings spent on financing the war or on fattening the bank accounts of the warlords and warmongers. The Japanese art dealer should be hailed for his kind heart in saving this masterpiece of art. It is also hoped that UNESCO and other related organizations for the preservation of human art and culture take up practical steps for finding and saving other artifacts that were stolen from Afghanistan. A reward of recognition is in order for the Japanese art dealer now by UNESCO, and later by a true representative government of Afghanistan. 04/27/01