ABSTRACT
Disregard for the works of others may be a sign of contempt – abandoned temples were signs of the triumphant Christianity – or/and crucial for developing a sense of self. Appropriation of the works of other may vary from acts of caring for rightfully inherited things, to usurpation of somebody else’s accomplishments. The establishment of the validity of claims to rightful ownership is also crucial for understanding the psychological implications of appropriation. A look at past events, such as the competition among European nations to acquire antiquities, reveals the complexity of such actions, ranging from the display of trophies to deepest respect towards the society that created them. Restoration of old buildings is also quite ambiguous; it is often motivated by the prospect of appropriation or results into appropriation, either of rather practical or of rather symbolic nature, and may reveal both respect for the buildings restored or a paternalistic attitude towards old things saved and helped survive.
