Treasure is a wonderful word. It conjures up images of jewels and gold and coin of the realm. It adorns classic novels like Treasure Island and classic movies like Treasure of the Sierra Madre. And if we add a second word to create the evocative phrase “treasure hunt,” then heroes, heroines, and the Walter Mitty’s among us just might throw ourselves into an adventure.
And with reason. Our atavistic selves are drawn to hunts; our higher functioning brains like challenges, especially if a secret is involved. In fact, for some folks, the payoff to finding lost treasure can be greater than the riches involved – besides the loot, they win the psychological prize of doing something no one else has ever done.
I love this stuff. I write spy thrillers, which means I also write about geopolitics, culture, romance, secrets, and, whenever I can, missing treasures. Here are five of my favorites lost treasures:
The Amber Room
It was said that when the afternoon light shone through the tall windows of the Amber Room, the walls shimmered and glowed as if alive. The reason? A fortune in amber mosaics and carved amber figurines blanketed every square inch, while gold-encrusted mirrors reflected the lush beauty back upon itself. Created in the early 1700s in Prussia, the Amber Room grew politically important in 1716 when Prussian King Frederick William I gave it to Peter the Great of Russia to memorialize their alliance against Sweden. Some 200 years later, the room became prize World War II plunder, stolen by the Germans and shipped off to Königsberg Castle. It was at the war’s end that it disappeared. Some believe the room was destroyed when the Allies bombed the castle, while others think it was dismantled and hidden in a salt mine or cave, where appropriate humidity and temperature would preserve it. Today the Amber Room remains one of the world’s most significant and stunning vanished treasures.
The Treasure on the Mary Dear
In 1820, Lima, Peru, was a rich city boasting treasures valued at some $60 million, including a life-size gold statue of Mary holding baby Jesus. But the city was near revolt. The Spanish viceroy hired William Thompson, captain of the merchantman Mary Dear, to transport the city's wealth to Mexico for safekeeping. Instead, once at sea, Thompson ordered the viceroy’s guards killed and thrown overboard. Sailing on to the Cocos Islands, the crew anchored and buried the treasure. Not long afterward, the Mary Dear was captured, and the crew was convicted of piracy. All but Thompson and his first mate were hanged. To save their lives, the two promised to reveal where the treasure was buried and led their captors back to the island. But once in the jungle, they escaped. Since then, more than 300 expeditions have tried to locate the lost treasure of the Mary Dear, but to no avail.
Ivan the Terrible’s Library of Gold
Known for his horrific temper and paranoia, Ivan the Terrible of Russia had another side: He built the eternal St. Basil’s Cathedral, introduced the printing press, and kept artists, craftsmen, and poets on staff. He allegedly also inherited from his grandmother Sophia some 800 illuminated manuscripts covered with gold and gems. Sophia was an heir to the last Byzantine emperor, and her priceless collection was all that remained of the legendary Constantinople Library, saved before the Turks routed the city. Over the years, Ivan invited luminaries from Europe to view it, and they returned home to spread word of its magnificence. But when Ivan died in 1584, the library disappeared. Although there has been debate whether the library ever existed, historians and notables have searched for it for centuries. Among those were Peter the Great, Napoleon, Vatican emissaries, and even Vladimir Putin.
The Secret Grave of Genghis Khan
When the fabled warrior died in 1227, his body was returned to Mongolia, probably close to his birthplace near the Onon River. According to legend, the funeral escort killed anyone who saw the body being transported, and when the tomb was finished, the slaves who built it were murdered, too. Nothing was left to mark the grave, even though Genghis Khan had founded the Mongol Empire and conquered most of Eurasia. For centuries he’s been eulogized in myth, poetry, and song, and the hunt for his tomb has long attracted those fascinated by his remarkable life and accomplishments. One was Maury Kravitz, the famous Wall Street commodities trader, who financed and led four excursions into Mongolia. Still, the Great Khan’s final resting place is likely never to be found. If legend is to be believed, the soldiers who had murdered everyone who might know about the tomb also killed one another, the last man taking his own life.
Saddam Hussein’s Missing Billions
Few people know that Saddam Hussein’s first job in politics was as an assassin for Iraq’s Baath Party. He was only 20 years old but soon was known as a shaqawah, a man to be feared. By the time he was 42 years old, he was president. He quickly nationalized the banks and oil companies and began skimming profits. His wealth grew more from bribes and kickbacks on contracts to build superhighways, hospitals, schools, hotels, shopping malls, and office complexes. At the time of his execution, his fortune was estimated to be between $40 and $70 billion, but the United States and its allies have been able to recover only a few billion. Sources believe the money is hidden in dummy corporations in Switzerland, Japan, and Germany, and as cash and diamonds in numbered bank accounts in Europe and the Middle East. The search for Saddam’s vanished billions is considered by some to be the greatest treasure hunt since the post–World War II pursuit of Nazi gold.
And there you have my choices of favorite lost treasures. Through them we see peace and war, adventurers and rulers, the meaning of relentless power, times of wealth, and times of deprivation. The treasures may be missing, but their stories remain with us, and all are rich in culture and history.
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The Assassins Comment Sweepstakes: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 United States, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 years or older as of the date of entry. To enter, complete the “Post a Comment” entry at http://five-fascinating-lost-treasures-of-the-world-gayle-lynds-the-assassins beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) June 18, 2015. Sweepstakes ends 11:59 a.m. ET June 29, 2015. Void outside the United States and Canada and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules here. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010.
Gayle Lynds is the bestselling, award-winning author of ten international espionage novels, including The Book of Spies, The Last Spymaster, andMasquerade. Library Journal calls her “the reigning queen of espionage fiction.” She is a member of the Association for Former Intelligence Officers and cofounder (with David Morrell) of ITW (International Thriller Writers).
I didn’t know about all of the six treasures you noted above. It is just amazing what people with too much money conceive to do with it. That Amber Room sounds just amazing!
Interesting history, didn’t know most of this.
I love these stories. I find them more fascinating than fiction.
IMO, this book needs a link in this thread to where an interested reader can purchase it. There is no link to “The Assassins” in this thread as of the time that I posted this comment
@madeas Gayle Lynds’ new thriller, The Assassins, will be released on June 30th. Until then, you can pre-order it from your favorite bookseller, and very good luck!
Count me in.
Love the history! Book sounds fascinating.
Enjoyed the story of the “Lost Treasures”.
I hope I win these!
After reading The Amber Room by Steve Berry (fiction) I had to visit Russia to see the restored room. It was magnificent. I later read The Amber Room: The Fate of the World’s Greates Lost Treasure by Cathy Scott-Clark (non-fiction) which was very interesting. Like all missing treasure of this nature they are many theories as to its final location.
I did not know about all of these. You always have interesting articles.
[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/186654.The_Amber_Room?from_search=true&search_version=service] [/url]
Sounds like an intresting read.
Assassins do not need this book but I do! Yes!
Oak island! The search continues for the worlds greatest treasure.
Very interesting. I would like to know more about these treasures.
Fascinating topic… Thank you for the article and the opportunity!
Cool article, I had never heard of the Amber Room or Ivan the Terrible’s Library of Gold before.
The search for lost treasures is always fascinating. I wonder how many lost treasures exist that we don’t even know about.
Hope I win; thanks for the chance
Would love to win!
interesting stories
The book looks interesting. I want to read it.
Well this is different, but looks good to read this summer
Thanks again for all the info.
This should be a fascinating read. Who doesn’t like a missing treasure.
I love reading stuff like this!
I would like this.
I would like to win this one. Thank You.
The stories are indeed fascinating. Thanks for the opportunity.
sounds interesting. Count me in
looks like a fun one!
Very interesting post
Hi, I actually knew nothing about any of these
treasure troves! I have read; recently, that they may have found The City of Atlantis, underwater, somewhere.
Many thanks for the chance to win your book!
Cindi ????
I hope I win! This is a great giveaway. Thanks for the chance.
Lost or buried treasure will always be fascinating–didn’t know about the Library of Gold
Can’t wait to read it! Love the Amber Room.
Fascinating! Can’t wait to read the book.
Very interesting!
Count me in, please!
Fascinating. I had heard of some of these, but not all of them.
Who doesn’t love the idea of lost treasure, waiting to be found. Loved learning about these six, which I’d never heard of before. Your book sounds very interesting, as well!
I would love to win this book.
You only have to have watched the news to see brazen example after brazen example of outrageous thefts in war zones or elsewhere. I’d have to figure out who the good guys are in “The Assassins” so I can root for them.
Very interesting.
Looking forward to reading “The Assaaains” especially ater reading a sample of Lynds work on the lost treasures.
I’m looking forward to reading this one. Love the premise. I had never heard of the lost grave of Genghis Khan. I love stories that combine history and fantasy.
Wow! That was very interesting. I didn’t know about most of these treasures that are missing. I was especially interested in Saddam Hussein’s billions. I can’t believe how hard it is to find it now.
Sounds like a fascinating read, would love to have!
Love books based on history and facts and this sounds like a good read.
I love reading about lost treasures. It shows somethimes things about lost cultures. My treasures are books.
Enjoyed reading about these treasures. The book sounds interesting.
What is better than treasure hunts?
sounds like a fun one
sounds like a good read. thanks for the chance to win it and find out
Enjoyed the facts about the other bits of history listed above. Thank you for the giveaway of ‘The Assassins’ by Gayle Lynds.
All of these sound interesting. I look forward to reading them.
Thanks for this giveaway!
The Amber Room is one of my favorite lost treasures of history.
Thanks for the opportunity to win Gayle’s book!
looks great.
This sounds fascinating. Thank you for the giveaway!
Fascinating stuff. Now I know what to do for our summer vacation!
looks good
Have never read Gayle Lynds – but sure would like to.
Seems like an interesting read. I hope I win.
I’ve been reading Gayle’s books for years and enjoy them immensely! They’re all gems. I like reading about treasure and ships. I’m feenin’ for BLACK SAILS. lol! Would love to win ASSASSINS. IT’S PROBABLY GOLDEN!
[b]True story, I was in the running to be one of the six master killers but I just missed. They told me I was their 7th pick, gave me a nice lunch and wished me well in finding a fortune to steal before sending me on my way.[/b]
awesome! would love to win!
This would be great, thanks.
Love the looks of this book!!
I would like this
Sounds like the perfect read.
I’d love to win this book-thank you!
That sounds like a great beach read.
My turn to win.
I would like to read the work of Gayle Lynds.
sounds great sign me up
love it
Hooked on treasures ever since I read the Count of Monte Cristo! Please pick me. Thank you.
I would love this!
would be a great read, thanks
This looks like a real interesting read. I reminds me of Ocean’s 11.
Good deal, count me in!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I love history, especially the things not widely known or discussed.
The article was fascinating. It is unbelievable that the stories are true.
Sounds like an interesting read. Would love to read it
Ah, people and their material things! You can’t take it with you! lol
Childhood freams…
This is the kind of things that fascinate me
Sounds exciting…
Intrique, the stuff that entertains me!
Very interesting!
It is the summer reading season. This Gayle Lynds book sounds like a good one to add to the beach bag of books to read….
thanks book sounds interesting
I loved your novel about the amber room. Never heard of it before. All of these are incredible mysteries. Thanks for bringing them to light. This article should be the basis of some documentary or TV show. I’d love to see more pics. Thanks, Gayle!
Definitely need to add this to my books to read list!!! Can’t wait to dig into this one!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win & good luck to all those who enter!!!:)
I love a great story.