The prophet Zechariah in a fur cap. Kuma sibyl in kokoshnik and furs. Eva with lemon instead of Apple ... Ghent altar is a mystery to historians and art critics. There is even a theory that this is not just a masterpiece, and the encrypted message Templar about where the hiding place of the Holy Grail because supposedly this sacred Cup depicted in the center. The fate of the masterpiece full of drama and mystery. Many centuries behind the altar hunted as for the Holy Grail, but he mysteriously returned to his native Cathedral.

The Ghent altarpiece is a mystery to historians and art critics

BUT ROTTEN BOARDS CHEAP!

About the unusual ability masterpiece from everywhere to return home for the first time have started talking after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Then, in 1815, three of the Central panel of the altar returned at the place of permanent registration of France, where they languished two decades after the capture of the army of Bonaparte.

A year later, the vicar of St Baafs Cathedral sold six wings of the twelve. I think he wanted to cash in on the sale of Church property? Not at all. The priest moved only desire is to restore neglected Cathedral. I really wanted the best, but it turned out as always! When the vicar asked for arbitrariness, he could not tell them the name of the buyer - in the heat failed to recognize him. Sold part of the altar searched and searched and never found.

Details of the deal became known in later years. Six wings vicar was hoping to get just 600 francs. However, unexpectedly the buyer is a tricky Brussels Antiques - promised money ten times more if taken "rotten boards" immediately. The vicar did not hesitate a minute and scavenger immediately resold the "stuff" over 100 000 francs British merchant forest Edward Solli. The last was the most cunning: almost for nothing bought the thing, the cost of which was more at times. Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III without thinking posted Solli for the part of the altar 400 000 francs. In 1821 scene Paradise life enriched the collection of the Berlin Kaysarasara, and the German rulers since then wanted to control everything of the altar.

NATIONAL HOLIDAY

The chance to realize a dream came the Germans in the autumn of 1914. Their army was advancing so rapidly that the remaining part of the altar didn't evacuate. Then the Dean of the Cathedral through the faithful he put the altar in the secret place. Bursting in Ghent, the Germans rushed to the St Baafs Cathedral. But the altar if vanished into thin air! The Germans turned (the cities) upside down, never realizing that jewel under their noses, in the house, located next to the commandant's office. After the retreat of the enemy from Belgium altar was returned to the Cathedral bells rang. Joy in Gent had a holiday.

But much more rejoiced people on September 29, 1920, when at 11 am on the square in front of the Cathedral entered machine sold more than a hundred years ago a part of the altar, brought from the Berlin Museum. 6 November 1920 the altar stood again to his place, on which occasion in Belgium has announced a national celebration. It seemed that the altar never leaves his native Cathedral, but fate decreed otherwise.

SHOW ME THE MONEY!

11 April 1934 lost part of polyptych called "Righteous judge." The Belgians had no doubt: the case of the Nazis! Hitler was haunted by the idea to turn his native city of Linz in the cultural centre. The Ghent altarpiece was to take there a Central place.

In fact, everything was much simpler and more mysterious. Under cover of night the unknown thief entered the Cathedral, car door lock pick. While police were investigating, Ghent Bishop received a letter with a proposal to return the stolen paintings in exchange for one million francs. With the permission of the police, the Bishop came to the offender correspondence. In order to convince the priest that he owns the treasure, the stranger left at the train station half sawn panel. For the second part it still required a million.

Labeled banknotes put into the envelope, but it only had 25 thousand. Police planned to ensure that someone will come for the envelope to the address, and to reach the robbers. But the criminals managed to escape the surveillance. On their own initiative, the Bishop again started a correspondence. Thieves insisted million, otherwise promising to destroy a masterpiece. Throughout Belgium was announced fundraising. One of the most active collector of donations, banker Arsen Godelier, during a speech before the benefactors fell and lost consciousness. Rousing himself, he whispered that he knows where the treasure is buried, but his sentence was not in time - died of a heart attack. So the secret of the "Righteous judges" banker forever took with him to the grave.

CAVE OF ALI BABA

During the Second world war, the Belgians sent an altar to France, lest he went to Hitler. In conditions of military confusion train with the altar ten days toured Europe, but in the end still fell into the hands of the Nazis. The altar was moved in the Bavarian castle of Neuschwanstein. Hitler demanded from his subordinates to find " a Righteous judges". "Brown" break upside down the whole Ghent, including St Baafs Cathedral, the house of the banker HOTELERA and even his grave... in Vain. "The righteous judge" if evaporated...

When the allies bombed Bavaria, the Nazis began to look for a safer place for stolen goods. The choice fell on the salt mine in Austria, which was started construction of underground Museum. In September 1944, the altar was delivered there.

Having landed in Austria, the Americans sought stolen Hitler values, including Ghent altar. Helped case. The officer-art critic Robert Posey during a visit to the dentist learned that the son of a physician supervised the collection of stolen goods. On that fact he was assistant Goering and Hitler, doctor of arts, and at the same time sturmfuhrer SS Herman Bunjes. In exchange for a pardon, he told about the hiding place.

on may 3, 1945 in the chaos allies disarmed the guards and took all the entrances to the Museum of the city under control. Five days later, after the dungeon cleared, Robert Posey, as Ali Baba, went down to the cave of treasure.

In the summer of 1945 the loot began to return to the owners. Robert Posey personally accompanied the Ghent pearl during its transportation in Belgium. The plane was caught in a severe storm, off course and barely reached the abandoned military air base, a hundred kilometers from the Belgian capital. Despite obstacles, the masterpiece was back again. October 30, 1945 excited Posey was listening to the solemn mass in the St. Bavo Cathedral and admired the work of the van Eyck brothers. Place stolen and never found "Righteous judges took a copy of the written restorer van der Vecinom on the Cabinet door of two centuries ago. The Belgians believe that someday the original will be found and will return to your Paradise on earth.