EGYPT has joined a long list of African countries – including Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon and South Africa – seeking the return of stolen artefacts from European countries.
According to Reuters, prominent Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass has launched a petition for the repatriation of the pharaonic bust of Queen Nefertiti from the Neues Museum in Berlin to Egypt.
The famous painted limestone bust of Nefertiti was discovered at Tell el-Amarna, approximately 300 km (185 miles) south of Cairo, in 1912 by a German archaeological mission. It was then transported to Berlin the following year.
Reuters provides historical context, noting that Amarna was the short-lived capital of Nefertiti’s husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten of the 18th dynasty, who reigned until about 1335 B.C. The report describes Akhenaten as the “heretic king,” known for promoting the worship of the god Aten to the exclusion of other Egyptian deities and introducing significant changes in Egyptian art.
According to Reuters, Hawass launched his petition on Saturday, claiming that the bust was illegally removed from Egypt after its discovery. The news agency quotes Hawass as saying, “We announce today that Egypt – this is the national committee, it is not a government committee – asks for the return of the bust of Nefertiti.” Hawass urged supporters to sign the petition on his website.
Reuters reports that Hawass clarified he is not calling for the repatriation of artefacts legally taken out of Egypt. Instead, his campaign focuses on “three main beautiful objects”: the bust of Nefertiti, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dendera Zodiac.
According to Reuters, officials at Berlin’s Neues Museum were not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.
