Nefertiti-Büste: Zahi Hawass calls for return to Egypt

Nefertiti-Büste: Zahi Hawass calls for return to Egypt

In a significant initiative, the prominent Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass started a petition to return the famous Nefertiti-Bustes, which is currently exhibited in the new museum in Berlin. Hawass, who is also a former Minister of Antiquities, discusses a topic that has been attracting considerable attention in culture and history for years: the return profession of cultural assets that were taken during colonial times.

The Nefertet-Bust is an artistic copy made of painted limestone, which was discovered in 1912 by a German archaeologist mission in Tell El-Amarna, a site that is about 300 kilometers south of Cairo. The following year, the artefact was transported to Berlin. It is considered a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art and is deeply rooted in the history of the country.

The historical source

Tell el-Amarna was once the capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten, which was known for his unique religious reforms and promoted the veneration of the god ate. Akhenaten rule, which until about 1335 BC. Continued, brought a radical change in Egyptian art, and the place itself offers valuable insights into this amazing era. Hawass emphasizes that the bust, who represents the queen Nefertiti, was illegally removed from Egypt and should now finally be brought back to its country of origin.

The return of the Nefertiti-Buste is in the context of a broader discussion about dealing with artifacts that were transported to the West during colonial conquests. In his petition, which was launched on Saturday, Hawass explained: "Egypt calls for the return of the Nefertet-Bust." He appeals to the public to join his project by visiting and signing his website, hawasszahi.com. "A signature shows that you support the desire that this bust comes back," continued Hawass.

Hawass is not interested in returning artifacts that were legally taken from Egypt. Rather, his focus is on the return of "three main objects", which include the Rosetta-Stone and the Dendera Zodiac in addition to the Nefertet-Bust. These objects have an immense cultural importance for Egypt and represent the rich history of the country.

While the discussion about the return of cultural assets is intensified, official bodies in the new museum in Berlin have so far not taken a position on Hawass' petition. The question of whether and how cultural assets are returned remains a critical topic in international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage.