Renowned Egyptologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass has revived an initiative to repatriate the 3400-year-old Bust of Queen Nefertiti, launching an international petition calling for the return of the iconic bust to its homeland after decades of being on display in Berlin, Germany.
The link to the petition, launched during Hawass’ seminar at Nefertiti Cultural Salon in Prince Taz Palace in Historic Cairo, will be published on Sunday on Hawass’ website and Instagram account for all the international community to sign in a step toward taking more steps to repatriate the queen.
“I am writing on behalf of Egyptians – and everyone who is strongly advocating for Egypt’s heritage to be restored to its home – to submit a request for the repatriation of the painted limestone bust of Nefertiti, accessioned in the Neues Museum as Inventory No. AM 21300,” said Hawass.
He added: “This bust, remarkable and unrivalled in history for its historical and aesthetic merit, is now in Germany, but it is time for it to come home to Egypt.”
Hawass pointed out that it was planned to ask for the Bust of Nefertiti and the Rosetta Stone in 2011 but the circumstances at that time impeded their immediate return.
He noted that the two pieces left Egypt illegally and they need to be returned.
The new state-of-the-art Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is waiting for them to return home, Hawass said.
“Returning these two iconic artefacts to Egypt would be an important acknowledgment of the commitment of Western museums to decolonize their collections and make reparations for the past,” Hawass pointed out.
“With countless countries demanding their cultural heritage to be repatriated, Egypt is no exception and no less deserving,” he said, calling on the international community to demand the repatriation of the Queen Nefertiti’s bust through signing and sharing this petition.
Source – Ahram Online
