Should the Bust of Queen Nefertiti Return to Egypt?
Queen Nefertiti’s bust, valued at €400 million ($433 million) and currently housed in Berlin, has sparked a debate over its return to Egypt. Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian antiquities minister, is leading a petition urging Germany to repatriate the 3,370-year-old artifact. The bust was discovered in 1912 and taken to Europe a year later by a German archaeological team. Nefertiti has become a tourist attraction in Berlin during its long exile, but pressure is mounting for her to go home.
Monica Hanna, an Egyptian archaeologist, questions the narrative that calls Nefertiti Egypt’s ambassador to Berlin. She argues that the initiative to repatriate the bust could pave the way for the return of other objects taken during colonialism. Hawass’ petition also includes the demand for the return of the Rosetta Stone and the Dendera Zodiac.
The museum in Berlin argues that the Nefertiti bust was obtained legally under a division agreement with Egypt. However, critics claim the artifact was brazenly stolen in 1913. While the debate continues, the future of Nefertiti remains uncertain, with experts questioning whether the campaign for her return will succeed.