The iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti, valued at €400 million, has been residing in Berlin since 1922, inciting calls for her repatriation to Egypt. Zahi Hawass initiated a petition in September to urge Germany to return the historical masterpiece.
However, the museum claims the bust was legally obtained from Egypt after an excavation in Amarna, the capital under Pharaoh Akhenaten. Despite controversy over its removal, German authorities maintain that there are no grounds for restitution.
Monica Hanna, an Egyptian archaeologist, challenges the narrative around Nefertiti, questioning if Egypt received fair compensation for the sculpture’s exile. An ongoing debate surrounds whether the return of Nefertiti would set a precedent for the repatriation of other artifacts taken during the colonial era.
While some argue the bust was “brazenly stolen,” experts suggest that without new evidence of deceit, the campaign for repatriation may face hurdles. The complex history of Nefertiti’s journey from Egypt to Germany remains a subject of intense scrutiny and debate.