Egypt Demands Return of Nefertiti’s Bust from Berlin Museum

Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister, Zahi Hawass, has launched a campaign to return the head of pharaonic queen Nefertiti from the new Berlin museum to Egypt.

The famous limestone bust of Nefertiti was discovered by a German archaeological mission in 1912 at Tell el-Amarna in Minya Governorate, about 300 kilometers south of Cairo. It was sent to Berlin the following year.

Tell el-Amarna was the capital of Nefertiti’s husband, Akhenaten, an Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh who ruled until about 1335 BCE. Akhenaten, known as the heretic king, introduced radical changes in Egyptian industry by calling for the worship of the god Aten to the exclusion of other gods in Egypt.

The Campaign for Return

Hawass has demanded the return of Nefertiti’s head, stating that it left Egypt illegally. He has set up a petition on his website to gather support for the cause, calling on those who wish to return Nefertiti’s head to register their wish and sign the document.

“All I need from everyone here is to go to my website… and sign. A signature to express your desire to return this bust,” Hawass said.

Key Pieces to be Recovered

Hawass’ campaign focuses on recovering three main pieces: Nefertiti’s head, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dendera Tower.

The Egyptian archaeologist emphasizes that he does not legally call for the recovery of antiquities that left Egypt, but rather seeks to raise awareness and gather support for the return of these significant historical pieces.