Cairo: Zahi Hawass, a leading Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister, has initiated a petition demanding the return of the iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti from Berlin’s Neues Museum to Egypt. The renowned painted limestone bust, discovered at Tell el-Amarna—approximately 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Cairo—in 1912 by a German archaeological team, was transported to Berlin the following year.
Tell el-Amarna was the brief capital of Pharaoh Akhenaten, Nefertiti’s husband, who ruled until around 1335 B.C. Known as the “heretic king,” Akhenaten is infamous for promoting the exclusive worship of the god Aten, a significant departure from traditional Egyptian polytheism. His reign also marked a dramatic shift in Egyptian art.
In his petition, launched on Saturday, Hawass contends that the bust was removed from Egypt illegally. “We announce today that Egypt—this is the national committee, it is not a government committee—asks for the return of the bust of Nefertiti,” Hawass stated. “What I need from everyone here is to go to my website… hawasszahi.com, and you will sign, one signature, to show that you would love for this bust to come back.”
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Hawass clarified that his appeal does not extend to artifacts taken from Egypt legally. His campaign specifically targets the repatriation of “three main beautiful objects,” including the Nefertiti bust, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dendera Zodiac.
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Officials from Berlin’s Neues Museum have not yet responded to the request.
