Berlin, Germany october 14, 2024 – Prominent Egyptian archaeologist and former Antiquities Minister Zahi Hawass has initiated a petition urging the Neues Museum in Berlin to return the iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti to Egypt. The bust, a painted limestone sculpture, was discovered in 1912 at Tell el-Amarna by a German archaeological team and transported to Berlin the following year.
Hawass argues that the bust was removed illegally from Egypt and emphasizes the need for its return. “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,” he stated during the petition launch.
Nefertiti was the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, known for his controversial reign that introduced a new form of worship centered on the god Aten. This period also marked significant shifts in Egyptian art and culture.
The campaign for Nefertiti’s return adds to ongoing discussions regarding the repatriation of cultural artifacts taken during colonial times.
