Zahi Hawass’ Campaign to Return Nefertiti’s Bust and Other Egyptian Artifacts
A Historic Petition by Zahi Hawass
Distinguished Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, has taken significant steps to reclaim some of Egypt’s most treasured artifacts from European museums. On 7 September, Hawass launched a petition calling for the return of Queen Nefertiti’s iconic bust currently held in Berlin’s Neues Museum. This petition is part of a broader effort to restore artifacts that were illegally extracted from Egypt, including the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum and the Dendera Zodiac from the Louvre in Paris.
The Significance of Queen Nefertiti’s Bust
The bust of Queen Nefertiti is celebrated worldwide for its iconic beauty and represents one of the most recognized symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization. Nefertiti, alongside her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, ruled Egypt and played a significant role in his efforts to establish monotheism. The bust was discovered in 1912 by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt in Tell Al-Amarna, Egypt, under an agreement that allowed Germany to keep some artifacts from the excavation.
Germany's stance claims that Egyptian authorities authorized Germany’s possession of the bust. However, Egyptian Egyptologist Monica Hanna argues that Borchardt misrepresented the artifact’s value, labeling it misleadingly as an "Egyptian Princess" rather than Queen Nefertiti. This alleged deception has sparked decades of controversy surrounding the bust’s rightful home.
Hawass’ Passionate Plea for Repatriation
In his petition, Dr. Hawass appeals to the world by highlighting Egypt’s lost cultural heritage: “For years, Egypt has been deprived of many significant ancient Egyptian artifacts...the Nefertiti bust has always attracted visitors to Berlin, yet no genuine dialogue has been conducted to acknowledge how this unique artifact reached Germany.”
Hawass has been an active advocate for repatriation since 2002, emphasizing that many of these artifacts were extracted during Egypt’s colonial period. This history, he argues, makes their continued presence in Western museums a colonial remnant that must be corrected.
Hawass’ Reputation and Global Support
An academic force, Hawass is renowned for his work in Egyptology, with over 40 books and 150 scholarly articles on his excavations and research. His efforts in forensic technology have led to groundbreaking discoveries, such as the identification of Queen Hatshepsut and King Tutankhamun’s family.
The petition, launched on change.org, requests 1,000,000 signatures to support the return of the Nefertiti bust. Within just six days, Hawass had gathered nearly 22,000 signatures. In this appeal, he addressed German officials, urging Claudia Roth, the German Minister for Culture, Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, and Friederike Seyfried, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, to engage in discussions regarding the repatriation of these artifacts.
Finally
Hawass’ campaign is reigniting the conversation around cultural heritage and historical accountability. With international attention on this petition, the potential return of these artifacts represents a meaningful step toward restoring Egypt’s national treasures.
