October 21st, 2009
Egypt demands Germany to return the bust of Queen Nefertiti again
Egypt has launched a renewed struggle for the return from Germany to its homeland the famous bust of Egyptian queen Nefertiti - wife of Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), reported the German news channels.
Colorized Nefertiti bust, that shows her perfect beauty was discovered by German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1912 in the sculpture workshop of the court artist and sculptor Thutmose at Amarna - a small settlement on the east bank of the Nile. Here are the ruins of the ancient Egyptian capital Ahetatona, built in the middle of the XIV century BC by order of Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten).
A unique discovery was taken in 1913 into Germany and was stored in the collection of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, then in the Old Museum (for the period of restoration), but now placed in a renovated New Capital Museum, which will open its doors on Friday this week.
Journalists were told the chief archaeologist and head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, Egypt established a special “Committee on Nefertiti”, which must collect and examine all documents relating to the transfer of parts found in the early 20th century artifacts, including a bust of the queen. “I am personally convinced that the bust of the queen was removed illegally,” - said 62-year-old archaeologist, who is waiting for the official results of the investigation of his committee. According to him, he was invited to the inauguration of the new museum with the participation of Chancellor Angela Merkel, but is unlikely to go, reports RIA Novosti.
“If our research will show that Nefertiti left Egypt legally, I will have nothing else to say. But if my conviction will be confirmed that it was illegally exported from Egypt, I would demand it return from Germany,” - said Hawass.