Zahi Hawass, a renowned 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 painted limestone bust, which dates back to the 18th dynasty, was discovered in 1912 by a German archaeological mission at Tell el-Amarna, approximately 300 kilometers south of Cairo. The following year, it was transported to Berlin.
Tell el-Amarna served as the brief capital of Nefertiti’s husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled until about 1335 B.C. Akhenaten, often referred to as the “heretic king,” is known for his promotion of the worship of the god Aten over other deities, as well as for introducing significant changes in Egyptian art.
In his petition launched on Saturday, Hawass argued that the bust was taken from Egypt illegally and called for its return. He emphasized that the request is made by a national committee, not the Egyptian government.
Hawass is asking supporters to sign the petition on his website, stating, “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.”
Hawass clarified that his campaign is not aimed at repatriating artifacts that were removed from Egypt legally. Instead, his focus is on reclaiming three specific cultural treasures: the Nefertiti bust, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dendera Zodiac.
Officials at the Neues Museum in Berlin have not yet responded to the petition.