THE DAILY STAR
Egypt made an official request Monday for the return from Germany of the bust of fabled Queen Nefertiti, exhibited in Berlin, charging it was taken out of the country illegally.
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities head, Zahi Hawass, announced an “official request” for the bust’s return, backed by Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif and Culture Minister Faruq Hosni.
The request was sent in a letter to Hermann Parzinger, president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, the governing body of all state museums in Germany including the Neues Museum in Berlin where the piece is on display.
In 1912, German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt unearthed the bust of the queen, whose beauty made history, on the banks of the Nile.
According to Egypt, the archaeologist immediately realized “the unique nature and artistic quality of this piece, as well as its historical importance,” and transported the bust to Germany illegally.
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