Should These Relics Be Returned?

How did many of Egypt’s treasures end up so far away? From the late 18th century to the mid-20th century, Great Britain and other European countries had a strong influence over Egypt. Their archaeologists traveled there in search of valuable objects from the past. European museums often helped pay for these efforts in order to build their collections.

The excavations turned up everything from ornate statues to detailed carvings that shed light on what Egypt was like thousands of years earlier. Some were removed from Egypt legally—through permits or a system called partage that let foreign archaeologists keep part of what they uncovered. Other treasures were stolen and taken to distant lands.

But the details surrounding how certain relics left Egypt are murky. That’s especially true for some of the most sought-after pieces.

How did many of Egypt’s treasures end up so far away? From the late 18th century to the mid-20th century, Great Britain and other European countries had a strong influence over Egypt. Their archaeologists traveled there in search of valuable objects from the past. European museums often helped pay for these efforts. They wanted to build their collections. 

The excavations turned up everything from ornate statues to detailed carvings. They shed light on what Egypt was like thousands of years earlier. Some were removed from Egypt legally. That happened through permits or a system called partage. The system let foreign archaeologists keep part of what they uncovered. Other treasures were stolen and taken to distant lands. 

But the details surrounding how certain relics left Egypt are murky. That is especially true for some of the most sought-after pieces.

The Rosetta Stone, for one, is claimed by both Egypt and England. It is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time because it helped unlock the mysteries of hieroglyphics, a type of ancient Egyptian writing. The stone slab is carved with the same passage in three writing styles. Comparing them helped experts decode hieroglyphics.

French soldiers uncovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799, a year after invading and seizing control of Egypt. Britain defeated the French in Egypt in 1801. Britain and France signed a treaty to formally end the fighting. Under the treaty, Britain got the Rosetta Stone and other Egyptian artifacts that France had claimed during its rule. The Rosetta Stone has been on display in the British Museum in London, England, since 1802.

But Egyptian officials say the treasure was not France’s to give away in the first place—and that it does not belong in London. “This is the icon of our Egyptian identity,” Hawass explains. “Is it the history of the English? No. It is the history of Egypt.”

For example, the Rosetta Stone is claimed by both Egypt and England. It is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time. It helped unlock the mysteries of hieroglyphics. That is a type of ancient Egyptian writing. The stone slab is carved with the same passage in three writing styles. Comparing them helped experts decode hieroglyphics. 

French soldiers uncovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799. It was a year after they invaded and seized control of Egypt. Britain defeated the French in Egypt in 1801. Britain and France signed a treaty to formally end the fighting. Under the treaty, Britain got the Rosetta Stone and other Egyptian artifacts that France had claimed during its rule. The Rosetta Stone has been on display in the British Museum in London, England, since 1802. 

But Egyptian officials say the treasure was not France’s to give away in the first place. And they say that it does not belong in London. “This is the icon of our Egyptian identity,” Hawass explains. “Is it the history of the English? No. It is the history of Egypt.”

About two decades after the Rosetta Stone was removed, another major relic was taken: the Dendera Zodiac. The Zodiac is an elaborate stone map of the sky. It proved that ancient Egyptians had an advanced understanding of astronomy. A French scholar found the Zodiac carved into the ceiling of an Egyptian temple in 1799. He and other scholars spent two decades studying it. In 1821, a French antiquities collector had workers remove the Zodiac using explosives. He sold the map to King Louis XVIII of France. It was eventually moved to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it has been on display since 1922.

France says the collector had permission from Egypt to remove the Zodiac. But Egypt maintains that the collector and his workers were thieves.

It is a royal statue, however, that has stirred up the most controversy. The Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany, has the bust of Nefertiti—one of Egypt’s most famous works of art. Nefertiti was a powerful Egyptian queen who lived about 3,400 years ago.

About two decades after the Rosetta Stone was removed, the Dendera Zodiac was taken. That is another major relic. It is an elaborate stone map of the sky. It proved that ancient Egyptians had an advanced understanding of astronomy. A French scholar found the Zodiac carved into the ceiling of an Egyptian temple in 1799. He and other scholars spent two decades studying it. In 1821, a French antiquities collector had workers remove the Zodiac using explosives. He sold the map to King Louis XVIII of France. It was eventually moved to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. It has been on display there since 1922. 

France says the collector had permission from Egypt to remove the Zodiac. Egypt maintains that the collector and his workers were thieves.  

But it is a royal statue that has caused the most controversy. The Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany, has the bust of Nefertiti. That is one of Egypt’s most famous works of art. Nefertiti was a powerful Egyptian queen who lived about 3,400 years ago.

German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt found the statue in a workshop in Egypt in 1912. He had permission to take some objects, but Egyptian officials claim the bust wasn’t one of them. They say he smuggled it out of the country. The Neues Museum, however, has argued Borchardt obtained the statue fairly.

For Egyptians, these prized treasures are a source of national and cultural pride. “These objects are of paramount importance to Egyptian society,” says Egyptologist Monica Hanna.

German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt found the statue in a workshop in Egypt in 1912. He had permission to take some objects. Egyptian officials claim the bust was not one of them. They say he smuggled it out of the country. But the Neues Museum has argued he obtained the statue fairly.

For Egyptians, these prized treasures are a source of national and cultural pride. “These objects are of paramount importance to Egyptian society,” says Egyptologist Monica Hanna.

Still, many people insist Egyptian artifacts should stay in their current museums, where some have been on display for more than 200 years.

Officials for those museums point out that they offer global access to the treasures, because so many people walk through their doors. Paris and London, for example, are two of the world’s most visited cities.

Another argument is that the relics get more attention in foreign museums than they would in their native country. The Rosetta Stone stands out at the British Museum because it is one of a kind there, officials say. But it might feel less unique in Egypt, which has 22 similar objects that helped experts understand hieroglyphics.

Plus, some museums say exposing visitors to ancient Egypt’s treasures helps spark a deeper interest in the civilization. Tourists who see the bust of Nefertiti in Germany, for example, may be inspired to travel to Egypt to learn more about her.

Salima Ikram, an Egyptologist, supports the return of the country’s key artifacts. However, she agrees that some of Egypt’s treasures should remain on display around the world. “These objects are our best ambassadors,” she says. “They inform, inspire, and delight people.” 

Still, many people insist Egyptian artifacts should stay in their current museums. Some have been on display for more than 200 years. 

Officials for those museums point out that they offer global access to the treasures. That is because so many people walk through their doors. Paris and London, for example, are two of the world’s most visited cities.

Another argument is that the relics get more attention in foreign museums than they would in their native country. Officials say the Rosetta Stone stands out at the British Museum because it is one of a kind there. But it might feel less unique in Egypt. There are 22 similar objects in Egypt that helped experts understand hieroglyphics. 

Plus, some museums say exposing visitors to ancient Egypt’s treasures helps spark a deeper interest in the civilization. For example, tourists might see the bust of Nefertiti in Germany. Then they may be inspired to travel to Egypt to learn more about her.

Salima Ikram is an Egyptologist. She supports the return of the country’s key artifacts. But she agrees that some of Egypt’s treasures should remain on display around the world. “These objects are our best ambassadors,” she says. “They inform, inspire, and delight people.”

Egyptian officials have secured the return of about 30,000 relics over the past decade, including an elaborate gilded coffin in 2019 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. And their recovery efforts are still underway.

This past fall, American authorities helped recover and return 36 Egyptian artifacts in the United States that had been illegally removed from Egypt. And officials in the Netherlands recently announced plans to return a valuable ancient stone bust. For many Egyptians, the progress is a hopeful sign.

Reclaiming these items helps make up for wrongs committed against Egypt more than two centuries ago, Hanna says. “We cannot change the past, but we can correct it.”

Egyptian officials have secured the return of about 30,000 relics over the past decade. That includes an elaborate gilded coffin in 2019 from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. And recovery efforts are still underway.

This past fall, American authorities helped recover and return 36 Egyptian artifacts in the United States. They had been illegally removed from Egypt. And officials in the Netherlands recently announced plans to return a valuable ancient stone bust. For many Egyptians, the progress is a hopeful sign. 

Reclaiming these items helps make up for wrongs committed against Egypt more than two centuries ago, Hanna says. “We cannot change the past, but we can correct it.”