Nov 23, 2025 #Germany #Egypt #Nefertiti
The Grand Egyptian Museum, recently opened near Cairo, showcases over 100,000 artefacts spanning seven

Nov 23, 2025 #Germany #Egypt #Nefertiti
The Grand Egyptian Museum, recently opened near Cairo, showcases over 100,000 artefacts spanning seven millennia of Egyptian history.
Yet one of Egypt’s most iconic treasures is noticeably absent—the bust of Queen c.
Carved over 3,000 years ago, the limestone sculpture was unearthed by a German archaeological team in 1912 and controversially relocated to Berlin the following year under a disputed agreement. Berlin’s Egyptian Museum has since made Nefertiti’s effigy a central feature, attracting around half a million visitors annually.
Egyptian archaeologists, including renowned Zahi Hawass, are renewing calls for its return, alongside other artefacts such as the Rosetta Stone. While some argue the bust belongs in Egypt, German authorities maintain its legitimacy and cite concerns over its fragility. The debate spotlights larger questions about cultural heritage and ownership of antiquities displayed far from their place of origin.

Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane reports from Berlin.