“life-size painted portrait of the queen measuring 47 centimeters tall. It includes a flat-cut blue wig with a ribbon tied around it about midway up,” as described by an egyptologist.
Ludwig Borchardt
wrote
In his journal entry from December 6, 1912, he wrote, “The work is completely outstanding. Words fail to describe it; one must witness it firsthand.”
The
discovery
what the German Egyptologist thought was extraordinary beyond description was the
iconic
limestone and stucco statue of
Nefertiti
, once upon a time the queen of Egypt and spouse of
Pharaoh Akhenaten
who governed during the 14th century B.C.E.
However, what started as a deep admiration for the 18-inch-tall sculpture’s aesthetics in Borchardt’s journal 112 years ago swiftly evolved into
archaeological scandal
for the ages, sparking debates about ownership and
repatriation
even in modern times.
The dispute began during an archaeological dig of an old city along the Nile.
Tell el-Amarna
, also known as Akhetaton, captivated the interests of Borchardt and the broader European archaeological community at the turn of the century when it was identified as the capital city established during Akhenaten’s reign after his religious focus shifted.
spiritual life
about a singular deity ruling his empire,
Aten
.
In 1911, Borchardt
won
the support of
James Simon
, a affluent art enthusiast who established the German Oriental Society, to fund an archaeological dig at the location where
Atenism
— arguably the world’s first faith centered around one God — was established.
Previous expeditions had already
mapped
The ancient city was thoroughly examined. However, Borchardt and his team quickly turned their focus toward a small, yet-to-be-explored workshop owned by Thutmose, who was a sculptor.
On the day the archaeologists uncovered the Nefertiti bust, Germany
nobles
Visitors from Saxony came to see Tell el-Amarna, and Borchardt hurried back and forth among his distinguished guests and the excavation site.
Hermann Ranke
, another Egyptologist, informed him that “something good is coming out.”
As Borchardt neared Thutmose’s workshop, “the instruments were set down, and the hands took over,” he noted.
wrote
It required quite some time for the entire section to be entirely liberated from all the grime and debris.
Once everything had been tidied up, he
recalled
We held the most realistic piece of ancient Egyptian artwork.
The Germans also wanted to keep Nefertiti under their control. Since they held the excavation permit for the site, the German team shared their discoveries from Tell el-Amarna with Egyptian officials as was customary back then.
wrote
Kurt G. Siehr in
Imperialism, Art and Restitution
.
However, the legality and ethics of the transaction have often been debated. In 2009, the German magazine
Der Spiegel
obtained
The German-language records from a 1913 agreement between German and Egyptian officials state that Borchardt allegedly “sought to preserve the bust for our country.” It’s reported that the Egyptologist presented an unfavorable photo of the bust to the Egyptian antiquities inspectors and stored the crate in a poorly lit area to diminish its perceived significance.
Nefertiti returned to Germany inside that crate, and Simon
took
having possession of it prior to donating it
Berlin State Museums
in 1920.
Except for a short period during World War II when it was stored safely in a Thuringian salt mine, the bust has largely remained in place since 1923.
unveiling
However, this controversy has not diminished the discussion over who legitimately should possess or showcase Nefertiti’s bust.
The Neues Museum, located in Berlin, presently holds the bust.
claims
All dealings were transparent and carried out following the traditions of the early 1900s. In contrast,
Zahi Hawass
a renowned Egyptian archaeologist who also served as the former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt,
maintains
The bust was taken out of Egypt unlawfully.
Germans and Egyptians reportedly negotiated over the bust during the entire decade of the 1920s. By 1929, they seemed close to finalizing a satisfactory agreement. However, as per documents from the British Foreign Office,
documents
Eventually, Adolf Hitler canceled the deal due to his immense admiration for the artifact. Over the subsequent years, Egypt has implemented various strategies to compel Germany to return the contentious bust, such as restricting access to other archaeological sites.
excavation
permits to German archaeologists and offering trades of other antiquities for the artwork.
The assertions regarding the bust of Nefertiti are
unending
But for the moment, it stands solitary in a plain chamber in Berlin, a piece of eternal elegance amidst contemporary controversy.
