The Metropolitan Museum of Art has recently agreed to return nineteen objects to Egypt.
All from the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun, the objects range in size from small studies to three-quarter-inch jewelry elements. According to Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt, these nineteen objects were allegedly stolen from their home country earlier in the 20th century when excavations of the tomb were under way. The artifacts include a blue lapis lazuli sphinx originally a charm on a bracelet, a reconstructed blue faience bead collar, and a bronze figurine of a dog, among others.
The artifacts are now on display at the Discovery Times Square Exposition for the wildly successful exhibit Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. Once that closes on January 17, the objects will be displayed at the Met for another six months in a special exhibition, and finally will be returned to the Egyptian Museum by the end of the year. Hawass says the objects will eventually make their home in the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza, currently under construction and meant to open next year.
Hawass has lobbied long and hard to retrieve what he believes are illegally-obtained works of Egyptian antiquity. The British Museum refuses to give up the Rosetta Stone; the Berlin Neues Museum still holds on to the famous bust of Nefertiti. To what extent should museums rid themselves of their collections in an effort to keep artifacts in their home country?
The Met has made a valiant gesture in returning these very small objects to their home country. In the debate in repatriation, who is right? Should ancient artifacts be kept in their home country? Or is it a disservice to the public to remove a beloved object from the protective cultural institution it has resided in for so many years? Should art lovers be forced to travel far and wide in order to experience history and culture?
Have an opinion? Let us know by leaving your response below.
Comments
That is a hard question. I can see how it would be a good idea to keep objects in their home country, because of possible damage or theft during transport to other areas. But, on the other hand, it is nice for people to be able to view these treasures without having to travel far and wide to do it. I would love to see the Egyptian collection at the Met.
have you ever been to Egypt?
if you have, then you know the abysmal conditions in which the Egyptians keep the world's treasures in the Cairo Museum = no climate control in the cases, no air condition. there is good reason not to repatriate sensitive and delicate artifacts to a place where these items will only rapidly decompose. having been to Egypt and the Cairo Museum, i can tell you it is very sad to see the negligent state of the artifacts - termites eating through Tutankhamun's bow, warped inlaid boxes from his tomb that, photographed years ago, look nothing like they do today. what a crime and an abomination!
Drake,
I completely agree. I was just recently in Egypt and the Cairo Museum and have witnessed the conditions you are talking about.
I do believe Egypt is aware of the problem however, and that they are in some way trying to reconcile the conditions by constructing the Giza Museum (where all of Tut's items will be sent to eventually).
It is a tough decision to make.
Hopefully these objects can remain where they are - at least they are being cared for and viewed and appreciated.
Wow I would have loved to see those artifacts. I love the treasures form Egypt and would love to visit it one day. Too bad they are sending it back.
I am an egyptian and yes the current museums are not well equipped at all to handle fragile artifacts, and that was the issue the british and german talk about when asked to return the Rosetta stone and Nefertiti bust. However, egypt now is building new museums that should be as good as museums in britain etc..
i get the point of not having to travel to countries to see their artifacts, but then again if you are really into egyptian history you would come here. Also how do you think we egyptians feel that we cannot see the original artifacts of our country, something as significant as Nefertiti bust or the Rosetta stone, do people travel to britain for egyptian history?
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