German Official Says . . "Queen Nefertiti Bust Should Stay in Berlin"

Written by Walter Nuehaus Monday, 24 May 2010 20:45

CAIRO (AP).- Germany's foreign minister says the 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti that has been in a Berlin museum for decades is in Germany legally and could break if moved to Egypt. Egypt's antiquities chief had said he will formally demand the return of the bust of the 14th century B.C. monarch because it was taken out of Egypt with fraudulent documents in the early 20th century. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Saturday the case is still open but that German experts believe even lending the statue to Egypt could endanger it.

Germany has declined past Egyptian requests for the bust's return, saying it was too fragile to move.

Queen Nefertiti was made famous by her bust, now in Berlin's Neues Museum. The bust is one of the most copied works of ancient Egypt. It was attributed to the sculptor Thutmose, and it was found in his workshop. The bust is notable for exemplifying the understanding Ancient Egyptians had regarding realistic facial proportions. Some scholars believe that Nefertiti ruled briefly after her husband's death and before the accession of Tutankhamun as Smenkhkare, although this identification is a matter of ongoing debate.

Egypt is campaigning to retrieve thousands of antiquities spirited out during Egypt's colonial period and afterward.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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