The British Museum opened a new exhibit centered on an ancient Egyptian artifact stolen by the British as a spoil of war.
The Rosetta Stone was key to modern understanding of hieroglyphics. Archaeologists want it returned home to Egypt.π§΅
The Rosetta Stone was key to modern understanding of hieroglyphics. Archaeologists want it returned home to Egypt.π§΅
The Rosetta Stone dates back to 196 BC and features a decree written in 3 ancient scripts: hieroglyphics, demotic and ancient Greek.
The hieroglyphics were deciphered in British custody by orientalist Jean-François Champollion, who Europeans claim is the "father of Egyptology."
The hieroglyphics were deciphered in British custody by orientalist Jean-François Champollion, who Europeans claim is the "father of Egyptology."
The British took the Rosetta Stone from Egypt in 1802 β claiming it and other Egyptian artifacts held by French occupation forces were property of the British crown.
Archaeologists call its seizure an act of "cultural violence." Thousands signed a petition demanding its return.
Archaeologists call its seizure an act of "cultural violence." Thousands signed a petition demanding its return.
The British Museum holds over 8 million items β many plundered from former colonies.
They include over 900 Benin Bronzes that were stolen from Nigeria by British forces during a brutal colonial massacre in 1897. It refuses to return them, but has offered to loan some back.
They include over 900 Benin Bronzes that were stolen from Nigeria by British forces during a brutal colonial massacre in 1897. It refuses to return them, but has offered to loan some back.
The UK has also consistently refused to return Greece's Parthenon marbles.
They were taken from Greece by a British ambassador during Ottoman rule. Greece considers them stolen property, but the British Museum calls them "shared heritage."
They were taken from Greece by a British ambassador during Ottoman rule. Greece considers them stolen property, but the British Museum calls them "shared heritage."
Egypt's archaeological sites have been plundered for centuries, facilitated by European occupiers who permitted sales of looted items.
Today, the British Museum owns over 100,000 ancient Egyptian pieces. Hundreds of thousands are in museums across France, Germany and the U.S.
Today, the British Museum owns over 100,000 ancient Egyptian pieces. Hundreds of thousands are in museums across France, Germany and the U.S.
About $3 billion worth of artifacts have been smuggled from Egypt since 2011.
Hundreds were imported/smuggled into the U.S., including:
βͺοΈ An ancient coffin bought by NYC's Met Museum. It was returned in 2019.
βͺοΈ The hand of a mummy, labeled as a "science fiction movie prop."
Hundreds were imported/smuggled into the U.S., including:
βͺοΈ An ancient coffin bought by NYC's Met Museum. It was returned in 2019.
βͺοΈ The hand of a mummy, labeled as a "science fiction movie prop."
Last year, Hobby Lobby returned 5,000 ancient Egyptian papyrus pieces from its "Museum of the Bible."
Hobby Lobby was also forced to return to Iraq hundreds of items stolen by smugglers after the U.S. invasion, including the Epic of Gilgamesh and tablets smuggled via Israel/UAE.
Hobby Lobby was also forced to return to Iraq hundreds of items stolen by smugglers after the U.S. invasion, including the Epic of Gilgamesh and tablets smuggled via Israel/UAE.
It is unknown how many artifacts have been smuggled from Egypt β many are in private collections, mostly in Europe or the U.S.
But archaeologists say museums returning pieces like the Rosetta Stone would be a first step to "ending the cultural colonization of Egyptian heritage."
But archaeologists say museums returning pieces like the Rosetta Stone would be a first step to "ending the cultural colonization of Egyptian heritage."
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