The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum prompts the return of the Rosetta Stone

1. History and context of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)
2. Mysteries and questions about Egypt
3. Egyptian art in international museums
4. Initiatives for the return of Egyptian artifacts
5. Collections in the Grand Egyptian Museum
6. Egyptian treasures in museums around the world
7. Achievements and hopes of the Grand Egyptian Museum

History and context of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)

For more than two decades, the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) has survived three regimes, a revolution, regional wars, and a pandemic.

In an event described by the country's Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, as “a night to remember,” the inauguration of the world's largest and most impressive Egyptian art museum is expected to serve as a turning point for the most important works of ancient Egyptian history to return to their place of origin and establish the city of Cairo as one of the most important tourist destinations on the planet.

Mysteries and questions about Egypt

The history of Egypt has been, is, and will continue to be synonymous with mysteries and enigmas. Unanswered questions abound in the minds of hundreds of archaeologists and historians: How were the pyramids built? What happened to the body of Pharaoh Cheops? What was the original name of the god Ra? Why were more than 2,000 years of history erased? What caused the death of Tutankhamun?...

Egyptian art in international museums

However, the great pieces that marked the history of their civilization have been away from their rightful place for more than two centuries. Located in the most prestigious museums in the world, Egyptian art represents one of the greatest tourist attractions in the international art world.

But with the opening of the GEM, the Egyptian authorities are urging all museums around the world to return those pieces, many of which were stolen during the colonial era, so that they can be exhibited where the Egyptians believe “they should always have been”. Among them are the Rosetta Stone, the Luxor Obelisk, the Dendera Zodiac, the Bust of Nefertiti, and the fragments of Deir el-Medina.

Initiatives for the return of Egyptian artifacts

In this scenario, the Rosetta Stone has been the main target. Listed as one of the most important artifacts of humanity, the Stone, which has been on display at the British Museum without interruption since 1802, is Egypt's main claim.

Essentially, the Rosetta Stone is an artifact with ancient Egyptian texts and their translations into Greek and Demotic, which is why it marked a milestone in the history of archaeology and history, and marked the starting point for the knowledge and deciphering—which took more than 20 years—of one of humanity's most important cultures.

Collections in the Grand Egyptian Museum

The opening of the GEM has meant that more than 100,000 pieces of Egyptian culture are now on display, including statues of Ramses II, the mask of Tutankhamun, the most iconic figure in Egyptian history, and several of Cheops' light boats built during the time of the pyramids of Giza, which have been considered one of the wonders of the ancient world since the 3rd century BC and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

But despite this long list of pieces, the GEM is missing some of the greatest treasures of antiquity. Whether stolen from Egypt, smuggled out by officials, or claimed under the distribution system, many of these were taken in the name of the former colonial powers, which now display them in their museums around the world.

Egyptian treasures in museums around the world

Luxor Obelisk in Paris

One of the most important is located in the Place de la Concorde in Paris. It is the Luxor Obelisk, a symbol of the Golden Age of the Egyptian empire. Made of red granite, the Obelisk, which is over 3,000 years old, was looted as a symbol of one of Napoleon's victories. Its transport was so costly that the counterpart to the Obelisk of Luxor in Paris remains in Luxor, which the Egyptian authorities hope Paris will return.

Dendera Zodiac in the Louvre

Paris is also home to the Dendera Zodiac, one of the most important representations of the celestial dome in history. Located in one of the rooms of the Louvre Museum, the zodiac was commissioned by Cleopatra and dedicated to Osiris. Its value is incalculable as it was the only artifact left from the temple in which it was located, as the temple was destroyed with dynamite.

Bust of Nefertiti in Berlin

Finally, another of the works most sought after by Egypt is the bust of Nefertiti, who is believed to have ruled for a time and was the stepmother of Tutankhamun. It was illegally removed from the country, as the law expressly stated that “the bust cannot leave the country's borders,” but German archaeologists managed to transport it to the Neues Museum in Berlin, where it has been on display for more than 100 years.

Achievements and hopes of the Grand Egyptian Museum

The consecration of the Grand Egyptian Museum as the largest and most important cultural center of the 21st century has already materialized, but it hopes to achieve what it has been longing for for almost two centuries: the recovery of all Egyptian art on display around the world in order to piece together one of the most mysterious and difficult puzzles in human history.

The first country to take a step forward has been the Netherlands, with the return of a stone head more than 3,500 years old belonging to the dynasty of Thutmose III, which was confiscated at the Maastricht fair in 2022.