It is considered the ancient world's equivalent of the Mona Lisa of the Renaissance and these days attracts the attention of thousands of visitors in Berlin, as it is the central work of the exhibition at the Neues Museum, referring to the same.
It is, of course, the bust of the Egyptian queen Nefertiti, which was discovered exactly one hundred years ago in the ruins of the workshop of a great sculptor named Tuthmosis.
But if the bust is famous today around the world, the same is not the case with regard to the manner in which it was acquired. The name of its first owner was completely suppressed over time, because he was Jewish, while in the void they fall here and 90 years the demands of the Egyptian government for her return.
The German side did not even accept its loan, in order to be exposed to her hometown.
The Egyptians blame the Germans, that they tricked them and took it from Egypt reducing its value. Something, which if combined with other similar incidents, which happened then in countries where foreign archaeologists were active is likely to have happened.
On the other hand, Germany claims, that everything was legal, so there is no question of return.
Cat’ but first the story: The German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt was the one who brought the age to light 3.400 years old Egyptian beauty – her name means “The beautiful one has arrived” – at the site of Tel el Amarna on the banks of the Nile, in the ruins of the capital Aketaton of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten (had introduced monotheism into religion).
But behind the archaeologist was a rich financier, patron of the Arts and great philanthropist, James Simon, Prussian and Jew. According to the laws so, which were in force in Egypt at the time, Simon was entitled to half of the valuables, that came to light from the excavations, which were done with his own money.
Nefertiti belonged to them, although the Egyptians later accused the Germans of deceiving them by reducing its share value. Something, which if combined with other similar incidents, which happened then in countries where foreign archaeologists were active is likely to have happened.
In any case, Simon was the one who sent Nefertiti to Berlin, offering service to his country, let alone a few years later, in 1920, he gave it to the museums of the city.
The 1925 Nevertheless, Simon's cotton business, Simon Brothers, which in its heyday had a high turnover 50 million. marks with annual profits 6 million, faced serious problems and thus had to close it down, while he sold his luxurious villa and moved into a simple apartment.
But by then he had enriched all the Berlin museums with dozens of other Egyptian works of art, he had donated a quarter of his income to the Arts and had undertaken a number of charitable causes and social programmes.
His sponsorships began with the opening of the National Gallery in Berlin 1876, which, however, unlike those of Paris or London, had very few exhibits. Simon's donations, in the Gallery especially, they were countless (Rembrandt, Bellini, Mr. Mantenia. a.)
In the same year Egypt asked for the return of Nefertiti but the Germans refused, which angered Simon, who sent a letter to the Berlin Museum reminding him that the directors had promised to do so, in case such a request is made.
They of course refused and the matter temporarily stopped there. In fact, Simon, angered by Berlin's refusal, returned, in protest the invitation sent to him to attend the opening of the Pergamon Museum, the 1930, while he died alone and bitter two years later.
In the meantime the demand of Egypt which had always been in force was manifested, the 1935, that he will be justified, since the Germans showed their agreement to the return of the bust, only now Hitler himself intervened to thwart it once and for all.
New official request, this time borrowing, it was raised 2007 by the former director general of Antiquities of Egypt, Zahi Hawass, when the Cairo Archaeological Museum requested the bust to display at the opening of the new museum near the Giza pyramids.
But again the request was rejected, but this does not mean that the Egyptians have forgotten it.
On the other hand, Hitler's Germany had made sure to completely forget Simon and his name was erased from everywhere.
Something that today, 80 years since his death, that is about to change as a permanent tribute to its forgotten patron is planned in Berlin. Specifically a new gallery, which is now being manufactured, it will be called the James Simon Gallery.
