The whole world is fascinated by the mystery and beauty of the ancient Egyptian civilization to the extent that everyone wants to acquire a piece of it at home, but in fact, the Egyptians are the owners of this cultural legacy that is confusing the whole world.
Egyptian antiquities have been moved from Egypt to the museums of the world before enacting the laws that criminalize the trade of Egyptian antiquities, some of which are in museums, including what decorates the international squares such as the obelisks.
These museums earned a huge amount of money because of the pharaohs antiquities stolen from Egypt during the occupation era.
The most important archaeological pieces smuggled abroad:
1. Rosetta Stone in the British Museum
The French Campaign in Egypt seized Rosetta by force during their colonization to Egypt, then it was given to the British Museum illegally.
Rosetta Stone
2.Nefertiti Bust at Berlin Museum
On December 6, 1912, Nefertiti Bust was found by a German mission at the workshop of sculptor Thutmose in Amarna.
The bust arrived in Germany in 1913, then it was handed over to German-Jewish entrepreneur, art collector, and philanthropist Henri James Simon.
Simon kept the bust, then he gave it and other Egyptian antiques to the Berlin Museum.
Nefertiti
3. The Planetarium of Zodiac, which is now existed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Zodiac
4. Hemiunu
Hemiunu, who is the architect of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt, is now at the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum.
Hemiunu
5. Ankhhaf Bust
Ankhhaf Bust, who was the architect of pyramid II, is now in America.
Ankhhaf Bust
6. Many obelisks in France, America, and others:
1.Four obelisks of King Ramses II in Paris, France.
2. Lateran obelisk of King Tuthmosis IV in Italy.
3. The Vatican Obelisk in St Peter's Square, Rome.
The statue of Sekhemka is one of the most famous antiques which were sold at international auctions.
It is an Ancient Egyptian artifact, given by the Marquess of Northampton to Northampton Museum, in or about 1870. The statue dates from the 5th dynasty.
Sekhemka
The most important Egyptian Antiques sold at Christie's and Sotheby's in London are as follows:
an ancient limestone statue of the scribe Nakht-Ankh, which dates back to the twelve and thirteen dynasty around 1800 – 1700 BC, was sold at Sotheby’s auction with an estimated price of £1,000,000 to £1,500,000.
Sotheby’s auction also sold a multicolored wooden mummy mask dating back to the 21st and 22nd dynasties, circa 1075-1716 BC with an estimated price of £100,000 and £150,000.
The bust of Pharaonic Head of the Soldiers, which dates back from the 18th century to the 19th century BC, was sold with an estimated price of $118,000.
Canopic jar, used by the ancient Egyptians during the mummification process to store and preserve the viscera of their owner for the afterlife, was soled in an auction with an estimated price of $ 25,000.
Contributed By: Mohamed Helba
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