The bust of Nefertiti is one of the most famous works of ancient Egyptian art, and one of the most contested. This course explores the ethical, historical and legal questions surrounding its place in Berlin’s Neues Museum and the repeated calls for its return to Egypt. You’ll place the sculpture in its ancient context by looking at Nefertiti’s life and the work of the artist who created it, then trace its modern journey from excavation in 1912 to the repatriation debates of today. A fascinating course for anyone interested in museums, archaeology and cultural heritage.

DELIVERY MODE

Hybrid (Face to face and online simultaneously)

COURSE OUTLINE

• Who was Nefertiti?
• The bust in context: its ancient production and modern discovery
• Journey to Berlin
• The Egyptian and German perspectives on ownership

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand the legal and ethical frameworks of cultural property and museum curation
2. Place the bust of Nefertiti in its historical context
3. Evaluate modern arguments for and against repatriation