{"id":543266,"date":"2025-11-02T02:28:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T02:28:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/543266\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T02:28:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T02:28:20","slug":"pressure-intensifies-on-britain-to-return-the-rosetta-stone-after-new-museum-opens-in-egypt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/543266\/","title":{"rendered":"Pressure intensifies on Britain to return the Rosetta Stone after new museum opens in Egypt"},"content":{"rendered":"

By NICK CONSTABLE, REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 20:24 EDT, 1 November 2025 | Updated: 20:26 EDT, 1 November 2025 <\/p>\n

The opening of a colossal new museum containing treasures of the pharaohs has reignited a\u00a0campaign for Britain to return one of ancient history’s most important artefacts.<\/p>\n

Academics say the \u00a3910 million Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Cairo strengthens the case for the Rosetta Stone to be given back to Egypt<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The stone, carved between 323BC and 30BC, was the key to understanding hieroglyphics.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has been almost constantly on show at the British Museum since 1802.<\/p>\n

The GEM officially opened yesterday and will house more than 100,000 items in an area the size of 70 football pitches.<\/p>\n

Other iconic relics regarded as stolen loot by some Egyptologists include the 3,300-year-old bust of Queen Nefertiti, held by Berlin<\/a>‘s Neues Museum, and the Dendera Zodiac, a stone relief map of the ancient sky, at The Louvre.<\/p>\n

Dr Monica Hanna, Dean of the Arab Academy of Science and Technology, said they were ‘taken under a colonialist pretext’ and should be repatriated because ‘the GEM gives this message’.<\/p>\n

\"Academics <\/p>\n

Academics say the \u00a3910 million Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo strengthens the case for the Rosetta Stone (pictured) to be given back to Egypt\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The stone, carved between 323BC and 30BC, has been almost constantly on show at the British Museum since 1802<\/p>\n

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she added: ‘On the occasion of the inauguration, Egypt should start asking officially for the restitution and repatriation of the different objects that were looted in the 20th and 19th century.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

Her call has been supported by Dr Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former minister of antiquities.<\/p>\n

The Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 at Fort Julien, near the port of Rosetta, on the west bank of the Nile.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the British defeated the French in 1801 they took it to London as war booty.<\/p>\n

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