Nefertiti - The Lonely Queen

Episode Overview

Part 1 looks at the status of cultural treasures taken from their country of origin during colonial times. Voices demanding repatriation are getting stronger. Museum directors talk about why their institution is the rightful owner and custodian of certain objects. Cultural activists demanding repatriation explain the necessity of guarding their cultural heritage in an accessible place in the home country. Nefertiti is in Berlin, The Parthenon Marbles are in London, The Rosetta Stone is in Paris and many other priceless historical pieces in many other capitals of the West, all house objects that are at the centre of a heated discussion. Legal and ethical questions in a tug of war make this debate a murky one, at best. However, there are examples of cases where a mutually beneficial solution has been found.