She is an enduring global symbol of beauty, power and mystery who has fascinated Hitler, Beyoncé and Arab Spring activists alike: Queen Nefertiti, whose name translates to "the beautiful one has come," is one of the most iconic figures of the ancient world.
The Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten — who radically transformed Egyptian religion by promoting the worship of the single sun god, Aten — ruled more than 3,300 years ago. But Nefertiti's current fame is largely due to the discovery of a painted stucco-coated limestone bust in 1912 by a German archaeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt.
The bust was then brought to Berlin. Today, it is "the undisputed star of the Neues Museum," as stated on the website of the Prussian Cultural Foundation, which oversees the collection of the museum, which is part of the UNESCO-listed Berlin Museum Island.
Growing calls for restitution
Restitution claims for the bust began shortly after its discovery. Now, with the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the calls are gaining momentum.
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It's fake. Let them keep it.