I ran across an interesting article about a bust of Queen Nefertiti which is in Germany, and which the Egyptians want to borrow for a show, and to which the Germans are saying 'probably not'.

http://news.sawf.org/Lifestyle/36216.aspx

I'd think that this could be potentially embarrassing for Germany, although it sounds like it's been going on for decades.

The reference to Hitler initially not objecting to its return seems almost surreal to me. That is strange.

That was an interesting article, and I do think that the Germans SHOULD loan it Egypt. Better yet, they should RETURN it, in a show of good faith. And I fully expect, should it be loaned for the opening of the museum, that Mr. Hawas would be true to his word, and return it when the time came.

I agree, they should return it! At the very least, they shouldn't have a problem *loaning* it. What do they think is going to happen? Are they truly selfish, or is there something else behind their unwillingness to loan?

It sounds like to me the Germans think they won't get it back because of all this history of feuding they seem to have with the Egyptians about it. I don't know ...seems complicated.

I'm sure they have other items that are just important historically, and they haven't let got of any of those, either. Of course, there's always been a certain mystique about Nefertiti anyhow, maybe that has something to do with it?

Well, she's certainly one of the most recognizable figures in Egyptian history outside of King Tut. I suspect they just want to keep her around.