It was inevitable that the Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo would accompany its much-delayed opening with demands for the restitution of several of the most famous objects that have survived from the days of the Pharaohs. It was inevitable too that this effort would be fronted by the irrepressible Zahi Hawass, formerly the government minister in charge of antiquities, and now one of the most voluble ambassadors for ancient Egyptian civilization.

The history of the Rosetta Stone is not simply an Egyptian history

Fortunately he is not asking for the return of everything. If he was, the largest museum of Egyptian antiquities outside of Egypt, in Turin, would be left completely empty. The Museo Egizio owes its collection to the Savoy dynasty, who cleverly decided to concentrate on collect

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