Archaeological Property

This episode delves into a protracted conflict between Egypt and Germany over the famous Nefertiti bust displayed in the Neues Museum in Berlin, revealing the circumstances of its discovery by the German mission led by Ludwig Borchardt in 1912, the role of financier James Simon, and the differing positions between Egyptian archaeologists, most notably Zahi Hawass, and German officials regarding each party's right to the bust.

In the heart of Athens, the story of the void left by the original sculptures unfolds, while in London, visitors stand before the Elkin marbles. A story stretching from the colonial era to the present day, between those who consider them a global treasure and those who see them as part of a stolen identity. A renewed cultural debate puts museums to the test of historical justice.

This episode takes us on a journey to the heart of the Congo, where the Luba mask was born—a unique work of art acquired by Belgium during the colonial era. Today, the museum displays the mask as a symbol, while Congolese people see it as evidence of the plundering of their memory and history. Through this conflict, the documentary reveals a growing debate surrounding the ownership of cultural heritage.

In this episode, we explore the extraordinary Kandy Cannon, a jewel-encrusted masterpiece transported from Sri Lanka to the Netherlands during the colonial era. Today, museums display it as a historical artifact, while the Sri Lankan people consider it a symbol of the plundering of their past and the erasure of their collective memory. The story opens a sensitive debate about who has the right to cultural heritage.