Switzerland returns fragment of statue of Ramesses II to Egypt
The fragment of a statue of the pharaoh Ramesses II is thought to be more than 3,400 years old
Federal Office of Culture
Switzerland has returned to Egypt a fragment of a statue of the pharaoh Ramesses II that is more than 3,400 years old. The object had been confiscated in Geneva as part of cantonal criminal proceedings.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Português
pt
Suíça devolve fragmento de estátua de Ramsés II ao Egito
The sculpture of Ramesses II is part of a group statue in which the pharaoh is seated alongside various Egyptian deities, the Federal Office of Culture said in a statementExternal link on Monday. The fragment was stolen between the late 1980s and early 1990s from the Temple of Ramesses II in Abydos. It passed through several countries before arriving in Switzerland.
The stone sculpture was handed over to the Egyptian embassy in Bern on Monday by Carine Bachmann, director of the Federal Office of Culture. Its return is in accordance with the law on the international transfer of cultural property, the office said.
This restitution underlines the joint commitment of Switzerland and Egypt to combating the illicit trade in cultural property, which was strengthened in 2011 by the entry into force of a bilateral agreement on the import and return of cultural property.
Both countries are parties to the 1970 UNESCO Convention to prohibit and prevent the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. Egypt has been hard hit by the looting and destruction of its archaeological sites. The objects at risk range from everyday objects to religious or ritual objects, such as funerary offerings, statues and other architectural elements.
Ramesses II, also known as Ramesses the Great and, in ancient Greek sources, Ozymandias, was an Egyptian pharaoh who lived from around 1303BC-1213BC.
More
More
The war on stolen artefacts
This content was published on
Switzerland was once a hot destination for stolen cultural artefacts. But now it’s trying hard to secure the return of treasures.
It’s working closely with the Italian authorities. The latest handover was in October: the Swiss gave the Italian embassy in Bern 27 objects of huge historic and artistic value. These included 26 Etruscan artefacts from a private collection and a 2,000-year-old marble bust, found at the Geneva free port.
The illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts is the world’s third-largest illegal market, after drugs and weapons. Countries such as Italy, which has a rich cultural heritage, have been working hard for decades to stop it.
As the Lugano lawyer and expert in art law Dario Jucker explains, stolen cultural property represents a vast illegal market.
Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Heat warning issued in western and southern Switzerland
This content was published on
With the coming days set to be hot, authorities have declared a danger level of 3 out of 5 for certain parts of the country.
Switzerland concerned by fresh Israeli plans for Gaza
This content was published on
The foreign ministry has said it is “deeply concerned” about Israel’s plans to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Satellite images detect signs of Blatten landslide in 2016
This content was published on
Warning signs of the landslide that wiped out the village in May were visible from space years before, the ESA has found.
This content was published on
Switzerland has returned 32 cultural treasures dating from the Pharaonic and Roman periods to the Egyptian Embassy in Bern.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.