Zahi Hawass has succeeded in persuading museums around the world to return ancient treasures to Egypt, and has ambitions to recapture even more. But is the modern state's claim on pharaonic artefacts truly legitimate? Matt Bradley, foreign correspondent, reports from Cairo.
A great deal has been said about Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. He has variously been described as egotistical, charismatic, unscrupulous and, sometimes, well-dressed.
But as far as Mr Hawass's primary goals are concerned, he could also be called successful. This week, in what might be his boldest move yet, Mr Hawass watched as the Louvre Museum, the Parisian temple to the past, returned five ancient frescoes that he said had been illegally plundered in 1980. The Louvre agreed to return the pieces only after Mr Hawass suspended Egypt's archaeological co-operation with the museum in October.
Since he became Egypt's chief archaeologist in 2002, Mr Hawass has undertaken a personal mission to repossess many of ancient Egypt's far-flung artefacts while re-imagining Egyptology - long dominated by Europeans - as a discipline for the Egyptian people. Egypt's archaeologist-in-chief said he had already overseen the return of some 5,000 pieces from museums and collections abroad.
Buoyed by his recent successes, Mr Hawass has called for an international conference next March for countries who are seeking the return of ancient objects. Greece, Italy, China and Mexico will be among about 12 nations he expects to attend.
He also plans to enter into negotiations with Berlin's Neues Museum tomorrow for the return of the bust of Nefertiti. Earlier this week, Mr Hawass announced that he would renew calls for the British Museum in London to return the famous Rosetta Stone, which the museum has displayed since 1802.
"I will tell them that we need the Rosetta Stone to come back to Egypt for good," Mr Hawass told the Reuters news agency last week. "The British Museum has hundreds of thousands of artefacts in the basement and as exhibits. I am only needing one piece to come back, the Rosetta Stone. It is an icon of our Egyptian identity and its homeland should be Egypt."
Mr Hawass has styled himself as the protector of his country's ancient patrimony and, indeed, the modern Egyptian identity. But his aggressive efforts have raised questions among archaeologists about the nature of antiquities and those who should possess them.
For Mr Hawass, the ownership debate transcends the legal distinctions between theft and property rights. Instead, he views the vestiges of ancient history through the contemporary lens of the modern Egyptian state and its history of colonial domination.
"I think this is wrong. We, even if the Rosetta Stone is in England, we own that stone," Mr Hawass told Riz Khan, a reporter for Al Jazeera English, in a 2007 interview. "Egypt has the right. It doesn't mean that if you have an artefact in your museum that you own it. No, the motherland should own this."
Mr Hawass's mentality may be younger than the pharaohs, but it is certainly not new. In the 1930s, Taha Hussein, a prominent nationalist philosopher, popularised the idea of Pharaonism, which sought to divorce the Egyptian identity from its Arab and Islamic influences. Indeed, politicians throughout the world have long sought to connect their modern nation states to ancient civilisations.
Ask an Egyptian about his ancient ancestry and he will probably say that he is descended from the pharaohs. But centuries of foreign incursions have left Egypt a melting pot of peoples from Africa and Asia. In almost every respect, the modern Egyptian bears little resemblance to his pharaonic "ancestors".
So is it only by accidents of geography that ancient art should belong to a modern state?
"Things don't have national cultural identities. People give them those by claiming them," said James Cuno, the director of the Art Institute of Chicago and author of Who Owns Antiquities? "I think we have to be very careful to assume that there is a cultural, even racial or ethnic relationship between a thing that was made and a people that claim it."
It is the habit of political elites throughout the world to manufacture patrimonial claims on ancient art, said Mr Cuno, and such claims rarely amount to a true populist demand.
"I'm always very cautious about the rhetorical formulation of 'the people'," he said. "We don't know how 'the people' feel and we know that the government is, as any government is, a government of the elite trying to perpetuate its hold on power."
Yet to say that such sentiments are nationalistic or illogical is to understate the genuine affinity that modern Egyptians feel for an ancient history they are proud to call theirs alone.
"They must be returned to us because they are ours," said Mo'men Mohammed, who was strolling through downtown Cairo on Thursday. "They established the civilisation in which we are living now."
But even if that argument resonates among most Egyptians, it would almost certainly be ignored in a court of law, said David Gill, a history and classics professor at Swansea University. After all, questions of legality do not answer to ethics alone.
"I would say that there is a very weak legal case to be made, but I think there is a very strong moral case to be made for this shortlist of significant objects to be displayed in Egypt," said Mr Gill of the five main items Mr Hawass has identified as needing to be returned: the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum; the statue of Hemiunu at the Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim, Germany; the Dendera Zodiac, which is also at the Louvre; the bust of Queen Nefertiti at Berlin's Neues Museum; and the bust of Prince Ankhhaf at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
"To me the argument is much more about 'here is a unique icon of Egyptology, here is the stone that was used to unlock hieroglyphics'. It is so significant for the study of Egyptology that it's more appropriate for it to be in Egypt," said Mr Gill of Mr Hawass's request for the Rosetta Stone, the metre-high rock that allowed archaeologists to translate ancient Egyptian text into classical Greek.
Napoleon's army unearthed the stone in northern Egypt in 1799, but it was ceded to the British after Napoleon's defeat near Alexandria in 1801.
Unfortunately for Mr Hawass, all of the items on his wish list were removed from Egypt before 1970, when delegates to Unesco, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, drafted the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. That treaty was the first to set international guidelines for policing the smuggling of antiquities.
Still today, there is no international legal mechanism for adjudicating smuggled cultural property. That task is left to the judicial systems of acquiring countries, which tend to return properties only where there is genuine evidence of theft.
Faced with requests such as those of Mr Hawass, some European museums have found a comfortable middle ground. Katja Lembke, the director of the Germany's Pelizaeus Museum, said she and Mr Hawass decided on a partnership to allow for the temporary exchange of artefacts as part of an international travelling exhibition. The partnership will be the first occasion in which Egyptian museums would borrow as well as lend their artefacts. The Pelizaeus Museum's statue of Prince Hemiunu will travel to Egypt after the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, a US$592 million (Dh1.99 billion) colossus scheduled for completion on the Giza plateau in 2012 or 2013.
"This is the land of the Nile, so there is a connection between the old period of the pharaohs and the modern times, in my opinion," said Ms Lembke. "But on the other hand, of course, the pyramids are one of the most touristic points, one of the points you have to see before you die for everyone in the world. So it is not only the national heritage of Egypt but world heritage."
That may be so, but for most Egyptians, such lofty nuances are immaterial to the more finite question of who should own what.
"Whether it's from the past or not, they are our objects," said Rabab, 19, a Cairo University student. "We made them. Not you."
* The National
Mumbai Indians 213/6 (20 ov)
Royal Challengers Bangalore 167/8 (20 ov)
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Fixtures
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20April%203%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EArsenal%20v%20Luton%20Town%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EManchester%20City%20v%20Aston%20Villa%2C%2011.15pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EThursday%2C%20April%204%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ELiverpool%20v%20Sheffield%20United%2C%2010.30pm%20(UAE)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Boulder shooting victims
• Denny Strong, 20
• Neven Stanisic, 23
• Rikki Olds, 25
• Tralona Bartkowiak, 49
• Suzanne Fountain, 59
• Teri Leiker, 51
• Eric Talley, 51
• Kevin Mahoney, 61
• Lynn Murray, 62
• Jody Waters, 65
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
