Egypt has renewed its call for the British Museum to return the iconic Rosetta Stone, while significantly scaling back broader repatriation demands. Officials now argue that tens of thousands of other Egyptian artifacts in the UK, acquired legally, are part of London’s identity and serve as cultural ambassadors. However, they insist the 2,200-year-old Rosetta Stone was taken illegally during wartime. The British Museum counters this claim, stating that the 1801 Treaty of Alexandria legally transferred the stone to Britain after British forces defeated France. This shift comes as Egypt celebrates the opening of its new Grand Egyptian Museum, where officials emphasize that generations of Egyptians have never seen this foundational artifact. The renewed request stops short of a formal government demand but signals a continued, focused effort to reclaim this singular symbol of ancient heritage.
The Telegraph
