Deciphering the Rosetta Stone debate
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Andie Byrnes has posted a compendium of articles regarding the repatriation of the Rosetta Stone.
Much of the information is of course repetitive, and while the majority if not all of the writers seem to agree on keeping the historic relic at the British Museum, comments are divided.
We live in a much different world from the times when the Rosetta Stone was first seen by modern eyes. What has been proposed by the Egyptian government as a loan (perhaps as short as three months) for the opportunity of the Egyptian people to witness the Rosetta Stone during the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled by 2013, is somehow turning into an issue of redress of grievances committed over two centuries ago.
The dispute (if it really exists) on the repatriation of the Rosetta Stone is reviving imperialistic notions that has no relevance today. The media insists on portraying this issue as a one man battle against a formidable institution honored by its long time commitment to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the entire world. Granted, Dr. Hawass himself may be feeding this perception by his image as sole champion of Egyptology for Egyptians.
Let’s hope this debate ends before the inauguration of the GEM.
