An ancient Egyptian statue dating back over 3,000 years has finally been returned to its home country after being stolen and smuggled out over three decades ago.
The statue, depicting the head of the powerful King Ramses II, was part of a larger piece showing the king seated alongside several Egyptian gods.
This valuable artefact, which originated from the Ramses II temple in Abydos and dates back more than 3,400 years, resurfaced in 2013 when it was put up for sale at a London gallery.
It then made its way through various countries until it was ultimately seized in Switzerland and repatriated to Egypt with the help of Swiss authorities.
Egyptian officials successfully proved their ownership rights to the statue, highlighting that it had been illegally taken out of the country. The artefact will now undergo restoration and preservation at the prestigious Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This significant return of a precious piece of Egypt’s history symbolizes a victory in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage.
