We set the task of nominating London’s most influential invaders and talking-up the Big Smoke’s most important ancient sites in the first two rounds of our Ancient World in London Bloggers Challenge, and got some fantastic responses from the blogosphere. In round three we’re posing a new question, to again be answered in blog form in competition for prizes both real and virtual. It’s sure to prove contentious:
Should the British Museum return the Rosetta Stone to Egypt?
This Ptolemaic era Egyptian stele – created in 196 BC and discovered by the French in 1799 at Rosetta in Egypt – was instrumental in the deciphering of hieroglyphic writing in 1822 by the British scientist Thomas Young and the French scholar Jean-François Champollion. Since 1802 it’s been on display at the British Museum in London, which was granted possession of the artefact after it was captured by the British Army in 1801.
There have long been calls for the Rosetta Stone to be repatriated. They’ve become all the more vociferous in recent months, with Dr Zahi Hawass – Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities – leading the campaign for the object’s return to its country of origin. “It’s a unique artefact,” he told the BBC last December. “Its home should not be the British Museum in London, its home should be Cairo, in Egypt.”
Not everyone agrees with Hawass, naturally, the British Museum in particular. That’s not just because they want to hold onto one of their most prized and popular pieces, but also because its repatriation might set a dangerous precedent that could see other key disputed artefacts in the British Museum collection – such as the Elgin Marbles, the Benin Bronzes and the Lewis Chessmen – carried out the door back to where they came from too. The British Museum has its supporters in the UK – a reader’s poll in The Guardian newspaper last year saw a majority of people vote in favour of the Rosetta Stone staying in London.
If you want to take part in the debate, all you need is a blog and an opinion. Perhaps Ben Morales-Correa will make a compelling case on Egypt Then and Now for the Rosetta Stone being packed up and shipped back to Egypt, in time to become a centerpiece in the Grand Egyptian Museum’s collection? Maybe Saesferd from Antiquarian’s Attic will argue the opposite – that it should stay in London, where it can be viewed by a far wider audience than in Cairo? Might Gregory LeFever at Ancient Tides play the compromiser, and argue for a loan agreement between the two parties, to take the sting out of this heated disagreement?
Just by entering, you will win 50 points, setting you well on your way to winning the Ancient World in London grand prize of a holiday in Turkey. The best entry this round – picked by a panel of judges here at Heritage Key – will also receive five books of their choice from Thames & Hudson’s current catalogue.
Play By the Rules
This contest is open to everyone. All you need is an interest in history and somewhere online to post your entry. By entering this competition you agree to comply with the Ancient World in London Competition Rules, as well as the following rules, which are specific to this contest:
• Entries can consist of text, images, video or mixed media.
• All entries must be the contestant’s own work, and any supporting material (e.g. photos or music) must be used with the permission of the copyright owner.
• All entries should contain a link back to this page.
To submit your entry, simply copy and paste the URL of your blogpost, podcast or page as a comment below. The deadline for submission is midnight, GMT on 25th March 2010. The winner will be announced during the following week. The judges’ decision is, of course, final.
Part of the Ancient World in London Web Event
The Ancient World in London is Heritage Key’s groundbreaking three-month-long interactive online and offline event, introducing HD video, virtual worlds, competitions and live events. It is sponsored exclusively by Addison Lee, London’s largest minicab service. Round one’s theme was London’s most influential invaders, round two’s theme was the capital’s most important ancient site. This time it’s the debate over the future of the Rosetta Stone. Log onto Heritage Key in two weeks’ time to check out challenge four!
