Switzerland Returns 2,000-Year-Old Ptolemaic Funerary Mask to Egypt
Official Handover in Bern Following Customs Interception
In a significant step for cultural heritage preservation, Switzerland has officially repatriated an ancient Ptolemaic funerary mask to Egypt, over two millennia after its creation.
The artifact was originally intercepted by Swiss customs officials in 2022. Following comprehensive examinations, archaeology experts authenticated the mask as a genuine Egyptian antiquity. The official handover ceremony took place in Bern, where Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider presented the artifact to Egypt’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Mohamed Negm.
Bilateral Efforts to Combat Illicit Cultural Property Trafficking
The return of the artifact highlights the enduring partnership between Switzerland and Egypt in safeguarding cultural heritage and combating the illicit trafficking of antiquities.
This diplomatic and cultural collaboration has yielded substantial results over the past decade. Since 2011, Switzerland has successfully repatriated approximately 80 cultural objects to Egypt, marking another milestone in returning historical treasures to their country of origin.
