The sphinx, dug up in the early part of the 20th century from the ancient city of Hattuşa, the capital of the Hittite empire, was taken to Germany for restoration but now sits in a Berlin museum, much to Turkey´s annoyance.
Germany authorities on Friday hit back at Turkish Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay after he demanded the return of an ancient sphinx uncovered from a German archeological dig nearly a century ago.
In an interview with Thursday´s Tagesspiegel, Günay gave Germany until June to hand back the priceless artifact, thought to date from around 1400 BC, else Ankara would revoke permits for other German excavations.
But in a statement issued Friday, the president of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which groups together Berlin´s main museums, said that Turkey had been clamoring for the return of the sphinx since the 1930s.
"Nothing has changed since then in the legal interpretation of the case either on the German side or the Turkish side," said Hermann Parzinger.
"Given the particular nature and history of German-Turkish relations, we need to find a new, constructive way to solve this case," he added. "Threatening to close German digs in Turkey ... does not create a climate in which a positive solution can be found."
The sphinx, dug up in the early part of the 20th century from the ancient city of Hattuşa, the capital of the Hittite empire, was taken to Germany for restoration but now sits in a Berlin museum, much to Turkey´s annoyance.
Günay has also threatened several other German archaeological digs around the country, saying the permits could go to Turkish scientists.
Germany is also embroiled in a row with Egypt, which has demanded the return of the 3,400-year-old bust of fabled beauty Nefertiti, which currently has pride of place in the Neues Museum in Berlin.
Cairo began to demand the restitution of the Pharaonic-era statue back in the 1930s, but successive German governments have insisted the piece was bought legally and that there are documents to prove it.
The Foreign Ministry in Berlin told AFP that experts from Germany and Turkey would hold talks in the first half of the year to determine the future of the sphinx.
Note : Dear German politiicians;. there is a fact that as it has been found in our land. naturally should be given back to us.
