Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

Zahi Hawass calls for removal of ‘offensive’ Champollion statue at College de France

Zahi Hawass calls for removal of ‘offensive’ Champollion statue at College de France

Dr. Zahi Hawass, the world-renowned archaeologist and Egyptologist, has called for the removal or relocation of the statue of French archeologist Jean Francois Champollion, which is located in the courtyard of College de France, because it is offensive to the Egyptian people.
The statue depicts Champollion standing with his foot on the head of the statue of Ramses.

Hawass made the request during a lecture recently delivered at a major antiquities exhibition in Paris entitled “Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs,” which continues until Sept. 17.

“This statue shows contempt and a lack of appreciation that is not reciprocated by the Egyptian people, who appreciated Champollion’s role in the field of Egyptology and named a street after him,” Hawass said.

“Therefore, we demand the same amount of respect.”

In addition to the coffin of one of ancient Egypt’s longest-ruling pharaohs, Ramses II, the exhibition includes an array of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including solid gold and silver jewelry, statues, amulets, masks and other sarcophagi.

State-of-the-art multimedia reproductions are showcasing ancient Egyptian civilization and provide visitors insight into the life and accomplishments of Ramses II.

The traveling exhibition has been held in several major cities.

It was inaugurated in Houston in November 2021 before moving to San Francisco in August last year.

Champollion’s statue is made from limestone, crafted from a single stone block. Champollion is the French scholar who unlocked the secrets of ancient Egypt’s hieroglyphs. It was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi in 1875.

Meanwhile, Hawass also called on France to return other antiquities. “The Zodiac ceiling (Dendera zodiac) currently displayed in the Louvre Museum must be returned to its original home, to be placed in the Dendera Temple in Qena Governorate (southern Egypt).”

The Dendera zodiac is an ancient Egyptian depiction of the sky and stars. It is a circular bas-relief carving from the ceiling of the Temple of Hathor in Dendera.

The zodiac is one of the oldest known depictions of the constellations.

Gen. Louis Desaix, a member of Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt, was so captivated by the Zodiac Ceiling that he commissioned artist Denon to draw it for the Description de L’Egypte, the record of the expedition's exploration of Egypt.

The ceiling’s beauty and significance did not go unnoticed by French collector Sebastien Saulnier. He decided that such a remarkable piece should belong to France.

However, Saulnier was determined to keep his plan a secret and announced that he was excavating at Thebes, where he purchased mummies and antiquities to cover his tracks.

During this time, some English visitors were also sketching at Dendera, and only after they left did Saulnier return.

With the help of his French agent, Saulnier removed the Ceiling of the Temple and transported it to Paris.

The ceiling was eventually sold to King Louis XVIII for 150,000 francs.

Last October, Hawass launched an electronic signature campaign to demand the return of the Rosetta Stone from the British Museum in London and the Zodiac Ceiling from the Louvre Museum in France.

Hawass said at the time: “The Zodiac is considered a unique and important Egyptian artifact, and removing it from its original location is immoral as it is a symbol of Egyptian civilization that must be returned to its rightful place.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×