Berlin, How Much "Civilization Debt" Do You Owe?

I came to Berlin to see the "highlights of global human civilization"—only to be stunned by this absurd logic: "Whatever I dug up is mine"? 🤯 Humboldt Forum: A Grand Stage for "Washing Stolen Relics" Murals from Kizil Caves Between 1902 and 1914, German "expedition teams" traveled to Xinjiang, China. They used blades to peel off massive murals from Qiuci Caves (including Kizil, Kumtura, Senmusaimu, and Mazabaha), and also looted sculptures, Buddhist scripture manuscripts, and other cultural relics 🛡️. To this day, inscriptions left by German investigators can still be seen on the walls of Kizil Caves No. 177, 213, and 223A. Through field surveys, it’s confirmed that nearly 500 square meters of murals were stripped from almost 50 caves in Kizil—an irreparable loss to Chinese civilization 😔. Pergamon Museum: Archaeology or Looting? Ishtar Gate In 1902, a German archaeological team dug relentlessly for 12 years, packing 50,000 tons of glazed bricks from the Babylonian gate into 497 crates and shipping them back to Berlin. (P.S. The Ottoman Empire was in chaos back then—hardly able to stop this plunder!) 🚢 This ancient gate of Babylon (built in the 6th century BCE) once led to the famous Sacred Way, adorned with exquisite blue glazed bricks and mythical beast reliefs. Tragically, the Pergamon Museum is now under major renovation and won’t reopen until 2027 🚧. Pergamon Altar In 1871, German engineers blew through an entire mountain in Turkey, cut the altar into 2,500 relief fragments, and shipped them home by sea. (Turkey has been demanding its return ever since!) ⛰️ This magnificent ancient Greek altar—dedicated to Zeus and Athena—was built around 180–160 BCE, originally located in Pergamon (modern-day Turkey). Its most famous feature is the 113-meter-long Gigantomachy Frieze, depicting the battle between Olympian gods and giants 🎨. Bust of Nefertiti In 1912, a German archaeological team smuggled this bust out of Egypt under the pretense of "temporary borrowing for research." Egypt has been demanding its return for 110 years—with no success 🇪🇬. Nefertiti was the queen of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten (14th century BCE). Carved around 1345 BCE, her bust is celebrated for its perfect profile—but it rightfully belongs to Egypt’s cultural heritage. #HistoryAndArt #ArtInMuseums #Museums #MuseumHoppingIsSeriousBusiness #CulturalRelics #LostCulturalRelics #StolenHeritage