Solution in the mummy dispute
Shepenese repatriation to Egypt is being considered
After criticism from theater director Milo Rau, the administrative council of the Catholic denomination of the canton of St. Gallen wants to examine the return of the Schepenese mummy. Contact will be made with the responsible Egyptian authorities.
The theater director Milo Rau with the Schepenese mummy exhibited in the St. Gallen Abbey Library. (archive image)
The Schepenese mummy in the St. Gallen Abbey Library had been the reason for a controversial debate in the last few days, which was triggered by the theater project by the cultural worker Milo Rau, the Catholic denomination said on Wednesday.
As the owner of all the holdings of the Abbey Library, the Administrative Council has now made an overall assessment and will now “seriously examine the transfer of Shepenese to Egypt,” it said. The committee was advised by cultural and legal experts.
It is important to the Administrative Council that any transfer of Schepenese’s human remains is carried out with dignity. It is important to him that the mummy is treated seriously and in a differentiated manner, also with reference to its country of origin, Raphael Kühne, President of the Administrative Council, is quoted in the statement.
On November 17, Milo Rau received the St. Gallen Culture Prize. In his speech, he criticized the presentation of the Schepenese mummy in the Abbey Library, causing quite a stir in St. Gallen. He then started a campaign to bring the mummy back and wanted to use his prize money of CHF 30,000 for it.
(SDA)