Christian Greco tapped to lead Ötzi Museum scientific committee amid Egizio leadership turmoil

Christian Greco, director of the Museo Egizio di Torino, has been identified as the ideal candidate to chair the scientific committee of the Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige (Ötzi Museum) in Bolzano. This development comes amid a bitter dispute over leadership appointments at the Museo Egizio, where the mandates of director Greco, president Evelina Christillin, and the board of directors are expiring between November 2024 and September 2025. The Italian government has been seeking to remove Greco, considered a controversial figure for his inclusive views and subjected to ideological pressure. For the presidency, founder members requested Christillin's renewal to ensure continuity for the museum's bicentennial at year's end. Rumors suggest archaeologist Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian tourism minister and close to Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano, might replace her, a move criticized by the scientific community for his lack of managerial skills. Greco's appointment at the Ötzi Museum is seen as an opportunity to modernize the museum's exhibitions and research. Final confirmations are pending.