News, Giza: Ministries of Antiquities and Tourism Sign Cooperation Protocol to Develop Giza Plateau

Egypt's ministries of antiquities and tourism gear up for the development of archaeological sites to promote tourism. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

Egypt’s ministries of antiquities and tourism have signed a cooperation protocol to co-manage tourist services at archaeological sites all over the country in an attempt to promote tourism. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany said that the Giza Plateau will be the first site to be developed within the framework of the protocol.

Ashraf Mohi, the general-director of the Giza Plateau, told Ahram Online that the areas to be managed at the Giza Plateau are to include the Giza pyramids, the visitor's centre, bazaars, cafeterias, sports area, as well as musical performances.

Mohi added that the first phase of the Giza Plateau Development Project, which started in 2010, is about to be completed. The first phase is financed by the Ministry of Tourism and includes the construction of several edifices including the visitor's centre, administrative offices, and tourism and antiquities police centres.

Paving all the roads around the plateau and those connecting the entrance gate to the exit is also part of the first phase. The second phase, Mohi said, will begin immediately after the completion of the first one and includes the development of the services area.

Source: Ahran Online

For All Related Posts About Giza Plateau Click Here

News: Tight Security Measures Needed to Protect Artifacts in Egypt's Historic Mosques - Antiquities Ministry

Egypt's Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany headed on Monday an inspection tour of the mausoleums of King Fouad and Princess Feria at central Cairo's Al-Refai mosque, following the robbery on Sunday of six Islamic lamps that decorated the sites. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

During the inspection, El-Enany said that the Ministry of Antiquities would be collaborating closely with the Ministry of Religious Endowments to ensure the highest level of protection for artifacts in Egypt's historical mosques.

El-Enany told Ahram Online that the mausoleums where the lamps were stolen are not used for prayers and are home to a number of historical artifacts. He said they should therefore be managed by the Ministry of Antiquities rather than the religious endowments ministry.

The Prosecutor-General's office is currently investigating the theft and questioning employees from the ministries of antiquities and religious endowments.

Alsaeid Helmy, head of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities at the ministry, said that a committee assigned Sunday to conduct an inventory of the mosque's artifacts has begun its work.

Helmy added that one of the stolen lamps has been replaced with a replica until the real ones can be recovered.

The stolen lamps date to 1911 (1328 Hegira), and are made of thick glass decorated with a Quranic verse from the Surah An-Nur written in Mameluke raised script.

The verse says: “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp.”

Source: Ahram Online

News, Cairo: Six Islamic lamps Stolen from Al-Refai Mosque Near Cairo Citadel

The lamps date to 1910, constructed out of glass with Quranic verse from the Surah An-Nur written in Mameluke raised script. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

The Lamps Decorating The Mosque

Six Islamic lamps that decorate the ceilings of the mausoleums of Egypt’s King Fouad and Princess Ferial at Al-Refai mosque in Cairo were stolen Sunday, an official at the Supreme Council of Antiquities said.

Secretary General of the council Mostafa Amin told Ahram Online the Ministry of Antiquities "learned of the theft today and has begun a full investigation to find the lamps and the person(s) responsible for their theft."

Alsaeed Helmy, Head of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities at the ministry, said that six out of 15 lamps were stolen from the mausoleums. The lamps date to 1910, and are made of glass decorated with a Quranic verse from the Surah An-Nur written in Mameluke raised script.

The verse says: “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp.”. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany has referred the case to the General Prosecution for investigation, Amin said.

The case has also been referred to the Tourism and Antiquities Police as well as the Ministry of Endowments, which is responsible for both mausoleums, for assistance in recovering the lamps. Amin added that El-Enany ordered the formation of a committee to carry out an inventory of all the artefacts that reside in the mosque.

The Al-Refai mosque is the resting place of many members of the Egyptian Royal Family, including the last monarch, King Farouk. The last Shah of Iran was also buried in the mosque in 1980.

Source: Ahram Online

News, Cairo: Ancient Egyptian Goddess of Protection to Greet Arriving Travelers at Cairo Airport

A replica statue of the deity Serquet will be erected in Terminal 2. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.

The Replica Statue of Serqet

The Egyptian goddess of protection, Serqet, is to welcome Egypt’s visitors at Cairo International Airport starting Thursday, when a replica statue of the deity will be erected in Terminal 2.

Amr El-Tibi, the executive director of the antiquities ministry's Antiquity Replicas Unit, told Ahram Online that the statue will be taken from the unit’s factory in Cairo’s Citadel to the airport on Thursday morning.

The statue is a gift from the antiquities ministry to the civil aviation ministry, El-Tibi said, in an attempt to encourage tourism as well as to highlight the ongoing cooperation between the two ministries, as well as the tourism ministry.

El-Tibi explained that the polyester statue is four metres tall, weighs 150kg, and took two months to make. It is made of polyester and depicts Serquet, one of the four protective ancient Egyptian deities who stretch their arms to protect Tutankhamun's golden shrine. She wears a scorpion on her head.

Last month the antiquities ministry offered Ecuador a replica statue of Ramses II, which is similar to the authentic one that was transported in 2006 from Ramses Square in downtown Cairo to the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking Giza Plateau, which is yet to open.

The statue was erected in Quito's Condado Square which was subsequently renamed Egypt Square.

Source: Ahram Online