Luxor Times

The latest photos of the working process in the Sphinx Avenue (26th January)

2012-01-27T00:26:00.000+02:00

After our report of the state of the Sphinx Avenue and how it was used as a rubbish dump (Read Here) and the follow up in the last printed issue of Luxor Times (Here) and the latest announcements concerning the Avenue and the partial opening in March 2012 (More details Here), There was a slow work has been going on lately in one section of the avenue which the Minister State of Antiquities, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim said it will be excavated and not included in the opening ceremony in March.

Luxor Times shows the area as it is on January 26^th 2012.

We hope to see more progress soon.

The Minister State of Antiquities visits the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir

2012-01-25T14:34:00.000+02:00

On his visit to check on the security procedures at the Egyptian Museum, Minister State of Antiquities said “We trust the Egyptian youth who led this revolution to protect the museum and we also trust the Police and appreciate their efforts to protect our heritage.”

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim says during his visit to the Egyptian Museum that the museum may be re-opened for visitors tomorrow (Thursday),as it was closed for the third day on Wednesday 25th, if the situation was stable in Tahrir Square. The minister is following the current status in the sites all over Egypt and he is reassured that all museums, storages or sites are totally safe.

U.S. Ambassador Visits the National Archives of Egypt on response to Institut d’Egypte Call for Support to Salvage Damaged Books

2012-01-19T00:37:00.000+02:00

The U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, Anne W. Patterson and Mr. Walter North, Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) along with Mr. William Kopycky, Director of the Library of Congress in Egypt and Jane Smyth from the American Center for Research in Egypt (ARCE) visited the National Archives of Egypt, where they were welcomed by Dar el Kutob’s chairman Dr. Zain Abdel Hady.

Dr. Abdel Hady led the delegation on a tour of the conservation labs where the books salvaged from the recent tragic fire at the Institut d’Egypte are being restored. The tour also featured a visit to the Digital Archives Center which was established through assistance provided by the U.S. Library of Congress.

“The fire caused a tragic loss to Egypt’s and the world’s intellectual heritage,” said U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson. “The United States is gratified to be able to support the effort to recover this incredible collection.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development and the American Center for Research in Egypt promptly responded to urgent needs expressed by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture’s Dar el Kutob for assistance. USAID provided the funding for critical equipment and supplies to carry out this critical conservation mission. The U.S. Library of Congress will be offering technical assistance to help preserve the books and catalogue them once they have been salvaged. The Library of Congress has also been working closely with Dar el Kutob on the World Digital Library project to make rare cultural treasures more accessible to a global audience via the Internet.

The Institut d’Egypte was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798 and became a center for research and scholarship about Egypt, producing the well-known “Description of Egypt.” It was recognized as the oldest functioning academy of sciences and arts outside Europe. The collection consists of rare books and manuscripts, some of which date back to the 14th century.

"Egypt is safe and you are welcome" The Minister State of Antiquities in Japan for “Tutankhamon and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibition

2012-01-19T00:27:00.000+02:00

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahhim, Minister State of Antiquities, inviting the people of Japan to visit Egypt and demanding the Japanese government to lift the ban on Japanese nationals travel to Egypt, during the international press conference which was held at Tampozan Gallery in Osaka,Japan.

Dr. Ibrahim wanted to send a message that Egypt is safe and welcoming visitors from all over the world.

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim’s first official visit to Japan of an Egyptian cabinet member since the revolution and beside the main event which is the “Tutankhamon and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” exhibition, The Egyptian minister announced that EgyptAir flights to/from Japan will start again as of early April as a positive step from the Egyptian government to encourage Japanese tourists to visit Egypt.

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim also plans to discuss continuing the procedures of the Japanese grant of 300 million dollars offered by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to complete the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking Giza plateau.

Adel Abd Elsatar, head of the Museums Department, said that the exhibition includes 122 artefacts carefully selected from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, 50 of them from the collection of King Tutankhamon after returning 9 objects last months from King tut collection to Egypt.

The exhibits include the golden coffin of King Tutankhamon, boxes engraved with battle fields and hunting sceneries, various pieces of jewellery inlaid with semi-precious stones, battle kits such as swords and daggers, as well as Tutankhamon’s throne, and a golden shield which was designed to protect the king during and after his death.

Since its beginning in 2002, the exhibition has travelled to Switzerland, Germany, United States (3 years) , France, England, the United States again and Australia.

And the new discovery is .....

2012-01-16T03:39:00.000+02:00

As Luxor Times was the first to publish about Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim talk concerning the new discovery in the Valley of the Kings (Here), we also have some detailed information about the discovery.

Courtesy of MSA

Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, Minister State of Antiquities announced on Sunday January 15^th the discovery of the tomb of Ni Hms (Nekhmet) Bastet, daughter of Amon Re priest and Amon Re singer. The tomb dated to the 22^nd dynasty when Egypt was rules by Libyan rules but Amon Re priests had the power to bury family members in the royal valley at that time. The discovery was made by University of Basel mission headed by Dr. Elina Paulin-Grothe and Dr. Susanne Bickel.

Dr. Elina told the reporters: "We were not looking for new tombs. It was close to another tomb that was discovered 100 years ago."
Dr. Ibrahim mentioned according to the official announcement from the ministry that the mission discovered the tomb during cleaning task on the path leading to Tuthmosis III’s tomb.

The minister also said that the well leads to the burial chamber which measures 3.2 by 4 meters, a wooden black sarcophagus measures 190cm x50cm x 50cm and a wooden tablet measures 27cm by 25cm, both decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions showing the name and titles of the Lady Singer.

“Bahgory on Revolution”

2012-01-12T01:07:00.000+02:00

Al Masar Gallery for Contemporary Art will host a special event on the revolution titled “Bahgory on Revolution” on Sunday 22^nd January at 7PM. The event will continue through February 7, 2012.

Brave Egypt

Bahgory on Revolution is a special event on the revolution by renowned Egyptian artist Georges Bahgory showcasing all the artist's post revolution artworks to date. The artworks on display present bits and pieces of the rundown of events in 2011. Some paintings mainly represent and depict scenes from the events that took place on the 2nd of February 2011, referred to as "The Battle of the Camel". Other paintings shed light on the simple beauty & warmth of the Egyptian social life & some familiar everyday scenes from the streets of Cairo. Bahgory is also representing through his paintings other sources of inspiration such as the charm of music & his fascination by the Egyptian music legend Om Kulthoum.

Singing from Heaven

Georges Bahgory is a renowned Egyptian artist from the third generation born in 1932 in Egypt, and currently living between Cairo and Ivry, France. Bahgory studied Art at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Zamalek, Cairo, 1955 and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris in 1970. Upon a special invitation from the Society of Art Lovers in Paris, his works were selected to represent the Egyptian Pavilion at Louvre Museum in 1999. A face from Egypt was given the Silver Medal award and his name was added to the list of great masters of art. His wood and bronze engravings were on display in many galleries in France and Canada.

At the Cafe

He also created two granite works during the Aswan International Symposium of Sculpture. Bahgory was also a prominent cartoonist of the two weekly magazines of Sabah Al Khair and Rose El Youssef. He was voted the No. 1 Artist of Portraiture in France, Italy and Spain. He published “Trilogy of Icons”, a novel which was acclaimed by prominent literary critics such as Dr. Salah Fadl and Edwar Al Kharat. Some of his works were acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in Amman and the Museum of Modern Art in Cairo.

Tahrir Square

Al Masar Gallery address is Baehler's Mansions, 157b, 26 July St., Ground floor, Zamalek,Cairo.

Opportunity for Egyptian Teenage Girls to Study Technology in the U.S.

2012-01-12T00:40:00.000+02:00

Are you an Egyptian girl aged 15-17? If so, you could get the chance to study technology in the United States this summer by applying for the inaugural TechGirls program by the application deadline on January 24, 2012.

The TechGirls program will bring teenage girls from countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa to the United States in June-July 2012 for a three-to five-week exchange program focused on promoting high-level study of technology. Program activities will include hands-on classes, labs, individual or team-based project design and development, mentoring experiences, job shadowing, site visits to high tech companies in the United States, and opportunities for interaction with American peers.

Applicants should have demonstrated advanced skills and a serious interest in technology, engineering, and/or math in their academic studies. They should also demonstrate a general knowledge/understanding of key technology-focused topics (e.g. programming in C++ or Java, cloud computing, 3D modeling, robotics, mobile communications technology and applications).

Application forms and more information at the following link.

http://egypt.usembassy.gov/techgirls.html

Spring festival Celebration at Sawy Culture Wheel

2012-01-12T00:21:00.000+02:00

The Chinese Culture Centre is organising the Spring Festival celebration at Sawy culture Wheel on 13^th and 14^th January. The celebration activities includes Chinese musical instruments exhibition, tea art show, costume show of China's minority groups, martial art show, and a show dedicated to exhibiting the special folk-custom goods of China's lunar new year

Chinese New Year is observed for two consecutive weeks, and is popularly known as Spring Festival. It usually starts from late January and early February. The variation in the date of festival is due to the changes in the track of the new moon. The Spring Festival ends on the 15th day when the Lantern festival is celebrated.

In 2012, Chinese New Year’s Day will be celebrated on January 23. The New Year festival will start from January 22 (Chinese New Year' Eve) and end on February 6 (Lantern Festival). 2012 marks the 4710th Chinese New Year, and this time it is the year of dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.

The dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac and it is regarded as an auspicious symbol which stands for power, good luck, success, and happiness.

Chinese Culture Week,Cairo Feb. 2010 Courtesy: Xinhua/Zhang Ning)

New discovery in the Valley of the Kings

2012-01-11T03:49:00.000+02:00

Photo courtesy: Stefan Gerke

The Minister state of Antiquities, Mohamed Ibrahim said that a new discovery in the Valley of the Kings will be announced within few days. Is it the long waited for KV64 that Dr. Zahi Hawass was talking about how close to unearth it soon for at least 3 years?

In January 2011, Dr. Zahi Hawass said “We found some indication that this tomb could be for Ankhesenamun, the Queen of Tutankhamun,”

We will keep you updated ...

Photo courtesy: Stefan Gerke

Egypt and U.S. Partner to Launch a Groundwater Lowering Project at Temple Edfu

2012-01-11T03:09:00.000+02:00

The Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) along with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) kicked-off a new groundwater lowering project at Temple Edfu in a workshop held today in Cairo. The project will construct a drainage system to lower the groundwater level that threatens antiquities in the Edfu Temple and will be carried out over approximately 20 months.

The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Mostafa Amin, will attend the Workshop, which has been convened to allow the partners to identify critical factors for project success, prepare action plans, and confirm roles and responsibilities for the project’s implementation. John Pasch, Acting Productive Sector Development Office Director, will represent USAID at the workshop.

“The Egyptian government and USAID have a solid history of successful collaboration to preserve Egypt’s antiquities,” remarked USAID Mission Director Walter North. “We look forward to the same cooperation for Temple Edfu.”

The Government of Egypt and USAID worked together previously on a similar project in Luxor’s East and West Banks where important archeological treasures such as Karnak and Luxor temples, Medinet Habu, the Colossi of Memnon, Amenthotep III, Ramesseum, and Seti I were saved from eventual destruction due to rising groundwater levels. In addition, a groundwater lowering project is currently being implemented for the Pyramids Plateau which is expected to be completed in April 2012.

Since 1993, USAID has provided more than $100 million to support more than 70 antiquities conservation and training projects in partnership with the Government of Egypt.

The new date for the official opening of “Most” of the Sphinx Avenue

2011-12-24T18:41:00.000+02:00

On his visit to Luxor, the Minister of State for Antiquities Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim announced that a new date for opening the Sphinx Avenue for the public is set to mid March but it will be partly opened. As Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim explained that there is a section of the avenue will be open after the restoration and the chosen date fit in with the Berlin International tourism Market in which Egypt will be the official partner country in 2012 according to the agreement that was officially signed on July 1^st 2010.

Luxor Times observations from the site that a slow work has been going on for the 5^th day in a small area opposite of Savoy Market

Check the latest report and comments in Luxor Times new Issue ... Out 19^th December

The new Issue of Luxor Times is out

2011-12-24T18:40:00.000+02:00

In its new shape,size,mission and even price. Luxor Times is on sale now in Luxor, Hurghada and next week in Cairo. More details about the changes and more will be on here on 31st December

Stay Tuned.

The First Antiquities survey since Napoleon’s campaign

2011-10-16T17:27:00.000+02:00

Dr. Mostafa Amin announced the plan for a comprehensive survey of all land and sites owned by the Supreme Council of Antiquities or under the Antiquities protection law. The survey goal is to clarify if these sites host any antiquities in order to take legal procedures to take the sites or land which prove no antiquities value off the Antiquities sites survey.

Dr. Mostafa refereed that the last survey of the land and sites under the antiquities protection law was at the time of the French campaign on Egypt (1798-1801). He added that such a survey will help in the investment of the land where there is no antiquities as well as it helps to identify the land where there is antiquities that could be moved.

Dr. Mostafa Amin pointed out that he assigned Atef Abo El Dahab (Head of the Ancient Egyptian Department) to start immediately the survey and complete this work as soon as possible before presenting the results to the Permanent Committee in order for the SCA to reserve the interests of the owners of those lands, whether they are government or individuals.

This decision could help to put an end to many legal disputes between the SCA and individuals or other governmental agencies over land across Egypt and also give a better prospective to the SCA for the future plans to protect the sites that host antiquities.

5th Dynasty reliefs are back in Egypt

2011-10-15T05:35:00.000+02:00

The SCA received back 2 stone reliefs which were stolen from HotepKa tomb (dated to the 5^th Dynasty) in Sakkara in the 1980s when robbers stole 4 stone reliefs depicting hieroglyphics and wild life scenes.

Dr. Mostafa Amin (Secretary General of SCA) said that the reliefs were retrieved through the co-operation between the SCA and the Antiquities police in Sakkara. One of the reliefs is 100cm x 60cm depicting 4 geese and hieroglyphic letters and the other relief is a rectangular shaped stone with three vertical lines of hieroglyphics carved and bearing the Cartouche of Kings “Sahure (2487 - 2477 BC)” and “Neferirkare (2477 - 2467 BC) ” of 5^th Dynasty.

Dr. Mostafa added that the tomb is documented and registered and the stolen objects of this tomb can’t be possessed by any museum or individual.

Atef Abu El Dahab (Head of the Ancient Egyptian Department at SCA) announced that the objects from that tomb are being kept in the warehouse in Sakkara and it is secured as well as the tomb within the general plan of the area security.

Another SCA Secretary General in office ..... But till when???!!!

2011-09-30T03:56:00.000+02:00

The Egyptian Prime Minister,Dr. Essam Sharaf, appointed Dr. Mostafa Amin Mostafa as the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Mostafa Amin was the head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities department of the SCA and he recieved an honorary award from the Prime Minister in August as one of the best distinguished public leaders.

We will see how long he will last in office !!!

I support your demands but my hands are tight. Abd El Fatah Resigns

2011-09-20T16:51:00.002+02:00

After only 1 month in office,Mr.Mohamed Abd El Fatah resigned from his post as the Secretary General of the supreme council of Antiquities. His resignation came after 2 days that SCA building in Zamalek was closed because of the protesting. He said that he sympathises with the demands but his hands are tight.

In the first move this afternoon, the heads of the different departments in the Supreme Council held an emergency meeting and decided to give permanent job to the temporary employers in the SCA which was the main issue in the past few months. Dr. Atef Abu ElDahab “The head of the Egyptian antiquities department” said “The decision was made to give 4065 temporary employers the permanent jobs on the Supreme council responsibility and the decision will be affective starting tomorrow. The ministry of Finance withdrew this decision before as there was a lack in the budget.”

So what’s next now for the Supreme Council of Antiquities? Will Dr. Zahi Hawass be back Again? Who will be in office and for how long?

No one has an answer but only time will tell.... So hang on there and follow the SCA drama.

Newly appointed Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities

2011-08-18T13:51:00.000+02:00

The Egyptian Prime Minister,Dr. Essam Sharaf, appointed Mr. Mohamed Abd El Fatah as the Secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Abd El Fatah was the head of the Egyptian Antiquities department and he was the head of the museums department for few years and director of Upper Egypt Antiquities.

Zahi Hawass resigns Again!!!

2011-07-17T17:46:00.000+02:00

Dr. Zahi Hawass resigned earlier today and the news coming from the Prime Minister’s office recommend Dr. Mohamed Abd ElMaksoud (Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities) or Dr. Waffa El Siddik (Former curator of the Egyptian Museum). We will see what the next few hours or days will bring. Stay Tuned

Countering Antiquities Trafficking at Egypt’s Ports and Borders

2011-07-17T14:18:00.000+02:00

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, together with Egypt’s Ministry of State for Antiquities, will kick off a four-day workshop on July 18, 2011 in Cairo titled “Countering Antiquities Trafficking at Egypt’s Ports and Borders,” during which American and Egyptian officials will focus on countering antiquities trafficking and enforcing border security.
This intensive workshop is a collaborative effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of State in partnership with the Government of Egypt and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. The workshop is designed to help improve Egypt’s capacity to prevent the illegal export of cultural property through more effective implementation of export controls.

The workshop is scheduled to take place July 18-21, 2011 in Cairo.

The ugly destructive face of media ... An insight on the visa situation

2011-07-16T20:04:00.000+02:00

In the past couple of days rumours started to spread on internet sites (only 2 sites) stating that the Egyptian authority is not renewing visas to foreigners. Those sites based their reports on personal story of maximum of 4 individuals and to make it look important and big exposure that no other media source but them managed to find that fact, they used fancy expressions like “Cracking down on visas” or “simply cut [the expat community] off is kind of worrisome”. The stories created undesirable disturbance between ex-pats. Such articles as it couldn’t be called news. News means something happened but when it is a case of few individuals and the editors didn’t even try to get to the source or the responsible official to check if that information is true or not. In one of the articles they ask someone in ministry of tourism who said all those irresponsible statements and it is even has nothing to do with ministry of tourism when it comes to issuing visas to foreigners.
Such articles only aim at increasing hits on web sites and not considering what mess and damages it could create. Freedom of press comes with responsibility and requires maintaining a high level of integrity otherwise the media will lose its creditability.

To clarify the confusion about the tourist visa situation which was created out of nowhere, here you are the EXACT situation at the moment and if it will be changed at anytime so there will be an official announcement.
1- The tourist visa is valid between 15 days up to 12 months.
2- Each visa application case is handled individually.
3- Not breaking the laws of the Arab Republic of Egypt is your best way to stay on the safe side. This including: Not working without a work permit or trading without a license.
4- You could pay a visit to the nearest Passport Office to check if the information is correct or just rumors. (The place you go to apply for visa or renewal, not anywhere else even if it was still a government office like Ministry of tourism or so)
Hope this will put an end to all the rumors and if anyone is still not sure what’s going on or if Luxor Times information is not correct so please pay a visit to the Passport Office and get back to us.

The sword is Not stolen … Neither the dagger … on display at the Museum of Islamic Art

2011-07-16T14:58:00.000+02:00

Dr. Mohamed Abd El Maksoud (Secretary General of the SCA) announced that the sword and dagger which were dedicated by Taymour Pasha Family to the Museum of Islamic Art will be on display tomorrow (Sunday 17th July). This movement was to prove that the objects were not stolen as claimed by a journalist. Newspapers and media representatives were invited to witness the fact that the objects are still in the museum and to put an end to the rumors based on misleading information.

2 years work led to expose an international network of antiquities smugglers

2011-07-15T05:24:00.000+02:00

In the framework of co-operation between Egypt and the United States in the fight against smuggling of antiquities ... The security authorities in New York arrested today three people involved in the trafficking of stolen artefacts within a large international network of few individuals, including a Jordanian nationality holder who lives in the UAE, An Iranian, Palestinian and Iraqi persons.
Dr. Zahi Hawass have received information from the Department of Homeland Security in New York, indicating the existence of Egyptian antiques in one of the antiquities galleries in New York and many objects were seized and confiscated by U.S. authorities. Zahi added that he has inspected the artifacts and pointed out that the confiscated collection includes antiquities from Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Palestine, including a range of sarcophagus dated back to the Third Intermediate Period (1070-660 BC) and 26th Dynasty (688-525 BC).
Hawass said that the Egyptian objects out of that collection are 10 objects, he added “based on the agreement with the security authorities in the U.S. it was agreed that confidentiality of the proceedings as to arrest the international gang members and find out the names of those who helped in the smuggling the antiquities from Egypt and that he only informed Dr.Essam Sharaf, Egyptian Prime Minister on the details of this issue ... Also it is expected within hours to retrieve other Egyptian artefacts at one of the defendants’ home.
Dr. Hawass said that he was supposed to attend an international press conference with the U.S. side to announce the details of this case, however the escape attempt of one of the members of the gang and arresting him shortly precipitated the announcement today about the details of the case, which was followed up and tracked in Egypt, UAE, England and Iraq and other countries to reach the members of this international network specialised in smuggling antiquities to the United States.

Zahi Hawass confirmed that the Egyptian objects will be returned to the country during the next few months after the completion of the proceedings against the accused in the theft of antiquities from a number of countries in the Middle East and traveling the United States of America for trade. He said that U.S. authorities will inform Egypt within days with the names of the involved Egyptians in the smuggling of antiquities and in money laundering.
In 2009, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had detected a container filled with artefacts was shipped to a New York gallery including an ancient Egyptian sarcophagi which was retrieved beside a number of smuggled artefacts. U.S. security sources indicated that they were able to obtain evidences confirming that New York Gallery display stolen antiquities on sale.
The American sources mentioned that in 2003 the New York gallery has acquired more than 1000 artefacts from all over the world. About 77% of these artefacts were found to be stolen from Middle Eastern countries.

A New discovery at Dra Abu El Naga and this time the announcement came from Spain

2011-07-13T17:07:00.000+02:00

More than 80 Ushabtis figures of 15 cm dated at least 3000 years ago have accompanied Djehuty,the ancient Egyptian priest, on his trip to the afterlife and was found by a research team led by Spanish Egyptologist Dr. José Manuel Galán.
The discovery was announced on 12th July in Madrid at a press conference which was attended by the Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, and Rafael Rodrigo, CSIC President- Spanish National Research Council, held by the director of Djehuty Project to celebrate the 10th season completion
The researchers believe the Ushabtis found belong to the priest. The importance of this discovery because the tomb have been looted by grave robbers, yet they have been discovered completely intact.

In Dra Abu el-Naga, Spanish archaeologists have also made two more discoveries (a pet cemetery and a new burial chamber)
In the tomb of Hery, a senior Egyptian official who lived in 1500 BC, researchers have discovered a burial pit "completely inesperado - unexpected" in the words of Dr.Galan, and that the tomb had another cavity of these characteristics and is not unusual for having two burial rooms in tombs.
As a result, Egyptologists have not been able to access the interior of this well, as they had to leave the country at the outbreak of the revolt in Egypt but archaeologists hope to enter the venue next season of the project, which will take place between January and February 2012.
This burial chamber, archaeologists found two graffiti on the walls written in red ink with demotic characters (Egyptian cursive script) that are dated to the year 43 of Ptolemy VIII, equivalent to the years 128 and 127 BC.

(Photo Courtesy of CSIC)

The Djehuty Project

These discoveries were made in the context of Djehuty Project, which began last January and had to be interrupted in the middle of work because of the riots in Egypt.
This project is centered around the tomb of Djehuty, a former treasurer of Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled ancient Egypt around 1470 BC
"It's designed like a city, streets are drawn around the graves, which are like townhouses" said Dr. Galán. “Under each site there are older strata, so the place is ideal for digging long term.” He added.
"We could easily be 100 years with this project," José Manuel Galán has assured to discuss the future of the excavation. You commented that the findings are encouraging this year to continue finding monuments.
The Minister commended on Dr. Galán and his team work by saying that “They have located the Spanish Egyptology at the global forefront.”

The Project site http://www.excavacionegipto.com/

The First Roman Basilica to be discovered in Alexandria

2011-07-07T19:50:00.000+02:00

Dr. Zahi Hawass announced today that The Egyptian archaeological mission in Alexandria found the first civilian Basilica dated back to the Roman era on top of the ruins on a Ptolemaic temple which was dedicated to the Ptolemaic triad of Alexandria (Isis,Serapis, Harpocrates). The mission found terracotta figures and statues of Isis and Serapis.

Dr. Mohamed Mostafa (Alexandria Antiquities director) explained that the archaeological discovery was in the area known as the Baron site in Simouha district where work started last December and finished in May after the ground water problem emergence at the site. He also mentioned that the excavations resulted 2 paralleled rows of granite and limestone blocks and parts of granite columns which may have been a corridor for a civilian facility dated back to the Roman era and may have been used in judicial, commercial or social activities which known as the Basilica.

Dr. Osama El Nahas(Head of the mission) said “ Coloured Terracotta statues were found representing Isis suckling a baby and another statue for Serapis, pointing out that no Christian remains were found which mean it is likely to be a Basilica built over one of the two Ptolemaic temples were mentioned by Historian and traveler “Strabo” in his description of the area during his visit to Alexandria in 24 AD.” Dr. Osama added that a rare cooper statue of a knight riding a horse was found.
The Egyptian mission also found a number of kilns which were used to produce lime and a group of burial pottery jars contains human bones some of them of young people between 25 to 30 years old dated to the sixth century AD.

This discovery is considered to be the first of its kind as no Roman Basilica was found in Alexandria before.
Also this discovery confirms that it is about time to reveal the rest of Elioses suburb site (nowadays Antoniadis Gardens and Alexandria Zoo area) which was mentioned by the early travelers and historians and referred at it as an area with fun places and the Alexandria population visited frequently as “Strabo” mentioned too.

The oldest depiction of an Egyptian King wearing the Upper Egyptian crown

2011-07-04T12:59:00.000+02:00

“Dr. Maria Carmela Gatto (Director of Aswan-Kom Ombo Archarological Project) made a discovery at Nag el-Hamdulab site(North west of Aswan) of the oldest graffiti shows a King wearing the Upper Egypt headgear(crown) with a group of royal scenes dated back to dynasty zero.” Said Dr. Zahi Hawass. “The find shows many hieroglyphic graffiti and the first drawings shows a complete royal celebration looks exactly like what was known in the different Pharanoic eras, showing the Pharaoh wearing his white crown accompanied by Horus followers or the royal court.”Hawass added.

Dr. Maria Carmela said “This discovery is considered an update or completing the work on the site which was discovered by Dr. Labib Habashi on the west bank on the Nile north of Aswan at Nag El Hamdulab. The new study shows that the site dated back to dynasty Zero which is the same of tomb of Narmer (2960-2770 B.C).
The significance of this discovery is the uniqueness of the rock art of the pre-dynastic era represents a procession of boats superintended by the King who is accompanied by 2 standard bearers, one fan bearer and a dog.”

There is a remarkable similarities could be obviously noticed between Nag El Hamdulab tableaux and the Scorpion mace-head, Narmer mace-head and Narmer palette as the scene shows a man with a bow repress a man held captive lying on the ground. The tableaux was restored by the mission after a severe damage using the original photographs by Dr. Labib Habashi which were kept at the Oriental Institute at Chicago University.

For more about Dr.Maria Gatto, her notes and her work .... Check Here and Here

Treasure gate unearthed in Karnak

2011-07-04T02:04:00.000+02:00

Egyptian and French archaeologists have unearthed a 2,700-year-old stone gate belonging to Nubian King Shabaka while digging near Luxor's Karnak temple, the ministry of antiquities announced on Sunday.

(Ptah Temple Excavations)

The gate, which was found to be "in good condition," once led to the room holding the king's treasures.
Mansur Boraik said "It is the first time an item of the 25th dynasty has been found in such good condition, and wasn't ruined by the 26th dynasty,"

(Conservation and reconstruction work at Ptah Temple)

The large stone door features colourful engravings that depict King Shabaka offering the goddess of truth, Maat, to the god Amun Raa, the chief deity.

"The Egyptian-French mission succeeded in making important discoveries from the 18th to the 25th dynasties," minister of state for antiquities Zahi Hawass said in a statement.

(Treasury of Shabaka)
The mission also unearthed a stone wall surrounding the temple of Ptah, the chief god of the city of Memphis. His temple had been built on the site of an earlier Middle Kingdom temple, and restored by Shabaka. The mud brick wall is 2 meters height and 1 meter depth

The Franco-Egyptian Centre has been working to open the temple to visitors next winter and plans to put Shabaka's gate on display.

(Newly found gate of Shabaka)
"The discovery shows that the temple of Karnak still has many secrets to be uncovered and it will do for years to come," Mansour Boraik was quoted as saying in the ministry statement.
Shabaka established the capital at Thebes and was believed to have invested great effort in restoring religious architecture.

Sphinx Avenue or Sphinx rubbish dumps??? The current status of the Sphinx Avenue, Luxor

2011-07-03T21:11:00.001+02:00

The press release from the Ministry state of Antiquities and the announcements were made by Governor of Luxor in the past few weeks about the Grand opening of the Sphinx Avenue after restoration.

During the reign of Dr. Samir Farag (Former governor of Luxor) hundreds of families were forced to leave their homes in order to start the excavation work to retrieve the Sphinx Avenue and few dates were set for the Grand opening starting when Hosni Mubarak (Former President) was on a visit to Luxor in December 2009 and said that he will come in March for the opening and the newspapers and media sources spread the news and the work was going on almost 24 hours a day in 3 sectors of the avenue that was divided into 5 phases. When the former President had to fly to Germany for medical treatment around the same time he was supposed to visit Luxor so the work stopped or slow down big time as the need to finish for the show was not there. Also another problem arose which Dr. Mansour Boraik talked about in his lecture about the ongoing work at the Mummification museum in December 2009/January 2010, when he said that Telecom Egypt was asking for 7 million Egyptian pounds to move the cables so the SCA could commence their work on the Sphinx Avenue in that sector. At that time many people couldn’t understand or see any sense that Telecom Egypt asking for that money and the SCA as Dr. Mansour Boraik couldn’t afford to pay them while they are moving premises anyway and Telecom Egypt is a national company which 80 % of its share owned by the Egyptian government (Check here)so it seemed like the Egyptian government asking the Egyptian government for money to be able to continue working on an Egyptian project on Egyptian soil that would benefit the Egyptian tourism industry as it was announced by the Egyptian officials. Does it make sense? Anyway,

Few months later the work was going on again as the former Prime Minister was coming to Luxor then slowed down again then it was announced that the President will visit Luxor for the Grand Opening of the massive project with the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi and dignitaries from all over the world in February 2011 so of course work was on again till the recent turmoil in Egypt.
Lately the new governor of Luxor announced in a couple of occasions in May 2011 that the Sphinx Avenue will be opened in September then he said October without any referring to the Ministry of Antiquities that is actually responsible for the work, of course in co-operation with Luxor governorate but the technical work is the MSA responsibility. Well, it doesn’t matter who announce what but wait a minute .... In their press release, the MSA stated that the grand opening will be in October by the current Egyptian Prime Minister, Esam Sharaf. There is supposed to be Parliamentary elections in Egypt in September and the majority will be obligated to form a new government so the current Prime Minister might not be in office but someone would say this is just a technicality and we shouldn’t stop at it.
Since the work started on the Avenue and the sector behind Mubarak Library is the base where all officials go to stand there and see the fine work that has been done on the Avenue in that area and the new discovery of the Greco-Roman wine making station and take the photos for the media coverage. Is this why the president of the Sound and Light Company of Egypt stated that “The company will use a new, advanced type of lighting to focus on the avenue and additional archaeological discoveries, such as workshops and wine factories dating to the Greco-Roman period.”
We are not against any person here or the idea of promoting for Luxor and commencing more archaeological projects all over Egypt ... But at least can the officials be reasonable and accurate in their announcements if there is a work plan with specific and defined objectives?
The other issue here is the status of the Sphinx Avenue as of Today. The pictures below and the video were taken only hours earlier will show the status of the Avenue and the non going work there.
Does this look like a project waiting for a Grand opening in 3 months time? Even so ... how it was left to get to that state? Children ride on top on the Sphinx (unfortunately, there is no picture here to prove it) and people dumping their rubbish there. Could anyone think about how families who used to live for years in their homes there would feel now seeing a historical site of over 4000 years old and what used to be their home location used as a rubbish dump? Where is the security?
All that work and expenses while other sites needs immediate intervention to move a road few meters to allow the excavation work to complete or so.
One of the examples about the conflict in the ideas between different parties involved in such a project when the former governor’s idea to solve the problem of how people would get from one side to the other of the avenue by planning for bridges over the avenue with a circular shape and eye of Horus in the middle, an official from the SCA said in a different occasion that it is a silly idea without referring to whom idea it was.
Where are the site management master plans? Would it have been better if there was a plan with exact date for the work from beginning? If there was any so what happened to it? Who did put those plans?
Why the complete comprehensive master plans like KV masterplan which were produced by experts like Dr. Kent Weeks and Theban Mapping project team(Check Here), not to be considered as a base with other master plans and put together after discussions between different teams to put a master plan by people who have hands- on projects in the area not to pay to a foreign company to come and make a plan of an area they know nothing about and with no consideration of the potential threats(archaeologically and socially).

Waiting to hear from you ... please send us your comments and views

Grand Opening for the Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor

2011-07-01T15:50:00.000+02:00

A grand opening is due to take place in October 2011 to celebrate the newly restored Avenue of Sphinxes.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities, made the announcement following a meeting attended by Major General Khalid Fouda, Governor of Luxor, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud, Undersecretary of State for the Minister’s Office, Dr. Mohamed Shikha, Head of Projects, at Luxor and Mansour Boraik, Director of Antiquities in Luxor
The attendees have agreed to organize a festival during the month of October to open the project and attract international tourism to Luxor. The important event will be opened by the Prime Minister of Egypt, Essam Sharaf, and is to bring together various government ministries such as the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Culture.
Lined with sphinxes, the 2.7km route that connects the grand temples of Luxor and Karnak will be lit by the Sound and Light Company of Egypt. Company president, Essam Abd El Hady, made it clear that the sophisticated lighting design would be appropriate to the archaeological importance and beauty of the site. The company will use a new, advanced type of lighting to focus on the avenue and additional archaeological discoveries, such as workshops and wine factories dating to the Greco-Roman period.

For the last 5 years, the restoration project has focused on excavation, conservation, treatment of the water table, and the establishment of protective walls and entrances for tourist. The 120million LE project also involved relocating houses and removing roads, with full compensation paid to all those affected by the development.
The impressive avenue has long been a place of religious significance. In her red chapel in Karnak, Queen Hatshepsut (1502-1482 BC) recorded that she built six chapels dedicated to the god Amun-Re on the route. Successive construction and restoration work commenced during the reigns of Akhenaten (1353-1336 BC), Tutankhamun (1336-1327 BC) and Horemheb (1323-1295 BC).

(An archived picture of the Sphinx Avenue)

King Nectanebo I (380-362 BC) of the 30th Dynasty constructed the Avenue of Sphinxes on the older path. It was used for religious ceremonies and processions, marking the annual journey of the sacred boat of Amun on the god’s visit to his wife, Mut, at Luxor temple. An inscription from this time reads “I have built a beautiful road for my father Amun-Re surrounded by walls and decorated with flowers for the journey to the temple of Luxor”. Another inscription bears a cartouche for Queen Cleopatra. It is most likely to be from her visit to the avenue during a Nile trip with Mark Anthony.

Newly appointed Secretary General of SCA

2011-07-01T15:02:00.000+02:00

Dr. Zahi Hawass, The Minister State of Antiquities, decided to appoint Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud as the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and transfer all the Supreme Council departments to the headquarters in Abbasia.

Dr. Abdel Maksoud held the position of the general supervisor of the minister’s office as well as serving as the head of the central administration of Lower Egypt and Sinai Antiquities.

Finally, Archaeologists Syndicate on Sunday at 5pm

2011-07-01T14:57:00.000+02:00

It has been a dream for about 8000 archaeologists to establish their own syndicate as a mean to provide them with better working conditions and be united in their demands.

The dream will finally come true as Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud said that the syndicate will be declared in the celebration which will be held at Salah El Din citadel in Cairo, on Sunday 3rd July at 5pm.
The dream has came true thanks to the co-operation between all of the Egyptian archaeologists from different governorates and different specialties (Ancient Egyptian, Islamic, Roman, restoration)

Latest Archaeological Discovery from San El Hagar

2011-07-01T14:54:00.000+02:00

French archaeologists in San El-Hagar have discovered hundreds of coloured and inscribed limestone blocks, which they believe were used to build the sacred lake walls of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.

The limestone blocks may have belonged to King Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty and used for either a temple or chapel, announced Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities today. The stone may have also been reused in the late period and the Ptolemaic era. Dr. Hawass added that following a complete excavation and study of the blocks, the French mission would reconstruct the original arrangement to determine if they are from a temple or chapel.

Dr. Philippe Brissaud, director of the French mission, confirmed that the sacred lake measures about 30m by 12m with a depth of 6m. The team has so far cleaned about 120 blocks, 78 of which have inscriptions. Two blocks belong to King Osorkon III or IV, while the inscriptions mention the title “Mistress Mut of Isheru Lake” indicating both goddess and lake during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud, Head of Office at the Ministry of State for Antiquities, said that this discovery adds great importance to the San El-Hagar site, one of the most archaeologically rich areas of the delta known as the ‘Thebes of the north’. The region is a huge priority for the Ministry of State for Antiquities who have set aside a budget of 50 million L.E to lower the water table, control agricultural drainage, and build an open-site museum complete with visitors center, tourist facilities and a museum magazine.
Mr. Ibrahaim Suleiman, general manager of Sharkia archaeological sites, mentioned that San El-Hagar (Tanis during the pharaonic era), 70km northeast of Zagazig city, is one of the oldest Egyptian cities and contains many temples belonging to the god Amun. It was the capital of Egypt during the 21st and 22nd dynasties.
Excavation work began at this site in 1860 by Auguste Mariette, followed in 1884 by Flinders Petrie who discovered the Temple of Amun inside the old city. From 1928 to 1958 a French mission directed by Pierre Montet excavated the temples of Mut and Horus and the treasure of the royal necropolis, currently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Now under the direction of Dr. Philippe Brissaud, the inscriptions of this latest discovery are thought to be amongst the best quality reliefs to be found in Egypt.

Second Solar boat uncovered!!!

2011-06-23T14:47:00.000+02:00

This morning Dr. Zahi Hawass held a press conference at the site to announce the beginning of the stone cover removal in order to begin the restoration project of the solar boat.

To the west of the first solar boat at Giza, the second solar boat was detected by an electromagnetic radar in 1987 and since 2008 it has been the issue of research by the Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities (formally Supreme council of Antiquities) in co-operation with a delegation from Waseda University and the Japanese Institute for Restoration Research.

Zahi Hawass said today “This project will take 5 years where 13 layers of wood will be transferred to the site to start the restoration process after doing the necessary tests on the 4300 years old wood. A new museum will be built for the second solar boat at the new entrance for the Giza plateau area.”

Dr. Zahi Hawass also said that during the cleaning of the stone filling of the solar boat, a Cartouche was found bearing the name of King Khufu and beside it his son’s name but without a cartouche. This is considered the second finding of its kind as the King cartouche was found before in the 5 rooms inside the great pyramid which may be a prove that the second solar boat was constructed in this location before the other boat which in its museum by the great pyramid.

Although today the first stone cover removal but there are 41 stones to be removed measure 4 meters length by one meter width and the heaviest weighs 16 tons. After removing the stones, the hole will be covered by chemically treated wood boards which are filled with a thermal insulation in order to maintain the heat and moisture in the pit at a safe level.

On a different subject; Zahi Hawass said that all of Egypt’s historical sites are safe and secured and he saw about 2000 tourists visiting the pyramids and the sphinx this morning
This work may help to reveal more historical information about King Khufu.

Stolen in 1990 and auctioned in London ... Another artefact is back in Egypt

2011-06-07T13:00:00.000+02:00

Back from an auction hall in London, Egypt managed to retrieve a granite relief which is a part of a bigger scene from the 30th dynasty temple of Isis in Bahbit Al hegara, Delta(known as Iseum or Isaeum). The relief depicts a head and shoulders of Apis dated back to King Nectanebo II (380-343 B.C) and it was documented by Chrisitan Favard meeks in 1977 as well as the Egyptian Atiquities records in 1989.

On Friday 5th January 1990, a guard working at the temple site reported that thugs attacked the site and stole some artefacts and next day the inventory showed missing pieces which were reported and the retrieved artefacts is one of them.The Egyptian Authorities identified the artefacts in an auction and the legal procedures were taken by the Egyptian embassy to stop the auction and prove the Egyptian rights.

The artifact is back at the Egyptian museum after it was received by the committee from the museum and antiquities police.

The artifact might have a better luck than the temple it came from as the temple itself needs restoring and protecting. There is a page was created by an Egyptian archaeologist demanding the temple of Isis to be restored as it is in a bad state. The page link is here (In Arabic)