BIA LVI un grand v(b)ide qui sonne le creux

Collège de FranceInstitut français

Chaire "Civilisation de l'Égypte pharaonique : d'archéologie orientale archéologie, philologie, histoire" Bulletin d'Information Archéologique BIA www. egyptologues. net

LVI

Juillet - Décembre 2017 Le Caire - Paris 2017

REVUE SEMESTRIELLE n° 56 juillet / décembre 2017

http://www. ifao. egnet. net http://www. egyptologues. net publiés dans le BIA et les idées qui peuvent s’y exprimer n’engagent que la responsabilité de leurs auteurs et ne représentent pas une position officielle de la

Système de translittération des mots arabes consonnes voyelles

SOMMAIRE SYSTÈME DE TRANSLITTÉRATION……. …3 ÉDITORIAL………………………………. …5 SOMMAIRE………………………………. …7 I – JUILLET 2017 SAMEDI1ERJUILLET2017. 9 DIMANCHE2JUILLET2017. 9 LUNDI3JUILLET 2017. 9 MARDI4JUILLET2017. 11 MERCREDI5JUILLET2017. 12 JEUDI6JUILLET2017. 17 VENDREDI7JUILLET2017. 22 DIMANCHE9JUILLET2017. 23 LUNDI10JUILLET2017. 24 MARDI11JUILLET2017. 24 MERCREDI12JUILLET2017. 25 JEUDI13JUILLET2017. 26 VENDREDI14JUILLET2017. 31 SAMEDI15JUILLET2017. 31 DIMANCHE16JUILLET2017. 31 LUNDI17JUILLET2017. 33 MARDI18JUILLET2017. 34 MERCREDI19JUILLET2017. 35 JEUDI20JUILLET2017. 37 VENDREDI21JUILLET2017. 42 SAMEDI22JUILLET2017. 42 DIMANCHE23JUILLET2017. 43 LUNDI24JUILLET2017. 44 MARDI25JUILLET2017. 45 JEUDI27JUILLET201. . 46 VENDREDI28JUILLET2017. 50 DIMANCHE30JUILLET2017. 51 II – AOT 2017 MARDI1ERAOÛT2017. 53 MERCREDI2AOÛT2017. 55 JEUDI3AOÛT2017. 59 SAMEDI5AOÛT2017. 63 DIMANCHE6AOÛT2017. 64 LUNDI7AOÛT2017. 66 MARDI8AOÛT2017. 67 MERCREDI9AOÛT2017. 67 JEUDI10AOÛT2017. 70 VENDREDI11AOÛT2017. 77 DIMANCHE13AOÛT2017. 78 LUNDI14AOÛT2017. 78 MARDI15AOÛT2017. 79 MERCREDI16AOÛT2017. 80 JEUDI17AOÛT2017. 83 VENDREDI18AOÛT2017. 84 DIMANCHE20AOÛT2017. 85 LUNDI21AOÛT2017. 87 MERCREDI23AOÛT2017. 89 JEUDI24AOÛT2017. 92 VENDREDI25AOÛT2017. 92 LUNDI28AOÛT2017. 93 MARDI29AOÛT2017. 94 MERCREDI30AOÛT2017. 95 JEUDI31AOÛT2017. 95 III – SEPTEMBRE 2017 MARDI5SEPTEMBRE2017. 96 MERCREDI6SEPTEMBRE2017. 96 JEUDI7SEPTEMBRE2017. 107 VENDREDI8SEPTEMBRE2017. 111 DIMANCHE10SEPTEMBRE2017. 111 MERCREDI13SEPTEMBRE2017. 112 JEUDI14SEPTEMBRE2017. 114 VENDREDI15SEPTEMBRE2017. 118 DIMANCHE17SEPTEMBRE2017. 119 LUNDI18SEPTEMBRE2017. 121 MARDI19SEPTEMBRE2017. 122 MERCREDI20SEPTEMBRE2017. 124 JEUDI21SEPTEMBRE2017. 127 LUNDI25SEPTEMBRE2017. 131 MERCREDI27SEPTEMBRE2017. 132 JEUDI28SEPTEMBRE2017. 134

IV – OCTOBRE 2017 DIMANCHE1EROCTOBRE2017. 139 MERCREDI4OCTOBRE2017. 140 JEUDI5OCTOBRE2017. 142 VENDREDI6OCTOBRE2017. 145 SAMEDI7OCTOBRE2017. 145 DIMANCHE8OCTOBRE2017. 145 LUNDI9OCTOBRE2017. 145 MARDI10OCTOBRE2017. 147 MERCREDI11OCTOBRE2017. 148 JEUDI12OCTOBRE2017. 148 DIMANCHE15OCTOBRE2017. 149 MERCREDI18OCTOBRE2017. 150 JEUDI19OCTOBRE2017. 152 VENDREDI20OCTOBRE2017. 159 DIMANCHE22OCTOBRE2017. 160 LUNDI23OCTOBRE2017. 160 MARDI24OCTOBRE2017. 162 MERCREDI25OCTOBRE2017. 163 JEUDI26OCTOBRE2017. 165 VENDREDI27OCTOBRE2017. 172 SAMEDI28OCTOBRE2017. 174 DIMANCHE29OCTOBRE2017. 174 LUNDI30OCTOBRE2017. 176 V – NOVEMBRE 2017 JEUDI2NOVEMBRE2017. 178 LUNDI6NOVEMBRE2017. 184 MARDI7NOVEMBRE2017. 185 MERCREDI8NOVEMBRE2017. 186 JEUDI9NOVEMBRE2017. 186 LUNDI13NOVEMBRE2017. 190 MARDI14NOVEMBRE2017. 191 MERCREDI15NOVEMBRE2017. 191 VENDREDI17NOVEMBRE2017. 197 LUNDI20NOVEMBRE2017. 197 MARDI21NOVEMBRE2017. 199 JEUDI23NOVEMBRE2017. 200 DIMANCHE26NOVEMBRE2017. 204 LUNDI27NOVEMBRE2017. 205 MARDI28NOVEMBRE2017. 206 MERCREDI29NOVEMBRE2017. 207 JEUDI30NOVEMBRE2017. 211 VI – DÉCEMBRE 2017 VENDREDI1ERDÉCEMBRE2017. 216 DIMANCHE 3DÉCEMBRE2017. 216 LUNDI4DÉCEMBRE2017. 217 MARDI5DÉCEMBRE2017. 218 MERCREDI6DÉCEMBRE2017. 219 JEUDI7DÉCEMBRE2017. 223 SAMEDI9DÉCEMBRE2017. 224 MARDI12DÉCEMBRE2017. 225 MERCREDI13DÉCEMBRE2017. 226 JEUDI14DÉCEMBRE2017. 228 VENDREDI15DÉCEMBRE2017. 232 SAMEDI16DÉCEMBRE2017. 233 MARDI19DÉCEMBRE2017. 235 MERCREDI20DÉCEMBRE2017. 235 JEUDI21DÉCEMBRE2017. 240 VENDREDI22DÉCEMBRE2017. 244 JEUDI28DÉCEMBRE2017. 244 DIMANCHE31DÉCEMBRE2017. 245 VII – WHO'S WHO? MINISTÈREDEL’ARCHÉOLOGIE. 247 MUSÉES. 255 UNIVERSITÉS. 256 POUVOIREXÉCUTIF. 258 DIVERS. 259 INDEX…………………………………. …260

I – JUILLET 2017

Le superviseur général de l’Administration générale de la publication scientifque, Dr al-Husayn ‘Abd al- Basîr, a annoncé la sortie prochainement de la traducion arabe d’un ouvrage consacré au traité de paix conclu entre Ramsès II et Khattouchili III, roi hittite. Cet ouvrage — écrit par Dr Schafk Allam, professeur d’égyptologie à l’Universität Tübingen — a été traduit par l’ancien doyen de la faculté d’Archéologie du Caire, Dr ‘Ulâ al-‘Agîzî. L’édition arabe présentera également le texte hiéroglyphique de ce traité de paix. (MENA, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie publie un ouvrage sur le traité égypto-hittite de paix entre Ramsès II et le roi des Hittites », al-Shurûq, 1er juillet 2017. Voir également MENA, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie publie un ouvrage sur le traité de paix entre Ramsès II et le roi des Hittites », al- Fagr, 1er juillet).

Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a nommé aujourd’hui Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî ‘Alî au poste de président du département des antiquités égyptiennes. Il succède ainsi au Dr Mahmûd ‘Afîfî qui part à la retraite. al-‘Ashmâwî est diplômé de l’université du Caire et titulaire d’un docorat de l’Université de Varsovie. al-‘Ashmâwî a occupé de nombreuses foncions administratives et scientifques au sein du ministère de l’Archéologie. En effet, Après avoir débuté sa carrière en tant qu’inspeceur dans la zone des Pyramides, il fut successivement : direceur général de la zone archéologique du Caire, puis président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza, puis président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de Moyenne-Égypte, direceur général des fouilles archéologiques, puis président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de Basse-Égypte. (Husâm Zaydân, « Sur décision d’al-‘Inânî, al- ‘Ashmâwî succède à ‘Afîfî à la tête du département des antiquités égyptiennes », al-Fagr, 2 juillet 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî nommé président du département des antiquités égyptiennes », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 2 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî succède à ‘Afîfî à la tête du département des antiquités égyptiennes », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 2 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Ayman al- ‘Ashmâwî nommé président du département des antiquités égyptiennes », Sada al-Balad, 2 juillet).

Te Marzûq al-Ahmadî Mosque in the al-Gamâliyya distric of medieval Cairo has been reinforced by the antiquities ministry after the collapse of part of the roof. Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, the deputy minister of antiquities, told Ahram Online that the partial collapse was due to the impac of erosion elements and heavy rain over a period of time.

An archaeological committee led by al-Sa‘îd Hilmî, the head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Secion at the ministry, has inspeced the mosque and closed it to worshippers due to safety concerns. Hilmî said that there were plans to restore the mosque, which dates to the Ottoman era, but it has not yet been implemented due to lack of funds. According to Article 30 in the antiquities law, he pointed out, the Ministry of Religious Endowments is required to fund the restoration. Te mosque contains the mausoleum of a clergyman from Yemen. It also boasts a distinguished minaret that combines Ottoman and Egyptian architecural styles. (Nevine El-Aref, “Roof of Ottoman-era Cairo mosque reinforced after partial collapse: Ministry”, Ahram Online, July 3, 2017. Voir également Mahâ Salâh, « Après l’effondrement partiel de son plafond, le ministère de l’Archéologie entame le sauvetage de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî », al-Dustûr, 3 juillet ; Radwa Hâshim, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie commence la consolidation de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî après l’effondrement partiel de son plafond », al-Watan, 3 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie lance les travaux de soutènement de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî suite à l’effondrement de son plafond », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 juillet ; MENA, « Lancement des travaux de restauration de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî à al-Gamâliyya », al- Shurûq, 3 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Après l’effondrement de son plafond, le ministère de l’Archéologie commence les travaux de restauration de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 3 juillet ; MENA, « Effondrement du plafond de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî », al-Fagr, 3 juillet ; Samar al- Naggâr, « Lancement des travaux de consolidation de la mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî après l’effondrement partiel de son plafond », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 4 juillet).

Le président du département des antiquités islamiques et coptes, al-Sa‘îd Hilmî, a annoncé la formation d’une commission d’expertise de la synagogue Menasce située à al-Manshiyya en Alexandrie. Un relevé topographique et architecural de cette synagogue sera établi, en vue de son enregistrement sur la liste du patrimoine.

déclaré que la synagogue Menasce mérite bien d’être classée. Construite par Yacoub MENASCE, cette synagogue est en bon état de conservation. (Ragab Ramadân, « Ultime inspecion de la synagogue Menasce en vue de son enregistrement sur la liste du patrimoine », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 juillet 2017. Voir également MENA, « Enregistrement de la synagogue Menasce en Alexandrie et de 3 autres synagogues au Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 août). Le président du département des projets au sein du ministère de l’Archéologie, Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ, a révélé que l’achèvement du musée archéologique de Port Sa‘îd nécessite plus de 85 millions de livres égyptiennes. Or, « il n’y a plus de fric » [sic]. Le ministère cherche donc un fnancement privé. Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ a souligné le rôle qui incombe aux hommes d’affaires et la nécessité de leur participation aux projets nationaux visant à la sauvegarde du patrimoine égyptien. Si le tourisme se rétablit au cours de la prochaine saison, nous n’aurons nul besoin de la contribution des investisseurs privés. Le budget du ministère de l’Archéologie prendra alors le relai pour achever ce projet. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Y a plus de fric pour achever le musée de Port Sa‘îd », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 juillet 2017. Voir également Gahandâ ‘Abd al-Halîm, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Notre budget ne suffit pas pour réaménager le musée de de Port Sa‘îd », al-Fagr, 10 juillet). Sâbir A. , paysan âgé de 45 ans et ‘Alî A. , paysan de 35 ans ont trouvé la mort au cours de fouilles clandestines qu’ils entreprenaient sous une maison située à ‘Izbat Abû Sayf dans le gouvernorat d’al- Buhayra. Arrivés sur place, les policiers ont découvert une fosse de 1,5 m de diamètre et 7 m de profondeur, ainsi que du matériel pour creuser. (Islâm Amîn, « 2 individus morts étouffés lors de fouilles illicites à Hawsh ‘Îsa », al-Fagr, 3 juillet 2017).

La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a déjoué une tentative de vente de 5 311 pièces antiques détenues par un gang composé de cinq trafquants archéologiques. Ils ont été arrêtés à Hihyâ dans le gouvernorat d’al-Sharqiyya. Leur butin est composé de 5 200 pièces de monnaie, de 311 ouchebtis, de stèles et de statuettes antiques. (Islâm ‘Abd al-Khâliq, « Échec d’une tentative de vente illicite de 5 311 pièces archéologiques à al-Sharqiyya », al-Tahrîr, 4 juillet 2017. Voir également ‘Isâm Abû Sdayra, « Arrestation à al-Sharqiyya de 5 trafquants en possession de 311 statuettes et 5 000 pièces de monnaies », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 5 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu ce matin le ministre japonais de la Culture, de l’Éducation et des Sports, Dr Hirokazu MATSUNO ; ainsi que l’ambassadeur du Japon au Caire, S. E. M. Takehiro KAGAWA. L’entretien a porté sur les moyens de renforcer la coopération bilatérale dans le domaine archéologique. Rappelons que plusieurs missions archéologiques japonaises officient en Égypte, notamment celle de la Waseda University qui travaille sur l’extracion de la deuxième barque de Chéops ainsi que sur le projet du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM).

al-‘Inânî s’est félicité de cet entretien qui correspond au 60e anniversaire de la signature du premier protocole de coopération entre l’Égypte et le Japon. Ce qui démontre l’ancienneté et la profondeur des relations qui unissent les deux pays. L’entretien a abordé plusieurs axes. al. ‘Inânî a notamment demandé au Japon de proposer deux personnalités éminentes afn qu’elles puissent siéger dans le nouveau Conseil d’administration du GEM, présidé par le rais égyptien, ‘Abd al-Fattâh al-Sîsî, en personne. De son côté, Dr Hirokazu MATSUNO a affirmé la volonté du gouvernement japonais de soutenir l’Égypte en matière de travail archéologique et d’échange d’expertises. Le Japon n’épargnera pas ses efforts en vue de l’inauguration partielle du GEM prévue en avril 2018. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Khâlid al-‘Inânî reçoit le ministre japonais de la Culture », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 4 juillet 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit le ministre japonais de la Culture en vue de renforcer la coopération bilatérale », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 4 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « al-‘Inânî examine avec le ministre japonais de la Culture le renforcement de la coopération bilatérale », Sada al-Balad, 4 juillet).

La cour d’assises du Caire a condamné le président du département des musées à 5 ans de prison ferme, à 100 000 L. E. d’amende et à sa révocation de son poste au sein du ministère de l’Archéologie. Les assises ont également condamné par contumace le représentant d’une compagnie allemande à 10 ans de prison ferme et à 100 000 LE. d’amende. Ce verdic vise à sancionner le pot-de-vin versé par cette compagnie privée au président du département des musées, afn d’obtenir l’adjudication des travaux de maintenance des momies du Musée Égyptien du Caire et du musée de la Momifcation à Louqsor. (Manâl Radâwî, « Le président du département des musées écope de 5 ans de prison ferme pour pot-de-vin », al-Wafd, 4 juillet 2017).

In a ceremony held at his ministry’s headquarters, Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al. ‘Inânî announced the discovery of a very important medical manuscript uncovered by the monks of St Catherine’s Monastery in South Sinai during restoration works carried out in the monastery’s library. Te ceremony was attended by Greek Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media Nikos PAPPAS, the Archbishop of Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Egyptian Cultural Minister Hilmî al-Namnam, Egyptian Minister of Communication and Information Technology Yâsir al-Qâdî, Egyptian Minister of Tourism Yahya Rashîd, and South Sinai Governor Major General Khâlid Fûda. Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, assistant minister of antiquities for archaeological sites, explained that the discovered manuscript is one of those known as "Palmesit" manuscripts, dating to the 6th century AD. Te manuscript is written on leather and bears parts of a medical recipe of the renowned Greek physician HIPPOCRATES. Te manuscript has also three other medical recipes written by an anonymous scribe, one of which contains drawings of medicinal herbs of the Greek recipe.

Te second layer of writing found on the manuscript is a text of the Bible known as the "Sinaitic manuscript," which spread during the Middle Ages. Ahmad al-Nimr, supervisor of Coptic archaeology documentation at the ministry, told Ahram Online that "Palmesit manuscripts" are a very well-known type of manuscript written on leather and formed of two layers. Te frst one, he explained, was previously erased in order to be re-written on the leather again. “Tis was done due to the high cost of leather at that time,” al-Nimr pointed out. Te monastery of Sainte Catherine’s contains many "Palmesit" manuscripts in addition to a library containing 6,000 manuscripts, among them 600 manuscripts written in Arabic, Greek, Ethiopian, Coptic, Armenian and Syriac. Tey are mainly historical, geographical and philosophical manuscripts and the oldest dates to the 4th century AD. (Nevine El-Aref, “Sixth century medical recipe uncovered in St Catherine’s Monastery”, Ahram Online, July 5, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’un manuscrit médical datant du Ve siècle dans le monastère de Sainte-Catherine », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 4 juillet ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte d’un manuscrit d’HIPPOCRATE dans le monastère de Sainte-Catherine », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 4 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’un manuscrit médical datant du Ve siècle dans le monastère de Sainte-Catherine », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 4 juillet ; Ranâ Gawhar, « Les moines de Sainte- Catherine découvrent des manuscrits médicaux grecs », al-Ahrâm, 6 juillet ; Nasma Réda, « Les ordonnances d’HIPPOCRATE découvertes à Sainte-Catherine », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 12 juillet).

Dix tombes de la période tardive ont été découvertes près du mausolée de l’Agha Khan sur la rive ouest d’Aswân au cours des travaux de fouilles effecués par une mission archéologique égyptienne dépendant du ministère des Antiquités. « Les tombes dernièrement découvertes pourraient être une extension de la nécropole située à l’ouest d’Aswân, trouvée au cours du siècle dernier et abritant un certain nombre de tombes appartenant aux plus importants gouverneurs de la ville d’Aswân au cours des différentes périodes, que ce soit à l’Ancien, le Moyen ou au Nouvel Empires », explique Nasr Salâma, direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân et de Nubie, au ministère des Antiquités.

En fait, les tombes découvertes ont une conception architecurale identique. « Elles se composent d’escaliers sculptés dans le rocher menant à l’entrée de la tombe et à une pièce simple », souligne l’archéologue Sayed al-Râwî, ajoutant qu’un certain nombre de cercueils et de momies ont aussi été trouvés.

Au cours de la prochaine saison de fouille, la mission étudiera ce qui a été découvert à l’intérieur des tombeaux et accomplira tous les travaux de conservation nécessaires.

Ipi se révèle à al-Dayr al-Baharî La mission archéologique égypto-espagnole de l’Universidad de Alcalá, opérant dans la tombe d’Ipi (TT315), a redécouvert, à al-Dayr al-Baharî à Louqsor, 56 vases en poterie comprenant des éléments de momifcation appartenant à Ipi, vizir sous le 1er règne du roi Amenemhat du Moyen Empire. « Cette découverte s’est produite lors de l’étude archéologique et épigraphie des tombeaux de Henenu (TT313) et d’Ipi (TT315), de la chambre funéraire et du sarcophage de Harhotep (CG 28023). Lors des travaux, la mission a découvert un puits de 1m de profondeur qui mène à une chambre creusée dans le rocher. C’est dans cette salle qu’on a trouvé ces vases », explique ‘Izz al-Dîn al-Nûbî, direceur de la région centrale de Qurna. D’après Mahmûd ‘Afîfî, direceur du département des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère des Antiquités, ces vases avaient été découverts entre 1921-1922 par l’égyptologue américain Herbert WINLOCK, et avaient été déposés dans la chambre du côté nord de la cour sans être nettoyés. Cette découverte, d’après ‘Afîfî, est d’une grande importance, puisqu’elle jette la lumière sur les techniques et les matériaux utilisés dans le processus de momifcation sous le Moyen Empire. Antonio MORALES, direceur de la mission espagnole, souligne que les vases découverts renferment des morceaux de lin qui atteignent 4m de long, de même que du tissu très fn qui, probablement, servait à couvrir les doigts du défunt au cours de la momifcation. Dr MORALES explique aussi que les jarres renfermaient environ 300 sacs avec du sel de natron, des huiles, du sable et d’autres substances, ainsi que les bouchons des pots et un grattoir. Parmi les substances les plus remarquables de la collecion se trouve aussi de l’argile du Nil.

Le bloc de granit rouge du roi Sésostris II La mission archéologique égypto-espagnole dépendant du Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Madrid et opérant dans le chantier de Hérakléopolis Magna dans la ville d’Ihnâsyâ au gouvernorat de Banî Swayf, a découvert, lors de ses travaux de fouilles au temple d’Herishef, un grand bloc de granit rouge. La découverte est importante, car sur la pierre sont gravées deux cartouches portant le nom du roi Sésostris II (1895-1889 av. J. -C. ) du Moyen Empire, qui a construit la pyramide d’al-Lâhûn au Fayyûm, à 10 km d’Ihnâsyâ, où le roi est enterré. « Le fait de trouver ce bloc dans le temple d’Herishef à Ihnâsyâ est une évidence claire que le roi Sésostris accordait une grande importance à cette région », souligne ‘Afîfî, direceur du département des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère des Antiquités. La mission a de même réussi à découvrir, lors de ses travaux de fouille, différentes couches de construcion à l’intérieur du temple « Une de ces couches remonte au début de la XVIIIe dynastie et au règne de Toutmosis III (1479-1425 av. J. -C. ). Une autre remonte au roi Ramsès II (1279-1213 av. J. C. ) », souligne Maria Carmen PEREZ-DIE, direcrice de la mission de fouille.

Les deux cartouches du roi Necanébo

Le comité archéologique égyptien d’inspecion d’al-Ballînâ à Abydos, dans le gouvernorat de Suhâg, est tombé sur un bloc de pierre gravé de deux cartouches du roi Necanébo II de la XXXe dynastie, lors de l’inspecion d’une ancienne maison dans la région de Banî Mansûr, dont le propriétaire avait mené des fouilles illégales. La police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a arrêté les criminels et a mis la maison sous surveillance. « Le bloc découvert pourrait faire partie du sancuaire royal du roi Necanébo II ou une extension d’un mur d’un temple que le roi a construit là-bas », a déclaré Hânî Abû al-‘Azm, chef de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de la Haute-Égypte, au ministère des Antiquités. Et d’ajouter que Necanébo II est bien connu pour ses acivités de construcion à Abydos. Abû al-‘Azm explique qu’après l’achèvement des procédures d’expropriation dans cette zone, les fouilles se poursuivront, afn de révéler davantage le site. Le bloc nouvellement découvert mesure 1,4x40 cm, mais le niveau élevé des eaux souterraines a empêché son identifcation. « On ne sait pas encore s’il s’agit d’une partie d’un sancuaire ou d’un mur de temple. Mais il est plus probable que ce bloc soit une partie du sancuaire construit par le roi Necanébo II et dédié au dieu Osiris », estime, pour sa part, Ashraf ‘Ukâsha, direceur général des antiquités d’Abydos, ajoutant que le comité archéologique a inspecé la maison où se trouvait le bloc en présence de la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités, et c’est une ancienne maison en briques de boue de deux étages. « Le bloc a été trouvé dans un trou de 4m de profondeur. La maison est maintenant confsquée. Elle est sous la surveillance de la police jusqu’à l’achèvement de l’enquête », conclut-il. (« Un mois riche en découvertes », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 5 juillet 2017).

La mission archéologique de la Yale University a découvert la semaine dernière un nouveau site archéologique avec des inscriptions sur les rochers près du village d’al-Khawî, à environ 7 km au nord de l’ancienne ville d’al-Kâb et à 60 km au sud de Louqsor, lors de ses travaux de fouilles effecués dans le cadre du projet Elkab Desert Survey, en collaboration avec le ministère des Antiquités. « Le site d’inscriptions rocheuses découvert est composé de plusieurs panneaux d’art rupestre et d’inscriptions qui montrent les premières formes d’écriture égyptienne et les plus grands signes formatifs des hiéroglyphes », souligne Mahmûd ‘Afîfî, chef du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes anciennes au ministère des Antiquités. Et d’ajouter que cette découverte montre comment les anciens Égyptiens ont inventé leur système d’écriture unique, allant de la période prédynastique (Naqada I, vers 4000. 3500 av. J. -C. ) jusqu’à la fn de l’Ancien Empire (2350 av. J. -C. ). Selon Hânî Abû al-‘Azm, chef du département central de la Haute-Égypte au ministère des Antiquités, l’importance de cette découverte réside dans le fait « qu’elle permet de comprendre le développement du système de communication en Égypte ancienne et la

transition vers un système graphique qui a ouvert la voie à l’apparition d’une véritable écriture hiéroglyphique ». Dr John Coleman DARNELL, chef de la mission archéologique, a déclaré pour sa part que « ces inscriptions ont été découvertes sur de hautes roches et que la plus ancienne montre des images d’animaux, en particulier un troupeau de grands éléphants, symbole du pouvoir politique à la fn de la période prédynastique ». L’inscription la plus importante se trouvant à l’extrémité nord du site date de la phase fnale de la période prédynastique. « La mission a également découvert un panneau de quatre signes, écrits de droite à gauche, la direcion de l’écriture dominante dans les textes égyptiens plus tard, présentant une tête de taureau sur un poteau court, suivie de deux cigognes l’une regardant vers le côté droit et l’autre vers le côté gauche et entre eux se trouve l’Ibis. Ce panneau est l’une des plus grandes découvertes de la dynastie 0 », explique DARNELL, assurant que ces inscriptions ressemblent beaucoup à d’autres se trouvant dans la tombe d’Umm al-Qi‘âb dans la région d’Abydos. DARNELL ajoute que l’art rupestre utilisait des images pour exprimer des concepts tels que la cigogne avec un serpent sous son bec signifiant vicoire. Ces symboles ne sont pas des écritures phonétiques, mais apportent des indications sur l’origine de l’écriture passée des représentations du monde naturel aux hiéroglyphes qui transcrivaient les sons de l’ancienne langue égyptienne. Les inscriptions récemment découvertes à al-Khawî fournissent un autre exemple de cette étape de transition importante. Hala Farès, « L’art rupestre de l’Égypte prédynastique », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 5 juillet 2017). Fârûq M. , chômeur âgé de 33 ans ; Bassâm A. , menuisier de 24 ans ; et Muhammad I. , charpentier de 39 ans ont été arrêtés par la police pour fouilles archéologiques illicites et mise en danger de la vie d’autrui. Dans leurs aveux, ils ont reconnu qu’un charlatan leur avait affirmé la présence d’un trésor caché sous leur maison située à Kafr Shukr dans le gouvernorat d’al-Qalyûbiyya. Durant deux mois, ils ont creusé dans les fondations jusqu’à atteindre six mètres de profondeur, sans rien trouver du tout. Pour tromper le voisinage, ils ont entreposé des matériaux de construcion devant la maison qu’ils prétendaient restaurer. Finalement, ils ont été dénoncés par les voisins. (Muhammad Nabîl, « Mise en examen de 3 personnes pour fouilles illicites à Kafr Shukr », al-Fagr, 5 juillet 2017). Riche par ses sites archéologiques encore intacs, la région du Delta égyptien est profondément ancrée dans l’histoire de la civilisation égyptienne. On y trouve des vestiges remontant aux premières dynasties pharaoniques, aux époques hellénistiques, coptes et islamiques, et même à la préhistoire. Mais certains de ces vestiges archéologiques sont aujourd’hui menacés de disparition totale. Nappes phréatiques, expansion urbaine, agricole et industrielle. Autant de dangers qui mettent en péril les monuments. Depuis quelques années, les archéologues tirent la sonnette d’alarme. « Les nappes phréatiques constituent le problème majeur du Delta, ce problème est apparu après la construcion du Haut Barrage et la transformation de l’irrigation saisonnière en irrigation permanente », explique Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî, direceur général des fouilles auprès du ministère des Antiquités. Il donne l’exemple de la ville de Sân al- Hagar (Tanis) qui était la capitale de l’Égypte sous les XXe et XXIe dynasties pharaoniques. « Ce site compte des tombes royales dont les inscriptions colorées ont été affecées par la remontée des eaux souterraines », reprend-il. D’autres sites antiques sont concernés par ce problème. C’est le cas par exemple de Tell al-Farâ‘în dans la région de Kafr al-Shaykh, riche par ses monuments ptolémaïques et romains. Cette cité antique était l’un des principaux centres religieux et urbains du nord de l’Égypte à l’époque prédynastique. Elle est aujourd’hui menacée par de multiples dangers avec, au premier plan, les défs climatiques.

Outre la nappe phréatique, la densité pluviale a des effets néfastes sur les pièces archéologiques, notamment les sculptures en calcaire. « La pierre absorbe l’eau du sol humide. Lorsqu’elle sèche sous l’effet de la chaleur, elle garde toujours une quantité de sel. Or, cette salinité nuit gravement aux pores de la pierre et efface les inscriptions qui se trouvent sur les rochers », explique al. ‘Ashmâwî. Et d’expliquer : « Ces pièces sont soumises à des restaurations préliminaires avant leur transfert aux laboratoires ». Trois missions archéologiques opèrent à Bouto, celle du Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Kairo (DAIK) qui y travaille depuis les années 1980, une mission française qui opère depuis 2001 et une troisième mission du ministère égyptien des Antiquités, explique al. ‘Ashmâwî. Pour lui, la présence de ces missions a sauvé le site. « D’ailleurs, on est en train d’encercler tout le site avec une muraille en béton pour le protéger ». L’expansion urbaine représente aussi un grand problème pour les sites archéologiques, souligne l’égyptologue Penelope WILSON, de l’University of Durham, qui gère plusieurs missions archéologiques dans le Delta. Selon elle, la construcion des bâtiments et les acivités industrielles à proximité des sites archéologiques constituent un vrai danger. Selon al-‘Ashmâwî, ces acivités ont facilité l’accès des citoyens à ces régions, et ont favorisé le vol des antiquités et les fouilles clandestines. Le site de Tell Basta dans le gouvernorat d’al-Sharqiyya en est un exemple. « Nous avons encerclé le site avec une muraille pour le protéger, mais cela ne suffit pas, car le grand public n’est pas sensibilisé à l’importance des monuments », souligne al. ‘Ashmâwî.

Fouilles archéologiques à Tell al-Iswid Les archéologues estiment que la conscience archéologique des citoyens est essentielle pour protéger les sites et les préserver. « Nous organisons des ateliers pour les enfants des villages dans les zones archéologiques, comme Motobas, et aussi des stages de formation pour les adultes, afn de les sensibiliser à l’importance de préserver les monuments », reprend l’archéologue Penelope WILSON. Les fermes piscicoles de Tell Debko de Burg al-‘Arab et du lac Manzala, à l’ouest d’Alexandrie, constituent l’un des problèmes majeurs auxquels sont confrontés les sites archéologiques dans ces régions. Autre problème qu’affrontent les archéologues opérant dans le Delta : la nature du sol. Les vestiges des anciennes villes du Delta sont en terre cuite. Or, le sol aussi l’est dans ces zones. « Nous sommes exposés à d’énormes difficultés pour faire la distincion entre les monuments et le sol », explique l’archéologue anglais Manfred BREAD, qui travaille en Égypte depuis plus de 40 ans, soulignant l’importance que le personnel qui opère en Moyenne et Haute-Égypte soit suffisamment qualifé. À l’instar du projet pilote de la sauvegarde des monuments de la Nubie, lancé dans les années 1960 par l’Unesco, les archéologues opérant dans le Delta espèrent lancer un projet pour préserver les régions archéologiques du Delta. (Doaa Elhami, « Le Delta, région en danger », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 5 juillet 2017).

Pedestrians strolling through 19th-century Khedival Cairo, today largely corresponding to the downtown area of the city, will likely encounter many different scenes this week as ‘Âbidîn Square and Alfî and al- Mu‘izz streets are transformed into cultural stages celebrating the area’s 150th anniversary. Khedival Cairo extends from Qasr al-Nil Street to ‘Ataba, taking in Opera Square and the al-Muskî distric.

Tis week will see festivities throughout the area, as to the rhythm of traditional futes, drums and tambourines folk dancers dressed in colourful costumes will roam the distric’s streets and squares showing off their performances.

© Sherif Sonbol Traditional Arab music and opera concerts are to take place while guided tours around the different areas of Khedival Cairo are to be organised for revellers. Billboards are to be installed on the façades of every edifce in Khedival Cairo to provide detailed information on the history of the buildings, their designers and their architecural styles. Screens will be installed throughout the downtown area displaying documentaries relating to the history of Khedival Cairo since its construcion in 1867 until today. A photography competition of historical edifces in Cairo will be organised in collaboration with UNESCO under the title “Our Heritage through Khedival Cairo”. According to Muhammad al-Shaykh, secretary-general of the Cairo governorate, the competition will strengthen the value of heritage in the hearts and minds of the public, its aim being to raise awareness of it and to draw people’s attention to the importance of the area’s historic buildings and their distinguished architecural styles refecing one of Egypt’s historical periods. Te competition also highlights measures to preserve and protec the area for future generations. al-Shaykh said that each photographer participating in the competition could enter up to three original photographs. Te frst prize is LE15,000, the second is LE10,000 and the third is LE5,000, he said. al-Shaykh pointed out that the façades of the 125 edifces earmarked in the event were maintained thanks to a budget of LE100 million provided by businesses, banks, and the owners of edifces in downtown Cairo. Te buildings are located in fve squares and fve main streets, he added.

© Sherif Sonbol Rihâm ‘Azzâm, in charge of downtown building renovation at the National Committee for the Protecion and Renovation of Cairo’s Heritage, said that within the framework of the celebration the committee was starting the second phase of its development projec for Khedival Cairo. Tis includes the development of the khedival buildings in ‘Imâd al-Dîn Street in downtown Cairo, among the frst to be construced in the area. Te buildings were once home to the khedive Ismâ‘îl’s entourage and servants from ‘Âbidîn Palace. Today, although they stand majestically tall and replete with history, they have become homes to offices, shops and cinemas. “We decided to start with the khedival buildings due to their very important role in Cairo’s heritage,” ‘Azzâm said, adding that “the buildings are quite challenging due to problems with their strucure, as well as their design. ” She believes that the edifces are unique in their French architecural style in Cairo, and renovating them will be an example of the hard work the committee is doing to renew the prestigious buildings of the downtown area. “Te glory of the khedival buildings makes the area one of the most mesmerising spots in Egypt,” ‘Azzâm said, adding that despite time taking its toll on the buildings they were still

proof of how architecure can add much to a city’s beauty and elegance.

© Sherif Sonbol HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT: Te history of the distric goes back to 1867 when the khedive Ismâ‘îl visited Paris for that year’s World Fair and decided to rebuild Cairo, then still a largely mediaeval city, on the Parisian model designed by city planner Georges Eugène HAUSSMANN. New street plans were drawn up, canals were flled in, and edifces were built in the best neo-classical and neo-baroque architecural styles. Te Khedivial Quarter was an architecural masterpiece, competing with the most beautiful cities in the world and an open museum featuring all the European architecural styles. It was also a buzzing cosmopolitan hub known as the “Paris of the East”. In 1872, CLOT Bey and Muhammad ‘Alî streets were built to connec the new city centre with the old parts of Cairo and the Citadel area. Te 406-metre Qasr al-Nil Bridge with its beautiful four bronze lions carved in Italy was inaugurated on the banks of the Nile as well as the Abû al-‘Ilâ Bridge designed by French architec Gustave EIFFEL, the designer of the Tour Eiffel in Paris. In 1875, the Old Cairo Opera House was inaugurated, grand boulevards were opened through the old city area, and tramlines connecing ‘Ataba with ‘Abbâsiyya and Shubrâ soon followed. A modern sewerage system was installed, and paved streets planted with trees imported from China, India, Sudan and the United States were built. New suburbs were construced such as Zamâlik, called the Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants), because of its collecion of exotic plants shipped from all over the world. French landscape designer de la Chevalerie designed the island’s landscape plan, gardens and plant nurseries. Te French infuence continued during the time after Ismâ‘îl stepped down from power, with architecs Alexandre MARCEL, Leo NAFILYAN, Raoul BRANDON and Antoine BACKH all designing several edifces. French architec Georges PARCQ, for example, built many buildings in Cairo during the early 20th century, including the French Embassy. Italian architec Antonio LASCIAC built the Club Risotto buildings in Mustafa Kâmil Square in 1929, architec A CASTAMAN built the Groppi buildings in Tal‘at Harb Square, and Italian architec Mario ROSSI took part in the building of the ‘Umar Makram Mosque in Tahrîr Square. Architec G BALIAN built various buildings in Tal‘at Harb Street in 1934, and architec Mustafa Fahmî Bek was responsible for the Engineers Organisation building on Ramses Street. In Khedival Cairo, squares were used as open-air museums to exhibit statues of political and societal leaders such as Tal‘at Harb, Muhammad Farîd and Mustafa Kâmil in a bid to spread nationalist feelings through art connecing the Egyptian political and social heritage with daily life. During the early 20th century, downtown Cairo became the home of Egyptians and Europeans alike, with residents including statesmen, artists, intellecuals and businessmen. It quickly emerged as a vibrant hub of cultural, commercial and political acivities, and it became a source of inspiration for Egypt’s artists and writers. Fashion-conscious Cairenes strolled the sidewalks of Qasr al-Nil and Tal‘at Harb streets, visiting the city’s chic department stores in search of the latest European trends. Film fans fooded downtown cinemas to watch the premiers of both Egyptian and foreign movies, while diplomats wined and dined together at foreign-owned cafeterias and clubs and acivists discussed politics.

Te distric was also familiar with political upheavals, the frst in 1919 with the revolution against the British occupation when protests were largely centred in Tahrîr Square and Tal‘at Harb Street. In the 1952 Revolution, the streets of downtown Cairo fooded again with people celebrating the success of the Free Officers Movement. RECENT HISTORY: Following the 1952 Revolution, many street names were changed and buildings demolished in an effort to rid public memory of the previous monarchical regime. Many of the area’s residents left the neighbourhood for districs such as Ma‘âdî, Heliopolis and later Muhandisîn. Downtown Cairo, once a premier residential neighbourhood, then became nearly abandoned by some segments of society. Many apartments were closed, while others were rented to clinics, workshops, ateliers, stores and offices, a fac that transformed Cairo’s Belle Époque buildings into strucures of faded glory. Although the buildings that remain from the distric’s heyday have fallen into disrepair, the area still retains an air of elegance, and it has enormous present potential. In recent years, the government has initiated a comprehensive renovation scheme to recreate the atmosphere of the Khedival city that Ismâ‘îl built and to rescue the area from degeneration. Te Khedival Cairo projec is being undertaken under the auspices of the governorate of Cairo, represented by professor Suhayr Hawwâs and the Cultural Coordination Organisation. Tey point out that many of the present problems facing the architecure of downtown Cairo did not appear until the Open Door Period in the 1970s when new construcion materials were used and there was a rejecion of all that was old. “It was an ac of revenge against the old regime and its buildings and edifces,” Hawwâs said, adding that towers were then construced in downtown Cairo, such as the commercial building replacing the National Hotel in ‘Abd al-Khâliq Tarwat Street. Te hotel was composed of two domed strucures, but one of them was demolished and replaced by the Tal‘at Harb Mall. Elegant shops disappeared and were replaced with others selling shoes and commercial producs. Te owners of these new shops did not bother to preserve the distinguished architecure of downtown Cairo, and they started to decorate the façades of their shops and put up billboards in a way that degraded the area’s distinguished architecural style. Several people blocked windows and balconies with ugly billboards. “Te Khedival Cairo projec does not only aim at restoring the façades of these edifces. It also seeks to renovate the buildings themselves and restore the area’s opulent atmosphere,” Hawwâs concluded. (Nevine El-Aref, “Te Paris of the East”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 6, 2017). En coopération avec la commission chinoise des musées, la commission nationale égyptienne des musées a commencé la mise en place d’un programme visant à mieux faire connaître les musées chinois auprès du public égyptien et arabe. Le président de la commission nationale égyptienne des musées, Dr Khâlid ‘Azab, a déclaré que le programme vise également à promouvoir les musées égyptiens en Chine. Par ailleurs, une délégation de muséologues chinois arrive en Égypte au mois de septembre 2017 pour donner une série de conférences sur les musées chinois. En outre, une exposition sera organisée pour présenter les 20 musées chinois les plus célèbres. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Coopération sino-égyptienne pour promouvoir les musées des deux pays », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 6 juillet 2017). Te stories of tomb robberies are amazing but also tragic. Te robbers do not realise that by cutting scenes and reliefs out from ancient temples and tombs they are damaging not only the history of Egypt but also that of the world as a whole.

During the 25 January Revolution, Egypt went through difficult times. On 28 January 2011, over 1,000 people sneaked into the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrîr Square. Tat night, the police had left Cairo and the city did not have a single policeman on the streets. We have to thank God for saving the museum, because the people who sneaked inside it did not fnd the gold room or the room containing the golden mask of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

When we entered the museum the next day, we found many gilded statues thrown on the ground. But the museum as a whole was saved because the mummy room was locked and the building was dark, so the robbers could not fnd its location. If these people had found the mummy room, the royal mummies could have been destroyed. “Red mercury”, one of the things the robbers may have been looking for, is a mythic substance for many Egyptians. Tey believe that in the throats of mummies there is liquid called red mercury. If someone possesses this liquid, he or she will be able to control the spirits and become rich. Of course, there is no such thing as red mercury, but many people still believe in it all over Egypt. A daughter of a friend of mine called me one day and said that her father had held a zâr (a kind of religious ceremony) at his house and brought in a Moroccan magician who had made her father believe that he could summon up the djinn, or spirits, to provide him with red mercury. Te secretary of an Arab prince also once called me and said the prince would like to meet me. I agreed. Te prince came and said that he would make the story short. “My mother is very sick, and we have taken her to docors in Egypt and all over the world, but she is still sick. A sheikh who lives near us told me that the remedy for my mother was in the hands of Zâhî Hawwâs. ” I did not know what to say, because I did not understand why he was telling me what he was saying. “I am an Egyptologist and not a docor,” I said. A few months later, he called me one evening and said he wanted to see me. On his arrival he said, “I have $100,000 in my bag. If you will give me some of the liquid you have, I have the same amount at my hotel. ” I realised that he was referring to red mercury. I told the prince that there was no such thing as red mercury. I found out from the prince that the reason he had come to me was because I had been working on a major excavation called the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the Bahariyya Oasis and had found a large cemetery full of mummies dating to the Roman period and covered with gold. Te people of Bahariyya had become rich because of the producion of wine, and it was wine that everyone in ancient Egypt wanted to drink in the afterlife. Te discovery of the mummies happened by accident when the antiquities guard of the Temple of Alexander the Great in the Oasis had been riding his donkey whose leg fell into a hole. He looked inside and saw mummies covered in gold. We excavated the discovery, which the foreign press called the “Tutankhamun of the Greek and Roman Period”. Te US channel Fox TV aired a two-hour programme about the discovery hosted by American acor Bill PULLMAN who played the role of the president of the United States in the movie Independence Day. Many famous acors came to visit, including the British acor Roger MOORE with his girlfriend Christina. Te Egyptian press wrote several pieces as well, and one day Makram Muhammad Ahmad, a famous writer and journalist, was reading a French magazine that included 10 pages on the Valley of the Golden Mummies as he was fying back to Egypt from Paris. When he arrived in Cairo, he called me and said that not enough was known about the discovery in Egypt. I told him it was not my fault and that we had sent press releases to the Egyptian media, but no one had come to the site. On the other hand, many foreign TV people and reporters had come to write about the discovery. Ahmad then sent journalist Ahmad Abû Kaf who wrote a story about the mummies in al-Musawwar magazine.

I told the prince this story and explained that there was no liquid to be found in the throats of mummies, but people who wanted to be rich had searched for this because of a myth that had become common among Egyptians. Te name “red mercury” acually emerged after the fall of the former Soviet Union, when the Russians began to sell uranium to Tird World countries. Tis contains something called red mercury. Another story concerns the site of Saqqâra, where the 27th-Dynasty tomb of an army commander called Padinist was found. Members of the expedition included the famous chemist Alfred LUCAS and Zakî Iskandar from the then Egyptian Antiquities Service. Inside the tomb a sarcophagus was found that had been completely sealed since antiquity. Tey opened the sarcophagus carefully and found the mummy of the overseer of the army inside. It was resting on its side, and beside it was a liquid that had remained from the mummifcation process. LUCAS and Iskandar colleced the liquid and put it in a small bottle. Tis is now in the Mummifcation Museum in Luxor. Today, there are still people who deceive others by presenting them with something called red mercury. I thought I had convinced the prince that the story was a myth because he left, apparently happy. But one week later, I read in the paper that the police had caught an Egyptian who had deceived an Arab prince by selling him red mercury. Even today, many people in Egypt still believe in this myth, and some taxi drivers even ask me how they can get hold of a sample of red mercury. (Zâhî Hawwâs, “Te myth of red mercury”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 6, 2017).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a annoncé l’approbation du Conseil des ministres hier de transférer le colosse de Ramsès II vers sa destination ultime. Il sera installé dans l’atrium du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) pour recevoir les visiteurs dès leur entrée dans le musée. C’est la compagnie Te Arab Contracors Osman Ahmed Osman & Co. qui se chargera du transfert à bord du même véhicule qui l’avait transporté de la place Ramsès en 2006. Le colosse sera ensuite érigé sur un nouveau socle. L’opération du transfert durera près de trois heures. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le gouvernement approuve le transfert du colosse de Ramsès II », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 6 juillet 2017. Voir également Yahya Hilmî, « Le Conseil des ministres approuve le transfert du colosse de Ramsès II vers le GEM », al-Fagr, 5 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Préparatifs au GEM en vue du transfert du colosse de Ramsès II vers l’atrium », Sada al- Balad, 6 juillet).

Te Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec has provided al-Mu‘izz Street in medieval Cairo with fve new golf cars to facilitate the transportation of its visitors, the antiquities ministry said on Friday. Tis brings the total number of cars available at the historic site to 13.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, the direcor. general of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec told Ahram Online that the cost of these carts was EGP 1,200,000 and was paid for by the Ministry of Antiquities and the Ministry of Tourism. (Nevine El-Aref, “No. of golf carts for visitors to al-Mu‘izz Street in historic Cairo increases to 13”, Ahram Online, July 7, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Ibrâhîm, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie met 5 voitures élecriques à la disposition des visiteurs de la rue al-Mu‘izz », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 5 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 5 nouveaux véhicules élecriques pour transporter les visiteurs de la rue al- Mu‘izz », Sada al-Balad, 5 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie fournit 5 nouveaux véhicules élecriques à la rue al-Mu‘izz », al-Wafd, 5 juillet ; “Additional golf carts provided to ease commutes on al-Mu‘izz street”, Egypt Independent, July 6 ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « La rue al-Mu‘izz est dotée de 5 nouveaux véhicules élecriques », Watanî, 6 juillet).

As an inseparable part of the Alexandrian heritage that was about to fade, the restoration of the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, known as the Jewish Temple, took place. For years, the building was facing the danger of total collapse, without any interference from officials, a fac that is about to change after the Ministry of Antiquities allocated EGP 40m for its renovation process. Abandoned in the middle of Alexandria’s historical al-Nabî Daniel Street, the timeworn, racked building is the second biggest synagogue in the world and the frst in the Middle East. Earlier this year, the ceiling of the synagogue collapsed, causing its closure until it is fully restored. Te restoration process will include the construcion of the temple as well as the architecural design, according to a statement by al-Sa‘îd Hilmî, head of the Islamic and Coptic Relics department at the Ministry of Antiquities, to one of the privately owned newspapers in Egypt. Te ministry will start the restoration process once it is approved by the ministry’s board of direcors in the upcoming general meeting. However, according to Hilmî, Article 30 of laws no. 117, 3, and 61 state that the Jewish community in Egypt should be the fnancing body for renovating the temple, as they are the advantaged body.

Te synagogue was built in 1354 and was the subjec of bombardment by French forces in 1798. It was restored in the 1850s by the then-ruling Egyptian royal family. According to state-owned media portal al-Ahrâm, the Ministry of Antiquities previously refused Israeli funding to restore the temple. In 2016, Israeli Minister David GOVRIN had offered funding for the restoration of the temple, yet he was met with instant refusal. Hilmî explained that “Egypt has a clear direc stand from Israel, and it doesn’t accept any money from it,” according to al-Ahrâm. “Te temple is located on Egyptian lands, and we would never accept Israeli money to renovate our heritage,” he added. Te ancient building’s mirror front is full of cracks, and the walls are in a “severe deterioration phase”, as Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ, a projec engineer at the ministry described. “Te building’s glass is very rare, so in order to reproduce a similar type of the glass that there was in 1910, it costs us a lot of money,” he added. (“Jewish Temple in Alexandria allocated EGP 40m for renovation”, Daily News Egypt, July 9, 2017. Voir également Ragab Ramadân, « 40 millions L. E. pour restaurer la synagogue d’Alexandrie », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 5 juillet ; “Jewish Temple in Alexandria to be restored at LE40 million”, Egypt Independent, July 5 ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie débloque 68 millions L. E. pour la restauration de la synagogue Eliyahu Hanavi », al-Wafd, 7 juillet ; Khâtir ‘Ibâda, « Israël remercie l’Égypte pour la restauration d’une synagogue », al-Fagr, 12 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a procédé à une nouvelle vague de remaniements, destinée à mettre en avant de jeunes cadres dynamiques. Il s’agit de : 1) ‘Âdil ‘Ukâsha est nommé président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza. 2) ‘Alâ’ al-Shahhât est nommé vice-président du département des antiquités égyptiennes. 3) ‘Abd al-Fattâh ‘Îd est nommé président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de Basse-Égypte. 4) Nagwa Mitwallî est nommée direcrice générale de l’Administration de la publication scientifque. (Samar al-Naggâr, « Décisions du ministre de l’Archéologie pour restrucurer ses services », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 9 juillet 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « ‘Âdil ‘Ukâsha est nommé président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza », Sada al-Balad, 9 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Décisions du ministre de l’Archéologie pour réorganiser ses services », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 9 juillet ; Hâgar Samîr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie restrucure ses services », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 9 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie nomme ‘Alâ’ al-Shahhât vice-président du département des antiquités égyptiennes », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 10 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a loué les efforts déployés récemment pour mettre fn aux empiétements perpétrés contre les zones archéologiques dans près de 14 gouvernorats, notamment dans les régions d’Abû Mînâ et de Burg al-‘Arab. Grâce à ces efforts, 119 000 m2 de terrains archéologiques ont été restitués au ministère. Lors d’une tournée d’inspecion dans le gouvernorat de Damiette, al-‘Inânî s’est félicité des efforts accomplis par son ministère pour le développement de ses ressources et l’augmentation de ses revenus qui ne couvrent même pas le tiers des salaires de ses employés. Sans parler de la difficulté de lancer de nouveaux projets archéologiques. Parmi ces efforts louables fgure la réouverture des musées fermés pour manque d’entretien et de restauration. La politique du ministère consiste à rouvrir ces musées, avant de se lancer dans la création de nouveaux musées régionaux. D’ailleurs, des accords sont conclus avec un certain nombre de gouverneurs, notamment à Marsa Matrûh et à Banî Swayf. En vertu de ces protocoles, les gouvernorats fournissent les terrains et les crédits fnanciers nécessaires à la création des nouveaux musées. (‘Imâd al-Shâzlî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Nous rouvrirons les musées fermés depuis des années », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 10 juillet 2017).

Antiquities Minister Khâlid al-‘Inânî has agreed to the restoration of Prince Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha Palace in Shubrâ al-Khayma at LE150 million, said Qalyûbiyya Governor Mahmûd ‘Ashmâwî. al-‘Ashmâwî added that LE50 million will be disbursed for the frst phase of the projec.

Te governor said in a statement on Sunday the local authorities have already begun work on the projec, adding that the palace was built on an area of 50 feddans and was built over the span of 13 years between 1808 to 1821. Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha’s Shubrâ Palace was closed in 2012 for security reasons as well as the archaeological building’s deteriorated situation. A car bomb exploded adjacent to the palace in 2015, targeting the National Security Agency’s headquarters, further affecing the palace.

Te palace was previously restored as part of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec (HCRP), a projec that aimed to renovate historic Medieval Islamic Cairo, which began in the mid-nineties. (“Muhammad ‘Alî Shubrâ Palace to be restored at LE150 million: Qalyûbiyya governor”, Egypt Independent, July 11, 2017. Voir également Muhammad Mahmûd, « 50 millions L. E. pour réaménager le palais Muhammad ‘Alî à Shubrâ al-Khayma », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 10 juillet). La zone archéologique de la mer Rouge a effecué un survey de la route reliant al-Qift à al-Qusayr, à la recherche de nouveaux sites archéologiques. Ce survey inédit, effecué sur près de 180 Km, mènera à des résultats très importants. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Survey de la route al-Qift/al-Qusayr », Sada al-Balad, 11 juillet 2017). Le Parquet général a ordonné 15 jours de détention à l’encontre de quatre individus qui ont entrepris des fouilles archéologiques illicites sous une maison située dans le quartier de Sayyida Zaynab. Islâm E. , informaticien âgé de 27 ans ; Yâsir K. , élecricien de 22 ans ; Bakr F. , élecricien de 28 ans ; ainsi que Ramadân A. , vigile de 36 ans, ont été arrêtés la main dans le sac. Ils ont avoué leur forfait. (Ghufrân Husayn, « 4 personnes écrouées pour fouilles clandestines à Sayyida Zaynab », al-Wafd, 11 juillet 2017).

A minor fre was extinguished shortly after breaking out on Wednesday morning at workshops in the open court of Uda Pasha wakâla, an Ottoman edifce in Cairo’s Gamâliyya distric. Te main walls of the wakâla have not been seriously damaged, according to Mustafa Amîn, secretary- general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. An archaeological committee led by head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Department al-Sa‘îd Hilmî inspeced the site and is following up on investigations to determine the cause of the blaze. Amîn says that the Gamâliyya Antiquities Department had previously sent several letters to the Civil Security Authority to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place. (Nevine El-Aref, “Fire extinguished at workshops in Uda Pasha wakâla”, Ahram Online, July 12, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Incendie maîtrisé dans wakâlat Uda Pasha à al-Gamâliyya », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 12 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « La Défense civile maîtrise un incendie dans wakâlat Uda Pasha à al-Gamâliyya », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 12 juillet ; Hâgar Samîr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : L’incendie de wakâlat Uda Pasha est maîtrisé », Ruz al- Yûsuf, 12 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Incendie maîtrisé dans wakâlat Uda Pasha à al-Gamâliyya », Sada al- Balad, 12 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Incendie maîtrisé dans wakâlat Uda Pasha à al-Gamâliyya », al-Wafd, 12 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie commence la restauration de wakâlat Uda Pasha vicime d’un incendie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 21 juillet ; Husâm Zaydân, « Lancement des travaux de restauration de wakâlat Uda Pasha », al-Fagr, 21 juillet).

Sabîl-kuttâb Khisrû Cairo is an unequalled treasure house of Islamic architecure, with its many distinguished Fatimid, Mameluke, Circassian, Ayubid and Ottoman edifces. al-Mu‘izz Street stretching from Bâb al-Futûh to Bâb Zuwayla in Islamic Cairo is the iconic heart of the city and is adorned with soaring monuments displaying many styles of Islamic architecure and embellished with fne mashrabiyya (wood lattice work) façades and painted mosaic and decorative domes. It is lined with sabîl-kuttâb (water fountains and Qur’anic schools), mosques, wakâla (trading establishments) and khânqa (hostels for Suf dervishes). Last Sunday, despite a blistering heat wave Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî, Cairo Governor ‘Âtif ‘Abd al-Hamîd, Local Development Minister Hishâm al-Sharîf and other ministers, high-ranking officials, foreign ambassadors to Egypt, and the direcors of foreign archaeological institutes joined hands to cut the opening ribbons of three newly restored Mameluke, Ayubid and Ottoman edifces in Islamic Cairo. In Darb al-Masmat alley in the Gamâliyya distric of the mediaeval city off al-Mu‘izz Street, the Muhib al- Dîn Abû al-Tayyib Hall, the dome of the al-Sultan al-Sâlih Nagm al-Dîn Mosque and the sabîl-kuttâb of Khisrû Pasha all recovered their splendour. Before the inauguration, dignitaries as well as journalists gathered on the stairs in front of the façade of the magnifcent Muhammad ‘Alî Sabîl in al-Mu‘izz Street in a candlelight vigil in memory of the army officers and soldiers killed in the deadly attack in North Sinai on Friday. al-‘Inânî and visitors then embarked on an inspecion tour around the newly restored monuments. “Restoring these monuments is a milestone in efforts to preserve and protec Cairo’s Islamic heritage,” al- ‘Inânî said, adding that the inaugurations marked the end of a two-year restoration programme that had come within the framework of a national campaign launched by the ministry in 2015 to safeguard 100 monuments in Islamic Cairo. al-‘Inânî said that within this national campaign the ministry had allocated LE9 million to restore seven monuments, among them the newly inaugurated edifces. Still on the list are the Maq‘ad Mâmmay al- Sayfî, the al-Sâlihiyya Madrasa, the Said al-Saadaa Khânqa and the Abû al-Dahab Complex. Sharîf Fawzî, the al-Mu‘izz Street archaeological coordinator at the ministry, said that the most imposing of the three monuments was the Muhib al-Dîn Abû al-Tayyib Hall, which refecs the architecural opulence of the Mameluke era. Te hall was originally the reception area of a palace built during the 14th century, but during the 1940s the palace was severely damaged when work began on the Bayt al-Qâdî Road.

Te al-Tayyib hall Te hall was the only secion left intac and takes the form of a vast square visitor hall with a large mashrabiyya façade. A marble water fountain decorates its middle, and overhead is a fne wooden ceiling ornamented with colourful geometrical and foliage designs. To the left is a small passage leading to a vaulted ceilinged bathroom. “Time had taken its toll on the hall,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec, said, adding that parts of the damaged marble foor of both the water fountain and the surrounding foor had been dismantled, restored and replaced in their original positions. Missing Qur’anic texts embellishing the hall’s walls have been completed, while those, which were hidden beneath dust, have been cleaned. Te walls have been reinforced, missing and decayed stones replaced, and masonry cleaned and desalinated. “Now the hall stands as proudly as it did in the past,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said. Nearby is the al-Sultan al-Sâlih Nagm al-Dîn Madrasa and dome as rare examples of a signifcant period in Egyptian history when the Mamluks took control of Egypt from the previous Ayubid Dynasty. Te dome was built by the female ruler Shagarat al-Durr to ac as the burial place for her husband al- Sultan al-Sâlih Nagm al-Dîn, the last Ayubid ruler of Egypt. It consists of a large hall in which a wooden tomb containing Nagm al-Dîn’s body stands in the middle and two other halls dedicated to a kuttâb and a small mosque. Te dome has a number of white cement windows decorated with stained glass and a large mashrabiyya façade, all of which were previously damaged by high humidity that led to the spreading of cracks over its parts. Te foor beneath the tomb had subsided and some of its blocks had been separated from each other.

Dôme al-Sâlih Nagm al-Dîn Te madrasa is ereced on the site where the Fatimid Eastern Palace, the palace that originally gave the street its name, once stood. It was built to teach the four Sunni schools of Islamic fqh (jurisprudence), and is considered to be the frst school built in Egypt for that purpose. To the north lies the sabîl-kuttâb of Khisrû Pasha, one of the most beautiful Ottoman sabîls that entranced 17th-century historians and travellers with its extremely fne design. It is a two-storey building in which the sabîl is on the frst foor and the kuttâb on the second. Te sabîl has an al-tasbîl room, which is a niche to cool water before it runs into the well. Te kuttâb was dedicated to teaching poorer children the Quran free of charge. Te north-eastern façade of the sabîl has a large recangular entrance with two windows.

Before each of them is a marble shelf on which cups were originally put for drinking.

Te ceiling of Khisrû sabîl-kuttâb High levels of humidity were the main reason for the building’s deterioration and the spreading of cracks over its walls. Tese have now been repaired, restoring the sabîl to its original magnifcence. (Nevine El- Aref, “Islamic monuments restored”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 13, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure des monuments à al-Mu‘izz en présence de quelques ministres et ambassadeurs étrangers », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure trois monuments restaurés dans la rue al-Mu‘izz », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 9 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Inauguration à al-Mu‘izz de 3 monuments à l’issue de leur restauration », Sada al-Balad, 9 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure la salle Muhib, le kuttâb Khisrû et le dôme d’al-Sâlih situés dans la rue al-Mu‘izz », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 9 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure 3 monuments restaurés », al-Wafd, 9 juillet ; Nevine El-Aref, “Tree Islamic monuments inaugurated in al-Mu‘izz street”, Ahram Online, July 10 ; “Tree historical edifces restored at al-Mu‘izz Street”, Daily News Egypt, July 12 ; Nasma Réda, « Rue al-Mu‘izz resplendit à nouveau », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 26 juillet). Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a inspecé cet après-midi le site du fort al-Nahhâsîn en Alexandrie. La mission archéologique du Centre d’Études Alexandrines (CEAlex), présidée par Marie- Dominique NENNA, vient d’achever la restauration et le réaménagement des entrepôts.

Le fort al-Nahhâsîn est située à Bâb Sharq, derrière le stade d’Alexandrie. Il a été édifé en 1874 sous le règne de Muhammad ‘Alî. Il sera prochainement ouvert à la visite. (Husâm Zaydân, « al-’Inânî inspece le fort al-Nahhâsîn à l’issue de sa restauration », al-Fagr, 13 juillet 2017. Voir également Marwa Mursî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie visite le fort al-Nahhâsîn », al-Watan, 13 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece le fort al-Nahhâsîn et Kom al-Nâdûra en Alexandrie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 13 juillet ; Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Bâqî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece le fort al-Nahhâsîn en Alexandrie », Veto, 13 juillet). It is a great pleasure to write about Mirvat Sayf al-Dîn, the mistress of the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria. I frst met Sayf al-Dîn at the Graeco-Roman Museum in 1996 when I was starting my early career at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (now the Ministry of Antiquities). I did not know her at the beginning. She was working as the deputy direcor of the museum at the time, and she had a reputation for brilliance. When I asked her about anything, I found a very passionate scholar and highly dedicated museum official as well as a very helpful person. In 2003, I went to the Johns Hopkins University in the US to get a PhD in Egyptology and Near Eastern Archaeology, and I heard that Sayf al-Dîn had taught at the University of Maryland in Baltimore from 2001 to 2002.

When I was later in charge of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustât in Cairo, I went with colleagues to choose some artefacs from the Graeco-Roman Museum collecion in Alexandria. However, the museum was closed at the time, and we went to Tabbat al-Nahhâsîn to locate some of the artefacs stored there, where I met with her again. She gave us tremendous help in this scholarly and curatorial mission. Sayf al-Dîn was born in Alexandria in December 1953, where she attended elementary, middle and high school. She received a BA degree in Graeco-Roman antiquities from the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University in 1974. In 1975, she started a MA on the “Portraits of Ptolemaic Kings and Queens” supervised by Dâwwûd ‘Abdu Dâwwûd. In 1976, she joined the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria as a curatorial assistant. In 1985 she received her PhD from Trier University in Germany. She has taught at the Department of Tourism at Cairo University (1993-1997) and Hilwân University (1993-2012). She has also taught at Maryland University in the US (2001. 2002) and the Alexandria Centre for Hellenistic Studies (2009-2015). She was the direcor of the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria from 2004 to 2010 and served as direcor of scientifc supervision at the Ministry of Antiquities from 2010 to 2012. During her distinguished career, Sayf al-Dîn has participated in many international acivities and events. In 1988, she participated in a conference in Greece with a paper entitled “Te Plaster Moulds of the Gayer Anderson Collecion from the Graeco-Roman Museum”, and she took part in a conference in Cairo in 1992 on the interacion between Egypt and India. In 1993, she took part in a conference in Cairo on the 100th anniversary of the Archaeology Society of Alexandria. She has conduced a study of the faience collecion at the Graeco-Roman Museum. She supervised the Egyptian side of the French-Egyptian archaeological mission working in al-Qabbârî and Abûsîr from 1997 to 2001. She has also served as a member of the Higher Committee of Egyptian Antiquities, and was appointed to the board of the Graeco-Roman Museum and of the Egyptian museums. Sayf al-Dîn is a member of the Archaeology Society of Alexandria and of the German Institute in Cairo. She also serves on the International Committee of Museums. In 2015, in recognition of her distinguished career she won the Appreciation Award for Scholarly Distincion given by the Arab Association of Archaeologists. Tis article is a token of love and gratitude to Mirvat Sayf al-Dîn, mistress of the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, in recognition of her long career and great achievements at the museum and her work to safeguard the antiquities of Alexandria and further Graeco-Roman studies in Egypt and across the world. (Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, “Mistress of the Graeco-Roman Museum”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 13, 2017).

Hawwâs receiving his honourary Docorate from Peru Former Egyptian minister of antiquities and renowned Egyptologist Zâhî Hawwâs received on Wednesday an honorary PhD and an award from the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) for his efforts in the archaeological feld and his achievements in Egyptology. During the ceremony, a documentary on Hawwâs’ major discoveries in Egypt was screened. Hawwâs also delivered a lecure on antiquities in Egypt, asserting that Egypt is safe for tourists and called on Peruvians to visit the country’s distinguished archaeological sites and museums.

Hawwâs also met with Peruvian President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI, and asked for Peru to support Egypt’s candidate for UNESCO direcor-general Mushîra Khattâb. Hawwâs told Ahram Online that Peru’s minister of foreign affairs told him that Peru and other South American countries have not yet submitted a candidate for the post, promising to support Egypt’s candidate. Hawwâs recently helped Peru repatriate 46,000 artifacs that were in the possession of Yale University in the United States. Hawwâs, who was given the Blue Sun Award at Peru’s presidential palace, gifted the Peruvian president his hat and his book on Tutankhamun’s treasures. Peru’s president also asked Hawwâs to help his country organise a touring exhibition on Peruvian antiquities. (Nevine El-Aref, “Hawwâs receives honorary docorate in Peru, promotes tourism to Egypt”, Ahram Online, July 13, 2017. Voir également « Hawwâs rencontre le président péruvien pour soutenir la candidate égyptienne à l’Unesco », al-Wafd, 9 juillet ; Gawhar, « Hawwâs mobilise Toutankhamon pour soutenir la candidate égyptienne à l’Unesco », al-Ahrâm, 10 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Hawwâs nommé doceur honoris causa de l’Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 13 juillet).

An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Ministry of Antiquities uncovered a Roman foor mosaic during excavation work at the Hind area in the Muharram Bek distric of Alexandria. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, the head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secion, explained that the foor mosaic is unique in Egypt but similar mosaics have been found in several areas in Rome, including the Baths of Trajan and Hadrian’s Villa. He said that the foor was in good condition. Mustafa Rushdî, direcor of Alexandria and West Delta Antiquities, said that excavation work is continuing at the site in order to reveal more parts of the mosaic foor, and that comprehensive studies will be carried out on it. Muhammad Fârûq, direcor of Middle Alexandria Antiquities Department, told Ahram that the newly discovered foor bears an opus spicatum design, which was well. known during the Roman period and used in the construcion of the foors of baths and fortresses. Egyptologist Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said that the Hind area was once home to workshops, and a large number of glass and clay ovens have been uncovered.

Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî has visited the site and given the go-ahead to continue the excavations and uncover more parts of the foor. (Nevine El-Aref, “Mosaic foor from Roman period uncovered in Alexandria”, Ahram Online, July 13, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Ibrâhîm, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie visite le site archéologique récemment découvert en Alexandrie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 13 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece le site archéologique récemment découvert en Alexandrie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 13 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece une nouvelle découverte en Alexandrie », al-Wafd, 13 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce une nouvelle découverte à Muharram Bek en Alexandrie », Sada al-Balad, 13 juillet ; Dalia Farouq, « Mosaïque romaine, unique découverte à Alexandrie », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 26 juillet).

Mustafa Yûnis, ouvrier âgé de 35 ans, a péri lors de fouilles illicites qu’il entreprenait avec des complices du village Tutûn à Itsâ dans le gouvernorat du Fayyûm. Sa famille a tenté de maquiller l’accident en prétendant que leur fls est décédé dans un accident de moto. Les policiers ont découvert la supercherie. Une instrucion judiciaire est ouverte. (MENA, « Mort d’un ouvrier lors de fouilles clandestines à al- Fayyûm », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 juillet 2017).

Dr Diyâ’ Zahrân Le secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a pris la décision n° 4814/2017 portant nomination du Dr Diyâ’ Zahrân au poste de direceur général de l’Administration de la documentation archéologique dans le seceur islamique. Rappelons que Dr Zahrân occupait les foncions de direceur général des recherches et de la publication. Il possède une grande expérience dans le domaine des antiquités islamiques. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Diyâ’ Zahrân nommé direceur général de la documentation des antiquités islamiques », Sada al-Balad, 15 juillet 2017. Voir également Yâsir al-Ghabîrî, « Diyâ’ Zahrân nommé direceur général de la documentation des antiquités islamiques », al-Bawwâba News, 22 juillet ; al-Sayyid al-Qatâwî, « Diyâ’ Zahrân nommé direceur général de la documentation des antiquités islamiques », al-Wafd, 22 juillet).

Clay fragments Te American University in Cairo (AUC) has recently moved to transfer nearly 5,000 Islamic, Coptic, Pharaonic, and Greco-Roman antiquities to the protecion of the Egyptian state. AUC has been in legal possession of these antiquities since the 1960s, ensuring their preservation. “Tough we legally possessed these artifacs and scrupulously preserved and proteced them over so many years, we took the initiative to transfer these important antiquities to the Ministry of Antiquities because we felt that this should be their rightful home,” said AUC President Francis J RICCIARDONE. “Egyptology has been one of AUC’s most beloved felds over many years. In collaboration with the ministry, we have always strived to advance the feld globally, through both our scholarship and our demonstration of responsible stewardship,” he added. Former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs Zâhî Hawwâs commended this collaboration. “I am thrilled to know that AUC gave its antiquities collecion to the Ministry of Antiquities as a gift,” said Hawwâs, who had officially stated in 2011, while serving as minister, that all artifacs in AUC’s storage were registered and documented with the ministry.

Te nearly 5,000 pieces were registered and reviewed in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities. Tey date from a time when archaeological material, after a stringent review, did not have to remain exclusively in the hands of the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation (now the Supreme Council of Antiquities).

An Islamic clay lamp Te bulk of the materials consisted of fragments of everyday pottery, such as bowls, ulnas, jars and lusterware vessels. Most of the materials could be dated back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Some of the objecs in the collecion had been legal gifts to the university. “Te materials from the excavation often seem humble, but they help fll in the blanks to understand what people ate, their social class and trade in the region,” said Distinguished University Professor Salima IKRAM and head of the Egyptology unit at AUC’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology. “Te pots, for example, can point to how people lived and the technologies used at the time, and can demonstrate artistic infuence on ceramic producion and decoration. ” Specifcally, AUC acquired most of these artifacs during joint excavations in the Fustât area led by the late George SCANLON, professor emeritus in AUC’s Department of Arab and Islamic Civilisations who became a prominent name in the feld of Islamic archaeology. “George SCANLON’s work at Fustât was invaluable, as it set the stage for Islamic archaeology in Egypt,” said IKRAM. “He and his colleagues helped create the discipline, fusing art history, archaeology and texts in an effort to understand the administrative, sacred and secular lives of the inhabitants of Fustât, one of the frst Muslim capitals of Egypt. ” IKRAM had reviewed the Pharaonic materials in AUC’s possession, while SCANLON was responsible for the Fustât materials. Te objecs were regularly checked against the list made by AUC and the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation. “Te Fustât objecs had already been catalogued by Dr SCANLON, who excavated them, so they were fully recorded,” said IKRAM. Te discovery of these artifacs was shared between Egypt and the American mission at that time. After this excavation, the diverse antiquities were brought to AUC, and the university came to legally possess these artifacs in accordance with the Egyptian Antiquities Law No 215 for 1951, which previously allowed foreign excavations in Egypt to keep 50 per cent of their fndings. Te remaining 50 per cent of the artifacs went to the Egyptian state. Troughout AUC’s period of custody over the collecion, the materials were kept under close surveillance, and were securely stored to prevent damage. Te special storage room, locked behind two secure doors, was equipped with proteced cupboards to ensure the safekeeping of the materials. Te same committee from the Ministry of Antiquities responsible for the recent handover had collaborated closely with AUC over the years to conduc reviews of the collecion twice a year, keeping records of the inventory and maintaining photographic documentation. In May 2017, the Ministry of Antiquities assigned a special committee to review the inventory of antiquities at AUC, comparing it to its own government records. Tey worked with AUC’s Office of Legal Affairs to ensure that all antiquities were preserved and documented in the handover. “Tis [transfer] is incredible news, and I hope that any institution that owns antiquities not shown in museums would give them back,” said Hawwâs.

“AUC President Francis RICCIARDONE will be remembered in history because of his courage, power and honesty to take this decision,” Hawwâs added. (Nevine El-Aref, “AUC hands over to Egypt 5,000 artifacs from past archaeological excavations”, Ahram Online, July 16, 2017. Voir également « L’AUC remet au gouvernement égyptien des collecions archéologiques », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 16 juillet ; « L’AUC remet aux autorités égyptiennes 5 000 pièces archéologiques », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 16 juillet ; Husâm Zaydân, « Les pièces restituées par l’AUC sont transférées au NMEC », al-Fagr, 18 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Les pièces archéologiques restituées par l’AUC sont transférées au NMEC », al-Wafd, 18 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Transfert au NMEC des pièces restituées par l’AUC », al-Wafd, 18 juillet). Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a décidé de nommé trois sous-direceurs au sein du CSA : 1) Târiq Ahmad Mukhtâr, direceur général des antiquités de l’Est du Delta, est nommé sous-direceur du secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn. 2) Wagdî ‘Abbâs Abû Ahmad, direceur général du bureau technique du département des antiquités islamiques, est nommé sous-direceur du président du seceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes, al- Sa‘îd Hilmî. 3) Muna Sha‘bân Hâfz, est nommée sous-direcrice du président du département des musées archéologiques.

(Samar al-Naggâr, « al-‘Inânî nomme trois sous-direceurs au sein du CSA », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 16 juillet 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Khâlid al-‘Inânî nomme trois sous-direceurs au sein du CSA », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 16 juillet ; al-Sayyid al-Qatâwî, « Hirsh nommé sous-direceur du secrétaire général du CSA », al-Wafd, 23 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a rendu hommage au Dr Tuhfa Handûsa, décédée aujourd’hui dans un hôpital du Caire, à la suite d’une longue maladie. al. ‘Inânî a souligné que la disparition de cette éminente égyptologue constitue une grosse perte pour le milieu archéologique. Dr Handûsa est née au Caire en 1937. Diplômée du département d’archéologie de la faculté de Lettres, elle poursuit sa carrière académique au sein de l’université du Caire. (Ahmad Ibrâhîm, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie rend hommage à Tuhfa Handûsa », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 16 juillet 2016. Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie déplore la mort de l’égyptologue Tuhfa Handûsa », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 16 juillet ; Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, « Adieu Dr Tuhfa Handûsa… Adieu la mère des archéologues ! », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 18 juillet ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « L’Union des archéologues arabes rend hommage à Tuhfa Handûsa », Watanî, 18 juillet ; Zâhî Hawwâs, « Tuhfa Handûsa », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 24 juillet).

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities is now issuing visitor’s passes for foreigners to visit all archaeological sites and museums in Cairo and Gîza governorates. Te “Cairo Pass” costs $80 for foreign tourists and $40 for foreign students, and provides access to Islamic, Ancient Egyptian and Coptic sites for unlimited visits over a fve. day period, according member of the Technical Office of the Assistant Minister of Antiquities Mustafa al-Saghîr.

al-Saghîr says the move comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to promote archaeological sites and increase its fnancial resources.

Te pass can be obtained at the Cultural Relations Department at the ministry headquarters in Zamâlik, as well as at ticket outlets at the Gîza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr and the Citadel of Salâh al- Dîn. Assistant of the Minister of Antiquities for the Development of Financial Resources Imân Zaydân explains that foreigners can obtain the pass by showing their passport or a student card with picure ID. Last year, the ministry issued the “Luxor Pass” under two categories. Te frst – which costs $200 for tourists and $100 for students – includes all sites and museums in Luxor including the royal tombs of Queen Nefertari and King Seti I. Te second category is half the price and includes all sites excluding the aforementioned royal tombs. Te Annual Visitors Pass, meanwhile, includes all open archaeological sites and museums across Egypt, with several options available. Te frst is for foreign diplomats and foreigners who work in international and multinational companies in Egypt. Te annual pass costs $240 excluding the tombs of Queen Nefertari and King Seti I, and $340 including the two royal tombs. Te annual pass for Egyptians and Arab residents in Egypt to visit all the country’s sites and museums costs EGP 400, or EGP 100 for university students. School trips and Egyptians over 60 are allowed free entry. (Nevine El-Aref, “‘Cairo Pass’ available for foreigners to visit all archaeological sites in Cairo and Gîza”, Ahram Online, July 17, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie met en circulation le Cairo Pass », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 17 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie émet de nouveaux passes donnant accès aux différents musées et sites archéologiques au Caire et à Gîza », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 17 juillet ; « Le ministère de l’Archéologie émet Cairo Pass pour visiter les musées et les sites archéologiques au Caire et à Gîza », al-Fagr, 17 juillet ; Hâgar Samîr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie lance de nouveaux passes », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 17 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie émet de nouveaux passes pour visiter les zones archéologiques au Caire et à Gîza », al-Wafd, 17 juillet). L’Integrated Engineering Group Company S. A. E a signé hier un contrat avec Roschmann GROUP pour l’installation de strucures métalliques au Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM). Ce contrat s’élève à 250 000 euros. (« Un contrat de 250 000 euros signé avec l’Integrated Engineering Group Company », al-Wafd, 17 juillet 2017).

Argentina’s Vice-President Gabriela MICHETTI paid a visit to the Gîza Plateau on Tuesday morning, stopping to admire the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Ashraf Muhyî, Direcor General of Gîza Plateau, told Ahram Online that MICHETTI captured her visit on camera, even planting a virtual "kiss" on the Sphinx.

MICHETTI is in Egypt to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations, meeting with President ‘Abd al-Fattâh al-Sîsî at the presidential palace in Cairo on Sunday. However, she took time out on Tuesday to head to the Gîza Plateau, admiring the famous ancient strucures.

Argentine VP MICHETTI (Photo: Nevine El-Aref) Muhyî told Ahram Online that MICHETTI was impressed with the view from the plateau and with the ancient Egyptian civilization in general. She promised to return to Egypt soon with her family and make a longer tour of the plateau and its various sites. (Nevine El-Aref, “Argentine VP MICHETTI visits Gîza Plateau, plants virtual ‘kiss’ on Sphinx”, Ahram Online, July 18, 2017).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu l’ambassadeur du Mexique au Caire, S. E. M. Jose Ocavio TRIPP. L’entretien a porté sur le renforcement de la coopération bilatérale dans le champ archéologique et l’échange d’expertise en matière de musées. TRIPP a fait l’éloge des réalisations récentes du ministère de l’Archéologie, des recherches et des découvertes ainsi que de la publication scientifque. De son côté, Dr al-‘Inânî a adressé une invitation au peuple mexicain, afn de visiter l’Égypte pour jouir de son patrimoine archéologique et découvrir sa civilisation exceptionnelle. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur du Mexique au Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 18 juillet 2017. Voir également Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Entretien entre le ministre de l’Archéologie et l’ambassadeur du Mexique pour examiner les moyens de coopération », al-Wafd, 18 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur du Mexique au Caire », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 18 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « al-‘Inânî étudie la coopération archéologique avec le Mexique », al-Wafd, 18 juillet).

After its frst phase soft opening, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) received on Monday 453 different artefacs from the frst and second Egyptian dynasty that were stored at the Egyptian museum, according to a statement published at the Ministry of Antiquities’ Official Facebook page. Te transformation is a step from the ministry’s set plan to transfer all of the artefacs that are not displayed to mass from storages and archaeological sites to the museum preparing for the opening of its second phase. Te transferred artefacs include collecions of clay and stone vessels and pots, funerary stele reliefs, and clay sarcophagi. Te relics were originally discovered on the hands of the archaeologist Zakî Sa‘d in ‘Izbat al-Walda in Ma‘âdî area in Cairo between 1942 and 1954, as Mahrûs Sa‘îd, NMEC’s Supervisor General explained in the press release. “During that time, Sa‘d unearthed almost 800 objecs from the early ancient Egyptian era exacly from the frst and second dynasties. ” He added, “Tese artefacs would be subjeced to frst aid restoration and documentation”.

NMEC opened its doors in the soft opening last February, with one main hall displaying Egyptian civilisation culture from prehistory to modern time. Te displayed relics showcased the crafts of each era, and the different sides of people’s social life at that time. Te museum is located at the heart of Cairo’s old city, al-Fustât, overlooking ‘Ayn al-Sîra Lake. It’s planned to display 150,000 artefacs by its grand opening; each presents a different side of Egypt’s developing civilisation. (“National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation receives 453 artefacs”, Daily News Egypt, July 19, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « 453 pièces archéologiques transférées du Musée Égyptien vers le NMEC », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 17 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le NMEC reçoit 453 pièces antiques en provenance des dépôts du Musée Égyptien », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 17 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « 453 pièces archéologiques arrivent au NMEC en provenance du Musée Égyptien », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 17 juillet ; Husâm Zaydân, « Le NMEC réceptionne 453 pièces archéologiques en provenance des magasins du Musée Égyptien », al-Fagr, 18 juillet).

Dr Zâhî Hawwâs a révélé que la mission archéologique qu’il dirige acuellement dans la vallée des Rois à Louqsor a découvert des indices sur la présence d’une tombe qui appartiendrait à l’épouse de Toutankhamon. Dans ses déclarations au site Livre Science, Hawwâs a précisé que son équipe envisage d’entreprendre des fouilles dans cette nouvelle tombe anonyme, située à proximité de celle du roi Ay. Hawwâs a ajouté que la mission a mis au jour des dépôts de fondation révélant justement la présence d’une tombe en cet emplacement. En outre, les équipements radar ont détecé l’existence d’un bâtiment qui correspondrait probablement à l’entrée de la tombe. Selon Hawwâs, le propriétaire de cette tombe serait Ankhesenamon, la femme de Toutankhamon qui a épousé par la suite le roi Ay. D’où la présence de la tombe de celle-ci à côté de celle de Ay. (‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Zâhî Hawwâs dirige une mission de fouilles afn de découvrir la tombe présumée de l’épouse de Toutankhamon », Sada al-Balad, 19 juillet 2017. Voir également Basant Gamîl, « Un archéologue : La probabilité de découvrir la tombe de l’épouse de Toutankhamon dans la vallée des Rois est faible », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 21 juillet).

Te newly discovered text in the Red Sea governorate An Egyptian mission has stumbled upon a cave in Upper Egypt, which contains Medieval. era Arabic graffiti. Te cave was discovered during an archaeological survey carried out at the archaeological sites located in the area known as the Golden Triangle in the Red Sea governorate. Deputy Minister of Antiquities Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf told Ahram Online that studies reveals that the cave was a rest house for pilgrims, traders and passengers who used it to protec themselves from the hot weather during their trips from Egypt to Mecca or Palestine. During their stay in the cave, said ‘Abd al-Latîf, they carved graffiti on the walls, some of which remain while others have disappeared due to erosion.

Te ministry is now studying the possibility of putting the cave on the official list of antiquities sites in an attempt to protec it, as well as restoring the texts. Muhammad Tûnî, an archaeologist at the governorate’s Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Department, said that the texts are composed of two secions. Te frst reads: "there is no God except Allah" while the second reads: "God has returned the poor slave Yûsuf Bin Hâtim al-Shatî to his family in 755 of Hegira. May God have mercy on him and his parents and all the Muslims. Amen. " Tûnî describes the texts as unique within the Golden Triangle area, which consists of the cities of Safâgâ and Qusayr at its base with the Upper Egyptian city of Qinâ at the top. (Nevine El-Aref, “Medieval-era graffiti discovered in cave in Upper Egypt”, Ahram Online, July 19, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Découverte d’inscriptions dans le Triangle d’or », Sada al-Balad, 19 juillet ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte de graffitis dans une cave rupestre sur la route Qift-al-Qusayr », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 19 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie découvre des inscriptions islamiques dans une cave rupestre sur la route Qift-al-Qusayr », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 19 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Nouvelle découverte dans le Triangle d’or », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 19 juillet ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Nouvelle découverte archéologique sur la route du pèlerinage à al-Qusayr », al-Ahrâm, 20 juillet ; “Islamic engravings uncovered in Red Sea’s Golden Triangle”, Egypt Independent, July 20).

In a gala ceremony marking 30 years of excavations by the Ministry of Antiquities in North Sinai, the eastern gate of Egypt, Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî and Direcor of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Mustafa al-Fiqî inaugurated a distinguished photographic exhibition in the Library’s western hall this week. Te exhibition, entitled “Tirty Years of Excavations at the Eastern Gate of Egypt,” displays a collecion of 1,000 photographs and other items highlighting excavation work carried out at 15 archaeological sites in East and West Sinai since 1983. It was in this year that former head of the Egyptian Antiquities Authority (now the Ministry of Antiquities) Ahmad Qadrî launched an international call to help Egypt in its mission to rescue Sinai’s monuments and sites and explore the country’s military history.

During the opening ceremony, al-‘Inânî described the celebration as a commemoration of the work of all those who had spent their lives protecing Egypt’s eastern gate and defeating the country’s enemies from the ancient Egyptian era until today. He said the exhibition was important because it summed up efforts exerted by Egyptian and foreign archaeologists to explore Egypt’s military history. al-‘Inânî and al-Fiqî honoured 12 former ministers and heads of antiquities in Egypt, as well as Egyptologists who had played major roles in supporting or excavating at Egypt’s eastern gate or had led recovery missions of Egyptian artefacs from Israel to their homeland. Among those honoured were former minister of culture Fârûq Husnî, former ministers of antiquities Zâhî Hawwâs, Mamdûh al-Damâtî and Muhammad Ibrâhîm, and former heads of the Antiquities Authority Gâballah ‘Alî Gâballah, ‘Abd al-Halîm Nûr al-Dîn and Ibrâhîm Bakr.

“Tis is a great event that pays homage to all the people who have helped the country explore Egypt’s military history,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-Maqsûd, former secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Al-Ahram Weekly, describing the exhibition as particularly important because it displayed the results of excavations carried out by 27 Egyptian and foreign archaeological missions at 15 archaeological sites located east and west of the Suez Canal over the last 30 years. It also showed the development of military buildings in the area from the ancient Egyptian era through the Graeco-Roman and Islamic periods. ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said that wars and other political events had been the main reasons behind the suspension of excavations in North Sinai, although the acual excavation works started there as early as 1859 when the Suez Canal Company, responsible for building the original canal, had arranged for an international archaeological mission to excavate the area before the digging of the frst Suez Canal started. ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said that the mission had carried out archaeological surveys along the planned waterway from Suez to Port Sa‘îd, as well as on the western and eastern edges of the Canal route. Archaeological fragments, pots, stelae, reliefs, Roman baths, a collecion of mosaics, statues of the Pharaoh Ramses II and two Persian stelae had been discovered, and the then Suez Canal Company had built a museum in Ismâ‘îliyya, now the Ismâ‘îliyya Museum, to display them. “Due to such discoveries, the planned path of the Suez Canal was changed to the one we see today,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd explained, adding that the original waterway was to have run from Qantara West to the al-Bardawîl Lake, but this was changed to run from Qantara West to Port Sa‘îd. “Tis eventually led to the creation of Port Fu’âd,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said.

He said that excavations were carried out in the area until the Israeli occupation in 1967. Israeli archaeologists excavated Sinai between 1967 and 1980 and unearthed several objecs that were returned to Egypt after the signing of the 1977 Peace Treaty. Negotiations to recover Egypt’s artefacs from Israel took almost ten years, as the 1977 Treaty did not contain binding clauses guaranteeing the return of these items to their homeland. But by calling upon the provisions of the UNESCO 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protecion of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Confic, Egypt had succeeded in having the Sinai antiquities returned in 1992. When Egypt’s military left Qantara East, the site was turned over to the Antiquities Authority along with objecs bearing the name of New Kingdom Pharaoh Seti I. During the 1973 War, Egyptian soldiers building a military camp also stumbled upon ruins dating back to the reign of the Pharaoh Seti I, including objecs bearing his cartouche. Te Antiquities Authority head at the time, Ahmad Qadrî, launched a campaign to start excavations in these areas in order to reveal the secrets of Egypt’s military history hidden under the sands. He also restored the Salâh al-Dîn Fortress at the Pharaoh Island in Tâbâ.

Excavations in Pelusium had led to the discovery of a complete Islamic fortress from the reign of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil, with its walls and 36 towers built on the ruins of a Roman fortress. Roman baths and mosaics were also found. A Roman theatre, considered to be the largest in Egypt from the 5th century CE, was uncovered in ruins, as the Israelis during the 1967 War had used the area as a military camp, leading to the destrucion of archaeological layers over 250,000 square metres of land. Tese layers included the Pelusium amphitheatre, the city’s main water station, and parts of the wall that once enclosed the Pelusium Fortress. “It took ten years of restoration work to restore these sites,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said. FROM THE 1990S: In the mid-1990s, further excavation work was carried out at the al-Salâm Canal, Sahl al-Tînâ, Qantara, Pelusium and Port Fu’âd, where several artefacs and other remains were unearthed, including the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre, a Byzantine church and the remains of three more churches dating from the fourth and ffth centuries CE. A cartouche of the Pharaoh Ramses II was unearthed engraved with Egypt’s ancient name of Kemet. “Tis was the frst time that Egypt’s name had been seen on a monument built in Sinai,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said. In antiquity, a route called the Horus Road led across the region, and this was the route along which Christian pilgrims once travelled, explaining the remains of churches from Rafah to Pelusium. Excavations in the Tell al-Burg area have revealed the remains of two limestone forts, one dating from the reign of the 28th Dynasty Pharaoh Tuthmosis III (1475-1425 BCE) and the second from the 19th Dynasty. Te latter was probably a Rameside fort as it bears the name of the Pharaoh Ramses II and is dubbed “the Mansion of the Lion. ” Te remaining part of the frst fort was found on the east bank of the al-Salâm Canal. It consists of a moat built on a foundation of between nine and 14 layers of fred red brick, a material used only rarely during the ancient Egyptian New Kingdom. A small stelae dedicated to the Asiatic gods Resheph and Astarte was among the items found, and a number of horse and donkey burials were uncovered in the moat. Other items recovered include several jar handles stamped with the cartouches of the Pharaohs Smenkhare and Tutankhamun and inscriptions from the reign of Tuthmosis III and a stone block of a deity with the name “Strong Bull” written on it. Te walls of the fort are 100 metres high and are embellished with a number of recangular mud-brick towers. Surrounding it is a two-km moat that was once flled with water. At Tell al-Hirr, 25 km east of the Suez Canal, a French mission from the Sorbonne University in Paris found the remains of the Migdol Fort of the Pharaoh Seti I. Tis large fort once had soaring towers and a rest house for the pharaoh. It is believed to be the second most important military fort on the Horus Road after Taro West, found in 2003 by an Egyptian team led by ‘Abd al-Maqsûd. In 2004, the fort of Taro East was discovered, which was once 500 metres long, 250 metres wide and featured walls 13 metres thick and a 12-metre southern entrance. It was once surrounded by a giant water- flled moat. “Tis is the largest fortress yet found in the area,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said in comments to the Weekly, adding that the strucure included 24 massive defence towers, 20 metres by four metres in size. Along with Taro West, the fort was once part of the eastern defences of the ancient Egyptian military town of Taro and Egypt’s gateway to the Delta. It was also the point where the ancient Egyptian army carried out military campaigns to secure the country’s borders. Te graves of soldiers and horses have been found in the area, attesting to the battle that once took place there. “Te discovery is concrete evidence of the military events depiced on the reliefs of Seti I engraved on the north wall of the Hypostyle Hall at Karnak in Luxor,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd added.

Te reliefs narrate Seti I’s campaign to smash rebel forces in the frst year of his rule. ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said that the discovery also showed that ancient artists drew accurate topographical maps of the Horus Road that once stretched from Egypt to Palestine. According to the reliefs, 11 forts were built on this secion of the road, although excavations have so far unveiled only fve. Te frst was at Qantara East and the last was in Gaza. Although the New Kingdom Pharaoh Seti I was the founder of the Horus Road, ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said, several parts of a Middle Kingdom fortifed barrier named the al-Amîr Wall have also been discovered along the military route. It is not clear whether this was once part of a wall linking the Middle Kingdom series of fortresses. Te existence of forts on the Horus Road has long been part of the historical record and was frst revealed in the reliefs at Karnak. But their ruins were only excavated from 1859 onwards, when initial excavations started to dig the Suez Canal to link the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. In 2014, ‘Abd al-Maqsûd pointed out, excavation work carried out at Qantara East had uncovered an ancient logistics area, including a collecion of administrative buildings, customs buildings, strucures used to store grain, stables and a dormitory for soldiers.

PANORAMA AND VISITOR ROUTE: In 2015, when Egypt started the construcion of the New Suez Canal, development work at archaeological sites on the Horus Road in the vicinity of the Old and New Suez Canal, especially those at Qantara East, began to make them more tourist-friendly. A site-management component is to be included in the development projec for the area that will include a tourist route for visitors to enjoy the different architecural styles of the surrounding ruins, information panels and a high-tech security and lighting system. ‘Abd al-Maqsûd told the Weekly that a visitor centre, bookstore, souvenir shop and cafeteria would also be built. Two buildings displaying a panorama of Egypt’s military history from the ancient Egyptian period to the modern era, similar to the Ocober War Panorama in Nasr City in Cairo, are also planned for the area. Te panorama is to be built in the empty space area between the Old and New Suez Canals. al-‘Inânî suggested that the building could be similar to the recent Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM) in Marseille in France as both buildings overlook the sea. Te MuCEM is a 15,000-square-metre cube built of steel and glass and surrounded by a latticework shell of reinforced concrete. al. ‘Inânî described it as a very distinguished building, adding that a similar building by the New Suez Canal would give an opportunity to vessels crossing the canal to admire the new panorama at night, in turn encouraging tourism. “A design has not yet been seleced, but suggestions are welcome,” ‘Abd al-Maqsûd said. Te panorama building, he told the Weekly, would not only include a display of Egypt’s military history, but would also have a research centre and a digital library of documentary flms, manuscripts, books and photographs relating to Egypt’s military history. Te new building would display artefacs unearthed in the fortresses located along the Horus Road, including weapons, pots, chariots and the statues of the pharaohs who had led military campaigns to defend the country. Replicas of the military fortresses of Taro and Tell Dafna would also be on display because they are the largest ever found on the Horus Road.

Photographs of other fortresses are to be exhibited in the new panorama to show the development of fortresses throughout Egypt’s history. Digital 3D photographs of military scenes engraved on ancient Egyptian temples are also to be on show. ‘Abd al-Maqsûd explained that the reliefs of Seti I engraved on the north wall of the Hypostyle Hall at the Karnak Temple in Luxor would be the main inscriptions on show. Te reliefs, he continued, narrate Seti I’s campaign to smash rebel forces, and Ramses II’s Kadish War relief, also engraved on the Karnak Temple, would also be on show. After visiting the planned panorama, visitors will be able to embark on a tour around the remains of the fortresses spread over six sites in Qantara East and West. Te three sites in Qantara East are Tell Abû Sayfî, Pelusium and Habwa. Tose to the West are Tell Dafna, Tell al-Maskhûta, Tell al-Sa‘îdî and ‘Ayn Sukhna. (Nevine El-Aref, “Military history on display”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 20, 2017. Voir également Nivîn Kamîl, « La Bibliotheca Alexandrina organise une exposition sur les "Fouilles archéologiques dans l’entrée Est de l’Égypte" », Watanî, 5 juillet ; MENA, « Exposition à la Bibliotheca Alexandrina sur les plus importantes découvertes archéologiques dans le Sinaï », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 10 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « 1 000 photographies dans l’exposition "Trente années de fouilles archéologiques dans l’entrée Est de l’Égypte" », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 12 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « al-‘Inânî honore quelques archéologues et anciens ministres dans la Bibliotheca Alexandrina », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 13 juillet ; Hâgar Samîr, « Inauguration de l’exposition "Trente années de fouilles archéologiques dans l’entrée Est de l’Égypte" », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 13 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Inauguration de l’exposition "Trente années de fouilles archéologiques dans l’entrée Est de l’Égypte" », al-Wafd, 13 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 3 anciens ministres honorés au cours de l’exposition "Trente années de fouilles archéologiques dans le Sinaï" », Sada al-Balad, 13 juillet ; Samar Zarée, « Les trésors cachés du Sinaï », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 26 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu cet après-midi au siège du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) la ministre de l’Investissement et de la Coopération internationale, Dr Sahar Nasr. Le but de cette visite est de passer en revue les opportunités qu’offre le GEM ainsi que les projets d’investissement qui pourraient y être implantés avant son inauguration partielle prévue l’an prochain. Les deux ministres ont inspecé le centre commercial qui compte environ 28 boutiques de différentes superfcies, dont 2 donnant direcement sur les pyramides de Gîza. Ils ont examiné les modalités de gestion du centre des congrès attaché au GEM et qui peut accueillir 1 000 personnes, ainsi que l’exploitation de l’hôtel privé qui compte 30 chambres. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie accueille Sahar Nasr au GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 20 juillet 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « al-‘Inânî reçoit au GEM la ministre de l’Investissement et de la Coopération internationale », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 20 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « al-‘Inânî reçoit au GEM la ministre de l’Investissement et de la Coopération internationale », Sada al-Balad, 20 juillet ; Husâm Zaydân, « al-‘Inânî accueille au GEM la ministre de la Coopération internationale », al-Fagr, 20 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Les ministères de l’Archéologie et de la Coopération internationale étudient les opportunités d’investissement au GEM », al-Wafd, 20 juillet).

Trois individus entreprenaient des fouilles archéologiques clandestines sous une maison située à Bilâ dans le gouvernorat de Kafr al-Shaykh. Ils ont creusé une fosse de près de 20 m de profondeur. Husâm E. , âgé de 23 ans, est mort noyé dans cette fosse. Son complice ‘Alî A. a été gravement blessé, secouru et transféré à l’hôpital. Quant à leur troisième compère, un charlatan, il a été arrêté par la police. (Magdî Abû al- ‘Aynayn, « Un mort et un blessé au cours de fouilles illicites sous une maison à Bilâ », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 21 juillet 2017).

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has recovered two wooden decorative elements stolen in 2014 from the mosque of Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî on al-Migharbilîn Street in al-Darb al-Ahmar area in Old Cairo. al-Sa‘îd Hilmî, head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Secor at the ministry explained that in cooperation with the Tourism and Antiquities Police, the stolen items were recovered and the thief caught red-handed. Te items were confscated until the completion of investigations. Hilmî said the two elements would be sent to the Islamic Museum for restoration and then returned to their original location in the mosque. Sofa ‘Abd al-Hâdî, general direcor of antiquities of al-Darb al-Ahmar and al-Sayyida ‘Â’isha, told Ahram Online that the recovered elements are carved in wood with geometric shapes and embellished with ivory. One of these elements, she explained, was stolen from the mosque’s minbar (pulpit) and the second from its al-kutubiyya (wooden cupboard on the wall).

Te pulpit whose decorative item was stolen Te Mosque of Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî dates back to 830 AH / 1426 AD and is a part of a complex founded in the Mameluke period, which consists of a mosque, a minaret, a dome, a school, and a sabîl (water fountain). It was built by Prince Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî, who was the Circassian prince of al-Tablakhâna (military musicians) during the reign of Sultan Birsby. (Nevine El-Aref, “Antiquities stolen from Egypt’s Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî Mosque recovered”, Ahram Online, July 22, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère deux incrustations volées en 2014 de la mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 20 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Récupération de deux incrustations volées de la mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 20 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Restitution de deux incrustations en bois volées de la mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî en 2014 », Sada al-Balad, 20 juillet ; MENA, « Découverte de deux incrustations volées de la mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî et arrestation des coupables », al-Shurûq, 20 juillet ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère les deux incrustations volées de la mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 21 juillet). Te Arab Contracors Company, commissioned by the Engineering Corps of the Armed Forces in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities, began work on the development and restoration of the Baron EMPAIN Palace in Heliopolis. Te projec is in accordance with protocol signed between the Ministry and the Authority, for the restoration of a number of archaeological buildings across the country.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor general of Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec (HCRP), said that the company started equipment preparation for the restoration last week, after receiving all the documents and studies related to the assignment from the Ministry of Antiquities consultation office. ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said the point of the projec is to rehabilitate the Baron Palace while preserving its unique architecural style and archaeological elements, as well as educate visitors about the palace and its history. Te renovation work is expeced to last about a year and a half, at a cost of LE113. 738 million funded by the Egyptian government. Te Baron EMPAIN Palace is a unique architecural masterpiece built by the Belgian millionaire Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron EMPAIN, who came to Egypt from India at the end of the 19th century. Te palace is located in the heart of Heliopolis in Cairo. It lays on an area of about 12. 5 thousand meters. Te palace is designed so the sun can enter the rooms from all sides and it is one of the most luxurious palaces in all of Egypt. Te Baron’s room, in the palace, includes a detailed painting depicing the thorough wine making process. (“Arab Contracors start restoration on Baron EMPAIN Palace”, Egypt Independent, July 22, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie commence la restauration du palais EMPAIN avec la collaboration des Forces armées », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 21 juillet ; Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Bâqî, « Lancement des travaux de restauration du palais Empain », Veto, 21 juillet).

En coopération avec le gouvernorat d’al-Buhayra, le ministère de l’Archéologie a démonté la stèle archéologique découverte à côté des fondations du minaret de la mosquée Abû Shûsha, située dans le village de Dayrût. Cette stèle en grès a été provisoirement entreposée dans le magasin de Rosette, afn d’y être étudiée. Plus tard, elle sera défnitivement conservée dans le magasin de Tell al-Yahûdiyya.

Rappelons que cette stèle a été découverte lors des travaux de restauration de la mosquée. Une équipe de restaurateurs du ministère de l’Archéologie lui a prodigué les premiers soins de nettoyage et de restauration in situ. Cette stèle recangulaire en bon état de conservation mesure 2,5 x 0,5 x 0,35 m Quoiqu’elle porte des inscriptions hiéroglyphiques, on ignore encore à quelle époque pharaonique précise elle appartient. (« Le ministère de l’Archéologie achève le démontage de la stèle antique découverte à al-Buhayra », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 23 juillet 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Démontage de la stèle archéologique découverte dans les fondations du minaret de la mosquée Abû Shûsha à al-Buhayra », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 23 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Extracion d’une stèle pharaonique du minaret d’une mosquée historique à al-Buhayra », Sada al-Balad, 23 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Démontage de la stèle archéologique découverte dans les fondations du minaret de la mosquée Abû Shûsha à al-Buhayra », al-Wafd, 23 juillet ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie achève le démontage de la stèle découverte dans la mosquée Abû Shûsha », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 27 juillet).

Police and antiquities staff have foiled the theft of a valuable statue of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis from the Nubian Museum in Aswân. Mahrûs Sa‘îd, Direcor General of Nubian Antiquities, said that the attempted theft occurred on Sunday afternoon, when the museum was closed for lunch. Security cameras deteced three people moving around inside the museum and attempting to remove a statue depicing goddess Isis breast-feeding her son Horus. Te incident was reported to the Tourism and Antiquities Police, who succeeded in securing the statue and identifying those responsible. One of the suspecs was arrested, but the other two escaped and are being sought by police. Sa‘îd said that two of the suspecs were employees in the museum's administration department, while the identity of the third person is not known. Te Nubian Museum was inaugurated in 1997 to relate the history of Nubia, the area that stretches from Aswân in the north through to Sudan in the south. Te museum was designed as an innovative interpretation of traditional Nubian architecure, winning an Aga Khan Award for Architecure in 2001. Te museum’s content is organized along chronological lines, illustrating the development of the region from pre-history up to the present through art and artifacs. In addition, the museum boasts life-size models showing traditional Nubian customs, as well as a permanent exhibit documenting international efforts, carried out during the construcion of the Aswân Dam, to rescue the ancient monuments of Nubia from the waters of Lake Nâsir. (Nevine El-Aref, “Police foil attempted theft of goddess Isis statue from Nubian Museum”, Ahram Online, July 24, 2017. Voir également Mahmûd Mullâ, « Tentative déjouée de vol d’une statue d’Horus dans le musée de la Nubie à Aswân », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 23 juillet ; « Le Parquet général interroge 2 employés du musée de la Nubie impliqués dans une tentative de vol », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 24 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Révélations sur la tentative déjouée de vol du musée de la Nubie », Sada al-Balad, 24 juillet ; “Police foil attempt to steal goddess Isis statue in Nubia Museum”, Egypt Independent, July 24 ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Échec d’une tentative de vol d’une statue d’Isis dans le musée de la Nubie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 24 juillet ; Muhammad ‘Abd al- Mu‘tî, « Échec d’une tentative de vol d’une statue dans le musée de la Nubie », al-Ahrâm, 25 juillet). Ahmad Muhammad, enseignant âgé de 33 ans, et son frère Mahmûd, fonctionnaire âgé de 31 ans ont péri sous les décombres, au cours d’une fouille clandestine qu’ils entreprenaient dans la zone archéologique de Dashâsha dans le gouvernorat de Banî Swayf. Leurs deux autres complices blessés n’étaient que leurs grands frères : ‘Alî, ouvrier de 42 ans et Mamdûh, peintre en bâtiment âgé de 48 ans. Les deux corps ont été transférés à la morgue. Une instrucion judiciaire a été ouverte. (‘Amr Ragab, « 2 morts et 2 blessés au cours de fouilles illicites à Banî Swayf », al-Watan, 24 juillet 2017. Voir également ‘Umar al-Shaykh, « 2 frères tués et 2 autres blessés lors de fouilles clandestines à Banî Swayf », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 24 juillet ; Ahmad Fathî, « 2 morts et 2 blessés lors de fouilles clandestines à Banî Swayf », al-Fagr, 24 juillet).

Te Egyptian Archaeological Mission of East Delta unearthed a Pharaonic tomb in the city of al- Husaniyya in the al-Sharqiyya governorate. Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî said that the tomb was discovered when a citizen who wanted to expand their house requested the land to be dug up. Te excavation work resulted in fnding the tomb, which is still to be identifed in terms of whom it belongs to.

Head of the Central Department of Restoration Gharîb Sunbul said that the stone tomb was built over a mound of rocks, indicating that it was carved in a mountain elsewhere and then transferred during the Pharaonic era to its current location. Sunbul explained that the tomb is a single 65-ton block of stone engraved with Hieroglyphic text, with a coffin inside it made from basalt or diorite. (“New Pharaonic tomb unearthed in al-Sharqiyya”, Egypt Independent, July 25, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte d’une tombe archéologique à al-Sharqiyya », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 24 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Transfert d’une tombe antique découverte à al-Husaniyya dans al-Sharqiyya », Sada al-Balad, 24 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie déplace une tombe antique mise au jour à al-Sharqiyya », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 24 juillet ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Découverte d’une tombe archéologique à al-Sharqiyya », al-Wafd, 24 juillet ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Démontage et transfert d’une tombe archéologique vers l’entrepôt muséologique », Watanî, 25 juillet).

Le Parquet général d’Aswân a ordonné 4 jours de détention à l’encontre d’un foncionnaire du musée de la Nubie pour tentative de vol d’une statue archéologique. L’accusé disposait de deux complices parmi le personnel du musée : Nancy, chargée des ressources humaines, âgée de 34 ans ; et Muhammad Kh. , un employé administratif du musée, âgé de 43 ans. Les trois accusés ont profté de la fermeture de la mi-journée du musée pour s’introduire dans la salle d’exposition, en utilisant une copie de la clé. L’accusée Nancy s’est même changée de vêtements, afn de ne pas être reconnue par les caméras de surveillance ! Durant la pause de la mi-journée, ils se sont fauflés à l’étage inférieur pour tenter de voler l’une des statues les plus exceptionnelles du musée, représentant la déesse Isis allaitant Horus. Pendant qu’ils démontaient la vitrine d’exposition, ils ont été surpris par les ouvriers de la maintenance. Enfn, le Parquet a ordonné l’arrestation des deux complices en cavale. (« Mise en examen d’un foncionnaire du musée de la Nubie pour tentative de vol d’une statue », Veto, 25 juillet 2017. Voir également « Des foncionnaires du ministère de l’Archéologie tentent de voler une statue d’Isis du musée de la Nubie ! », al-Bashâyyir, 24 juillet).

Te legendary Baron EMPAIN Palace on ‘Urûba Street in Heliopolis is no longer an abandoned edifce built in an Indian architecural style. Earlier this week, the palace and its garden were buzzing with restorers and workers wearing yellow helmets and bearing elecronic equipment and manual tools, all signalling that after years of negligence the long-awaited restoration projec has begun at the Baron EMPAIN Palace. “In 18 months, the exquisite Palace of Baron EMPAIN will open its doors to visitors not only as a tourist destination but also as a theatre and a cultural and social centre,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec and responsible for the restoration of the palace, told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said that the work had started in collaboration with the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, which had assigned the Arab Contracors Company to execute it with a budget of LE113. 738 million. “Tis budget is part of a larger amount of LE1,270 billion provided by the government to the Ministry of Antiquities to restore and develop eight archaeological sites and monuments that are in dire need of work,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said.

He said that these sites included the Muhammad ‘Alî Palace in Shubrâ, the King Fârûq Rest House at Gîza, the Alexan Palace in Asyût, the Jewish synagogue in Alexandria, the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, the Gîza Plateau Development Projec and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustât in Cairo. In order to achieve the work, ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said that a comprehensive study of the palace’s condition and detailed architecural and archaeological surveys had been carried out before starting any restoration work. Te studies had also included the palace’s photographic documentation and exploratory drilling in some parts of the palace to inspec the condition of its foundations. An integrated documentation fle of all architecural elements and façades has been prepared using 3D technology and comprehensive monitoring stations.

area and its backyard being converted into an open-air theatre. Te basement will be a social centre, while the ground foor will be used for different purposes. Te frst foor will be used as a “royal wing” where visitors can spend the night. A new cultural centre devoted to reading in particular will also be provided in the palace. Te story of the palace started in 1904 when Belgian industrialist Édouard EMPAIN arrived in Egypt to construc a railway line linking the lower Egyptian city of Mansûra to Matariyya on the far side of Lake Manzala. He became entranced by the country and its distinguished civilisations. Although his company, the Chemins de Fer de la Basse-Égypte, failed to complete the intended projec, EMPAIN remained in Egypt and married an Egyptian, Yvette Bughdâdî.

Two years later he established the Cairo Elecric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Company, which laid out plans for the new town of Heliopolis 10km northwest of Cairo. When it was fnished, Heliopolis was a luxurious and leisured suburb with elegant villas with wide terraces, apartment buildings, and tenement blocks with balconies, hotels and facilities, as well as recreational amenities including a golf course, racetrack and a large park. While workmen were busy construcing the new suburb of Heliopolis, EMPAIN asked French architec Alexandre MARCEL to build him a magnifcent palace in the Avenue of Palaces (now ‘Urûba Street) that would stand out from the others being built in the same period. Inspired by the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and the Hindu Temple of Orissa in India, MARCEL incorporated into the external design of the new palace reproducions of a variety of human fgures, statues of Indian dancers, elephants, snakes, Buddhas, Shivas and Krishnas. MARCEL’s colleague Georges-Louis CLAUDE designed the interior and decoration. Both architecs were well-known at the time as they had already construced and decorated the Oriental Pavilion attached to the Royal Palace of Laeken in Belgium. Baron EMPAIN’s new palace consisted of two foors and a small extension near the roof. Windows studded with Belgian glass were especially created so as never to lose sight of the sun. Construcion was completed in 1911, and the palace was surrounded by a landscaped garden adorned with ascending green terraces, each with its own set of marble statues and exotic vegetation. EMPAIN later died at Woluwe-Saint-Lambert in Belgium in 1929, but his body was brought back to Egypt for burial under the Basilica of Notre Dame in Heliopolis.

Tree generations of Empains then occupied the palace, but in 1957 it was sold by its owners and began to fall into ruin. Some parts of the Indian decorations and sculptures crumbled and fell away, and the beautifully designed parquet foors and gold-plated doorknobs disappeared. As negligence took its toll, the palace became the residence of bats, which in an odd way rather suited its more Gothic aspec. Te gilded ceilings, the decorations and the famed Belgian mirrors that once graced the walls were masked by hundreds of bats and their droppings.

Rumours about the palace spread all over Cairo, and for many it became a house of horror. Some said that it was used by drug-dealers as a storage space for illicit goods, while others believed it was haunted by devils and called it the “House of Vampires” or “Count Dracula’s Castle”. Te palace’s neighbours called it the “House of Ghosts” and claimed to hear the sound of voices and dragging furniture in the middle of the night, while lights in the garden lit up and turned off suddenly. Tey even claimed that in 1982 they had seen smoke coming from the palace’s main room and up through the tower, but in the evening all traces of a fre had been extinguished. Te death of EMPAIN’s sister Baroness Helena by falling from the balcony in the palace’s interior added more value to such rumours. EMPAIN’s daughter Merriam was also found lying face down dead in the palace in the well of the elevator used to carry the Baron’s meals upstairs. “All these stories about the palace are simply unfounded rumours created by people’s imaginations,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said, adding that it was only an “ordinary abandoned building” built in a distinguished Indian architecural style. He said the blood spots on the walls were from killing the bats that had lived in the abandoned palace for decades.

“Te relationship of the Ministry of Antiquities with the palace started in 1993 when it was listed on Egypt’s Antiquities List, but it was then still owned by an Egyptian-Saudi owner,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz told the Weekly. He said that in 2005, the cabinet had agreed to transfer the ownership of the palace to the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), now the Ministry of Antiquities, and compensate the owner. In 2007, the ownership of the palace was transferred to the SCA and the building was cleaned and the bats removed. A restoration projec was launched, and an Indian company suggested that it would restore the palace and embarked on an inspecion tour, taking photographs and carrying out a detailed architecural survey. Regretfully, the company did not start the restoration, but in 2009 a Belgian company offered to restore the palace, and after a year of studying the state of the building it proposed a plan to restore the historic landmark. In 2010, a comprehensive restoration projec for the palace was launched in collaboration with a Belgian mission in an attempt to turn the building into a cultural centre and museum. Unfortunately, this stalled after the 25 January Revolution, when work ceased due to budgetary problems. In January 2015, the Ministry of Antiquities carried out the minor restoration and consolidation of a number of the palace’s decorative elements and secions having particular problems. In August of the same year, the ministry re. contaced the Belgian agency that had drawn up the 2010 restoration plan. Two Belgian architecs arrived in Egypt to review the palace’s conservation condition and compare it with the situation in 2010. A workshop was organised with the Heliopolis Heritage Organisation and a number of heritage professionals in order to agree on the best solution to restore the palace. “Te Ministry of Antiquities then launched a competition in al-Ahrâm for ideas and suggestions on the rehabilitation of the palace and its best use after restoration,” ‘Abd al-

‘Azîz said. (Nevine El-Aref, “Restoring the Baron’s Palace”, Al-Ahram Weekly, July 27, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Lancement des travaux de restauration du palais Empain avec la collaboration des Forces armées », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 21 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Restauration du palais Empain pour un coût de 113 millions L. E. », Sada al-Balad, 21 juillet). Cinq personnes sont mortes noyées lors de fouilles archéologiques clandestines dans une fosse de 20 m de profondeur, creusée dans les fondations d’une maison située à Abû al-Matâmîr dans le gouvernorat d’al- Buhayra. Il ‘agit de : H. M. , âgé de 50 ans ; M. H. , 21 ans ; M. N. , 24 ans ; L. Q. , 22 ans ; et M. A. , âgé de 21 ans. Les corps ont été transférés à la morgue de l’hôpital d’Abû al-Matâmîr. Une instrucion judiciaire a été ouverte. (Hamdî Qâsim, « 5 individus périssent noyés au cours de fouilles illicites à al- Buhayra », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 27 juillet 2017).

One of the paintings discovered at the monastery Restorers working at the Monastery of St. Bishoy in the Wâdî al-Natrûn area have uncovered a number of medieval-era wall. paintings and architecural elements in the monastery’s old church. “While removing the modern layer of mortar from the walls of the monastery’s old church, several coloured wall-paintings were uncovered,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, deputy antiquities minister for archaeological sites, told Ahram Online. He explained that the paintings date from between the 9th and 13th centuries AD, which will help archaeologists to determine the original architecural style of the church and the dates of its construcion. According to historical books and religious documents, he said, the church was subjeced to changes and modifcations in its architecure in 840 AD, during the Abbasid era, and in 1069 AD, during the Fatimid caliphate. Ahmad al-Nimr, a member of the ministry’s scientifc bureau, said that the newly discovered wall- paintings are frescoes, and depic scenes of saints and angels with Coptic religious inscriptions below. “Te most distinguished paintings are those on the western and eastern walls of the church,” he said, describing the painting on the western wall as showing a woman named as Refka and her fve sons, who were martyred during the persecution of Christians by the Roman empire. Te painting on the eastern wall depics three saints and an archangel, and features Coptic writings below.

Te ambon al-Nimr explained that when restorers removed the modern additions they stumbled upon the ambon, an elevated platform that is a feature of many orthodox churches. Te newly discovered ambon is made of mud-brick covered with a layer of mortar and decorated with a red cross. Some geometric drawings, crosses and lettering were also found in various parts of the church.

Te conservation projec by the antiquities ministry has been ongoing since 2015, when a number of monasteries in the Wâdî al-Natrûn area experienced fooding. Te Monastery of St. Bishoy is around 100 kilometres north-west of Cairo, and is located along the Cairo- Alexandria highway. It has a collecion of buildings, including fve churches and a fort, as well as the tomb of the late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shinûda III, who died in 2012. (Nevine El-Aref, “Medieval Coptic wall-paintings uncovered at Egyptian monastery”, Ahram Online, July 27, 2017. Voir également « Nouvelles découvertes archéologique au monastère de Saint Bishoy à Wâdî al-Natrûn », al-Wafd, 27 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce des découvertes archéologiques au monastère de Saint Bishoy à Wâdî al-Natrûn », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 27 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie dévoile une nouvelle découverte archéologique au monastère de Saint Bishoy à Wâdî al-Natrûn », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 27 juillet).

Some of the seized coins Te Archaeological Unit at Egypt’s Red Sea port of Safâgâ seized 204 coins from different historical eras that were being smuggled from Egypt to Dubai, according to Dr Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor at the Ministry of Antiquities. Ahmad al-Râwî, head of Central Administration of the Archaeological Units in Egyptian Ports, said that the coins include 17 metal coins from the Graeco-Roman era, one from the Umayyad period, two from the Ottoman era and 10 from Khedival Egypt. Coins from other countries were also seized.

Te seized Atlas Muhammad ‘Itmân, direcor of the Bahariyya Archaeological Unit, said that the unit also confscated an old Atlas Book from 1922. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egypt foils attempt to smuggle collecion of coins from different eras”, Ahram Online, July 27, 2017. Voir également, « Les douaniers de Safâgâ saisissent 204 pièces de monnaie archéologiques », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 27 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « 204 monnaies archéologiques saisies à Safâgâ », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 27 juillet).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu hier matin le nouveau conseiller culturel chinois au Caire, M. Shi YUEWEN. L’entretien a porté sur l’élaboration d’une nouvelle vision de la coopération bilatérale en matière archéologique. L’organisation de stages de formation muséologique entre les deux pays a également été examinée.

De son côté, M. YUEWEN s’est félicité de cette rencontre. Il a affirmé que son pays est disposé à fournir toute expertise archéologique et muséologique à l’Égypte. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit le nouveau conseiller culturel chinois au Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 28 juillet 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit le conseiller culturel chinois au Caire », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 28 juillet ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie examine le renforcement de la coopération avec le conseiller culturel chinois au Caire », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 28 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le conseiller culturel chinois au Caire visite le GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 septembre).

Te historic Ingî Hânim Mosque in Alexandria is undergoing major restoration work to repair damage caused by rainwater passing through the roof and walls, according to the Ministry of Antiquities. Te 19th- century mosque in the Muharram Bek area of Alexandria is closed to worshippers until the work is fnished, with the ministries of antiquities and endowments cooperating on the projec. Muhammad Mitwallî, head of antiquities for Alexandria and the North Coast, told Ahram Online that the mosque is in a very bad condition due to rainwater leaking through the roof and walls. Scaffolding has been ereced, with archaeologists and engineers from the antiquities ministry working to fx leaks and restore damaged strucures. Mitwallî explained that restoration work on the minaret was already complete, while damaged wooden beams in the ceiling would be replaced and cracks on the walls repaired. Te mosque’s roof, which had been leaking, would also be waterproofed in order to keep the rain out. Te Ingî Hânim Mosque was built during the late 19th century and includes fne examples of Ottoman architecure. It was named after Ingî Hânim, the wife of Muhammad Sa‘îd Pasha, ruler of Egypt.

In 2008, the mosque was put on Egypt’s list of Islamic and Coptic monuments due to its age and architecural features. It includes a recangular middle hall with four arcades that run in parallel with the sancuary wall. It also has a pulpit and a prayer hall for women, with a door leading to the mosque's wooden minaret. (Nevine El-Aref, “Restoration work begins on Alexandria’s Ingî Hânim Mosque”, Ahram Online, July 30, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Sauvetage de la mosquée Ingî Hânim en Alexandrie », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 30 juillet ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie lance le sauvetage de la mosquée Ingî Hânim en Alexandrie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 30 juillet ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Début des travaux de sauvetage de la mosquée Ingî Hânim en Alexandrie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 30 juillet ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Préparatifs en vue de la restauration de la mosquée Ingî Hânim en Alexandrie », Sada al-Balad, 30 juillet).

- -

II – AO 2017

Muhammad Mitwallî, direcor of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities in Alexandria and the North Coast, has dismissed media reports that construcion in the vicinity of Alexandria’s al-Mandara Mill would encroach on the historical site. Mitwallî told Al-Ahram Weekly that the construcion work is not on the historical site itself, but rather on nearby private land. Mitwallî said that the landowner obtained approval for construcion from Alexandria governorate and the Ministry of Antiquities’ Permanent Committee of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities, which approved construcion on the condition that certain measures be put in place to guarantee the integrity of the historical site. Among the requirements is that the building not exceed nine levels so as not to spoil the panoramic view of the mill area. Te conditions also state that the new edifce must be built in a simple Islamic style. Te committee also prohibited the drainage of sewage in the vicinity of the mill. “If the landowner does not follow the instrucions of the committee, the Ministry of Antiquities will demolish the whole building,” Mitwallî said. Te al-Mandara Mill was built in 1807 by Khedive Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha to facilitate the grinding process of grain. At the time, Egyptians used animal-powered grinders, which were costly and difficult to use. (Nevine El-Aref, “Construcion will not encroach on Alexandria’s historical al-Mandara Mill: Antiquities direcor”, Ahram Online, August 1, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Aucun empiètement sur l’enceinte du moulin d’al-Mandara », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 1er août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie révèle la réalité sur l’empiètement sur l’enceinte archéologique du moulin d’al-Mandara », al. 1er Yawm al-Sâbi‘, août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie nie tout empiètement sur la zone archéologique du moulin d’al-Mandara », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 1er août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Aucun empiètement sur le 1er moulin d’al-Mandara », Sada al-Balad, août). 5 individus ont trouvé la mort lors de fouilles archéologiques illicites effecuées dans le gouvernorat de Suhâg. Le premier accident est survenu dans le chef-lieu du canton de Tahtâ. 4 personnes ont été ensevelies au fond d’un puits de 10 mètres de profondeur, creusé dans une maison abandonnée. Il s’agit de : — ‘Alâ’ Ahmad, ouvrier âge de 33 ans et propriétaire de la maison.

— Son frère Muhammad, ouvrier de 37 ans.

— Le fls de celui-ci, al-Sayyid Muhammad Ahmad âgé de 11 ans.

— Mahmûd Ramadân, ouvrier âgé de 28 ans.

Leurs cadavres ont été transférés à l’hôpital central. Dans le chef-lieu de Dâr al-Salâm, ‘Isâm ‘Abd al-Shâfî, chauffeur âgé de 36 ans, a été élecrocuté par une pompe utilisée pour l’évacuation des eaux souterraines. Il effecuait des fouilles clandestines avec 5 complices. Ceux-ci ont été appréhendés et écroués. Les policiers ont découvert une fosse de 2 m de diamètre sur 15 m de profondeur, des tas de gravats ainsi que des outils utilisés pour le creusement. (MENA, « 5 morts lors de fouilles illicites effecuées à Suhâg », al-Masrî al-Yawm,

1er août 2017. Voir également ‘Ammâr Ibrâhîm, « Décès d’un chauffeur lors de fouilles illicites à Suhâg », al- Fagr, 1er août ; ‘Amr al-Sharîf, « Autopsie de 4 cadavres de fouilleurs illicites à Suhâg », al-Wafd, 2 août).

Installing the marble foor at the museum Te fnal phase of construcion of the new Atun Museum, overlooking the River Nile in Minyâ governorate, is fnally in full swing after years of delay, according to officials at Egypt’s antiquities ministry. Engineers, archaeologists and builders are putting the fnishing touches to the frst hall, which will serve as a model for other display areas in the museum. In the next two weeks, the hall will be inspeced by a projec consultant to ensure it is up to standard. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the ministry’s museums secion, said that work on the hall includes the polishing of the walls and ceiling, and installing the lighting and the air-condition systems. “If the projec consultant approves the interior design and all the work achieved in the sample hall, such as the colour of the polish, the location of the air-conditioning and the type of fooring, it will be applied in all display areas in the museum,” Salâh said. Ahmad Humayda, direcor of the Atun Museum, said that the current work on the museum is the fnal of three phases, now being completed several years behind schedule. Work on the museum began in 2002, with the frst two phases completed in 2010. Tese phases included construcion of the main building and additional strucures such as an administrative building. However, work halted after the January 2011 uprising due to a decline in tourism revenue and a lack of budget. In 2015, work on the third phase began, which involves fnishing walls, foors and ceilings, installing lighting and air-conditioning systems, and completing landscaping.

Salâh inspecing the work at the museum Te Atun Museum covers 25 feddans and stretches 600 metres along the Nile Corniche. Its pyramid- shaped building contains 16 exhibition halls relating the history of Minyâ governorate through history. Some halls will be dedicated to the history of the ancient capital city of al-Amarna, its monotheistic Pharaoh Akhenaten, his beloved wife Queen Nefertiti, and other family members. Tere will also be a garden, theatre, conference hall, a cafeteria and 19 shops for arts and crafts. (Nevine El- Aref, “Atun Museum in Minyâ nears completion after six years’ delay in construcion work”, Ahram Online, August 1, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Achèvement bientôt de la première salle d’exposition archéologique du musée Atonien », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 1er août).

Sabrî Yûsuf ‘Abd al-Rahmân Direceur de la zone archéologique de Dâkhla et de Farâfra Hanân Hasan Mitwallî Direcrice de l’inspecorat de Dâkhla Hasan Muhammad Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Dâkhla Ahmad Hammûda Sayyid Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Balât Magdî Husayn Muhammad Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Khârga Muhammad Ibrâhîm Muhammad Direceur des antiquités de Khârga Ahmad Mûsa Mustafa Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Khârga Muhammad ‘Abd al. ‘Azîm Husayn Inspeceur du temple d’Hibis à Khârga Muhammad al-Sayyid Muhannadî Direceur général des antiquités d’Asyût Magdî Shawqî Midyâr Direceur de la zone archéologique au Sud d’Asyût ‘Isâm Mughâzî ‘Abd al-Rahmân Direceur général de l’entrepôt muséologique de Shatb Muhammad Ahmad ‘Uthmân Direceur de l’Administration de la documentation archéologique d’Asyût

Après approbation du ministre de l’Archéologie, le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a pris les décisions n° 5151/2017 et 5152/2017 portant nomination de :

‘Alâ’ Fawzî Muhammad Direceur de la documentation archéologique de Sâhil Silîm Mustafa Rushdî Direceur général des antiquités du Delta Ouest Khâlid Abû al-Hamd Direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hamîd Direceur des antiquités d’Alexandrie Est Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Qâdir ‘Abd al-Salâm Direceur des antiquités d’Alexandrie Ouest

Ahmad Mansûr, « Nouvelles nominations au sein du CSA », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 2 août 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Nouvelles décisions prises par le CSA », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 2 août).

In a gala event attended by more than 3,000 specators at the Magna Graecia Film Festival in Catanzaro in Italy, former minister of antiquities and renowned Egyptologist Zâhî Hawwâs was awarded the festival’s Golden Gala for his devotion to archaeology. During the award ceremony, Hawwâs said that Egyptians and Italians love one another and he believes that Italy and Egypt can rebuild relations. “I know that there are big problems between our two countries, and I feel very unhappy to not see an Italian ambassador in Cairo or an Egyptian ambassador in Italy, but I believe our two nations can work hard to be

able to re-establish a strong relationship,” Hawwâs said, speaking at the Magna Graecia Film Festival in the southern Italian town of Catanzaro. Hawwâs spoke at the screening of the flm "Il Loto e Il Papiro" (Te Lotus and the Papyrus) written by Francesco SANTOCONO and announced that the flm will be screened in Egypt at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on 10 September. “I know that many think Egypt isn’t a safe place right now, but it’s not so,” Hawwâs said, adding that “Our country Egypt, is acually a safe one. In three years I have received 3,000 American visitors and I want Italians to return to Egypt. Tere’s not any danger, I assure you. ”

He also pointed out that there are several new discoveries that would be announced within the coming months, among them latest results of the ScanPyramids Projec started almost two years ago to explore the interior design of the Khufu pyramid and whether it houses other hidden chambers or corridors, as well as the results of the scan of the Valley of the Kings in September undertaken by an Egyptian-Italian team from Università di Torino. Magna Graecia Film Festival has become one of the most anticipated flm festivals for Italian cinema lovers. Te 2017 edition was dedicated to late renowned Italian acor Marcello MASTROIANNI. (Nevine El-Aref, “Zâhî Hawwâs awarded Golden Gala of Magna Graecia Film Festival in Italy”, Ahram Online, August 2, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Zâhî Hawwâs honoré par l’Italie », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 2 août).

Différents musées égyptiens organisent des programmes éducatifs durant la pause estivale. Si certaines acivités s’adressent à tous les visiteurs, d’autres sont plus spécifquement dédiées aux femmes, aux enfants et aux adolescents. Nous commençons notre tour d’horizon au Caire. Prenant comme thème la beauté, les responsables du musée Manyal ont créé un programme éducatif pour les visiteurs, notamment les enfants, afn de les sensibiliser à la beauté de la nature. Au cours de ce programme, les visiteurs font des tournées dans les différentes salles du palais, ainsi que dans le jardin, qui est d’une beauté exceptionnelle. « Nous sensibilisons les participants à la beauté forale en les faisant se balader dans les jardins du palais. Le programme consiste aussi à leur montrer les animaux dans le musée de la Chasse », explique Walâ’ al-Dîn Badawî, direceur du palais. Il poursuit en expliquant que le titre et les acivités changent chaque semaine. À titre d’exemple : les aventures d’un chasseur, l’histoire d’un musée, etc. Les visiteurs sont divisés en groupes en foncion de leur âge et chaque groupe est accompagné de jeunes guides touristiques bénévoles. « Ces visites sont gratuites et l’on n’a pas besoin de réserver », indique encore Badawî. De son côté, le Musée de Rukn Fârûq entend rappeler aux visiteurs la beauté d’autrefois de la ville de Hilwân et offrir des ateliers artistiques, historiques, archéologiques et créatifs aux enfants. « Nous montrons aux enfants comment utiliser les cosmétiques et les parfums et comment ceux-ci sont fabriqués à base de plantes », explique la direcrice Suhayr Sabrî. Elle ajoute que d’autres ateliers sont organisés, notamment sur l’industrie du bois. Ils attirent un grand nombre d’enfants, surtout des garçons, qui viennent régulièrement au musée pour y assister.

Musée Manyal C’est l’industrie du textile et les moyens traditionnels utilisés dans sa fabrication qui constituent le thème du programme éducatif offert par le musée des Textiles égyptiens, situé dans Le Caire fatimide. « Le programme s’adresse aux enfants de 12 à 18 ans et leur enseigne les méthodes anciennes de la fabrication des tissus. Nous organisons par ailleurs des ateliers de peinture et d’impression textile pour les jeunes de 18 à 25 ans », raconte Sahar Ibrâhîm, vice-direcrice du musée, enchaînant que le programme estival consiste aussi à se déplacer en équipes pour des visites aux garderies et amuser les enfants de moins de dix ans. « Vu l’importance du rôle social des musées, on a lancé un programme, gratuit lui aussi, pour apprendre aux femmes au foyer différents métiers comme la couture. Il est intitulé "Avec nous, tu es une femme d’affaires" », ajoute-t-elle. La coopération entre les musées est indispensable pour mener à bien ces acivités. Ainsi, le seceur éducatif du musée des Textiles et celui du Musée du Caire organisent chaque mardi un atelier sous la supervision de Radwa Mustafa, conservatrice du musée des Textiles, sous le titre "Le concept de la beauté dans l’art égyptien". Le Musée des enfants au Musée Égyptien propose, quant à lui, cet été des cours gratuits de français et d’allemand aux enfants. La calligraphie arabe, la fabrication de bijoux et la gravure sur bois sont elles aussi à l’honneur dans d’autres musées, notamment le musée d’Art islamique et le musée Copte.

Musée des Bijoux royaux en Alexandrie. Au cours d’une promenade dans l’imposante Citadelle de Salâh al-Dîn, un arrêt au Musée des Carrosses royaux s’impose. Celui-ci organise en ce moment un programme intitulé "La propreté", qui vise à sensibiliser les visiteurs aux valeurs de la propreté, de l’hygiène et de la protecion de l’environnement. « Ce programme est accompagné d’un atelier d’artisanat traditionnel sur les différents types de cuirs et comment les traiter », explique Ilhâm Salâh, chef du seceur des musées au ministère des Antiquités. Quelques pas plus loin se trouve le musée de la Police, qui propose aux enfants le programme éducatif intitulé "Investir le temps". Celui-ci mise sur une méthode plus scientifque que pédagogique pour sensibiliser les enfants au temps. Dans le cadre des ateliers, les enfants apprennent à connaître les différents types de mesures du temps, grâce au sable, à l’eau et à l’énergie solaire. Ils peuvent en outre découvrir des métiers traditionnels tels que l’imprimerie. Les programmes estivaux des musées ne se limitent pas à la capitale. « Made in Égypte » : c’est le thème choisi par le Musée national de Rosette qui a pris l’initiative de ressusciter l’industrie du palmier en enseignant aux jeunes et aux femmes la fabrication de chapeaux et d’accessoires, de fauteuils et de canapés. « Le but de nos programmes d’été est d’encourager les petits ateliers à réduire le chômage en apprenant un métier aux participants. Dans un deuxième temps, nous organisons des expositions lors desquelles les produits sont vendus », explique Nâdya Khidr, direcrice des musées de Rosette et d’Alexandrie.

Le musée des Bijoux royaux d’Alexandrie a accueilli, quant à lui, plus de 1 050 participants de plus de 6 ans dans ses ateliers de fabrication de bijoux à partir de pierres précieuses. « L’équipe d’éducation a dû diviser les participants en plusieurs groupes. Bientôt, nous aurons des ateliers pour hommes et femmes », souligne Khidr. Dans le gouvernorat de Minyâ, le musée de Mallawî organise des cours gratuits de calligraphie arabe. À l’occasion de la commémoration des 54 ans de son inauguration, le petit musée organise par ailleurs un concours de la plus belle photo prise au musée. À Suez, Kom shîm (Fayyûm), Ismâ‘îliyya et ailleurs, d’autres musées traitent eux aussi de sujets similaires, tels que le temps ou les métiers traditionnels comme la charpenterie, l’impression, la fabrication de tissus ou le traitement du cuir. « Notre objecif est de sensibiliser la population aux musées. C’est dans ce but que les programmes éducatifs gratuits sont organisés cet été », conclut Salâh. (Nasma Réda, « Des musées pour apprendre », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 2 août 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Lancement des acivités estivales dans le musée Atonien », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 7 août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie combat le chômage en apprenant aux jeunes un métier », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 7 août).

Head of the Projecs Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, Wa‘d Allah Abû al-‘Ilâ, said Wednesday that renovation work of Tell Basta Museum in al-Sharqiyya Governorate is scheduled to start soon and reopen the museum for visitors shortly after. He added that the renovation work in the museum is scheduled to continue for three months at the cost of LE3 million, with fnancing from the ministry. He explained that the renovations include the installation of a comprehensive security camera system, fre alarms, lighting systems for the displays and fresh paint on the walls, additionally they will set up an iron protecion fence outside around the glass facade of the museum to ensure its security. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the Museums Department within the ministry, said that a committee has been set up to selec the artifacs that will be on display in the museum, seleced from the museum collecion. She pointed out that the museum will include a variety of artifacs, that showcase excavations carried out by both Egyptian and foreign archaeologists in al-Sharqiyya, as well as the history of the province through the ages. According to Salâh, the renovation ideas came from the Antiquities Minister, Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, who made recommendations after his visit to the museum immediately after he took his post in March 2016. Te Museum Department gave advice as well, such as to enlarge the exhibition space and utilize the museum’s basement for exhibits, in addition to training courses for museum employees in the future. (“Antiquities Ministry to pursue Tell

Basta Museum renovations worth LE 3 million”, Egypt Independent, August 2, 2017).

In the gardens of the Institut français d’archéologie orientale (IFAO) in Cairo there is an early 20th- century industrial-style building that often excites the curiosity of visitors with its ochre roughcast design, lilac-painted doors and window frames and tiled roof. Covering 700 square metres, the workshop was built in 1907 when the IFAO moved into the Mounira Palace in the Sayyida Zaynab distric of the capital, and it still hosts a fully. funcioning print shop. In the western secion of the building, there is a museum containing many remarkable items that help visitors to understand the purposes of the shop. Upon entering, they cannot fail to be struck by the extensive display of linotypes, casters, Foucher printing presses — Foucher was a famous Paris printing company — and guillotines for cutting paper that bring to life the traditional art of printing. Te print facility at the institute dates back to its foundation in 1880. From the outset, the IFAO’s frst direcor, Gaston MASPERO and then his successor Émile CHASSINAT, took it to heart to set up a print shop that would publish the results of the institute’s acivities in Cairo without the need for books to be printed and then transported from Europe. However, setting up the print shop was a challenging task. Not only did the machines need to be transported from Europe to Alexandria by boat, but a whole new team of local skilled workers had to be trained and managed by an expert dispatched from France’s Imprimerie nationale, the National Printing Office in Paris. A special hieroglyphic font had to be created in order to reproduce inscriptions found during the various excavations conduced by the IFAO. Egyptologist CHASSINAT, the direcor of the institute from 1898 to 1911, decided to build the print shop in the gardens of the Mounira Palace. Himself a former typesetter in Paris, he was determined to expand the collecion of fonts available from the National Printing Office and hand designed more than 3,000 hieroglyphs himself. Tese were used to fashion the steel punches and copper matrices required for printing and gradually contributed to creating the IFAO hieroglyphic font. Te printing museum at the institute now hosts a cabinet of the original matrices that helped generate more than 7,500 different hieroglyphic characers.

© Sherif Sonbol Orientalists now hold the institute’s print workshop particularly dear for its capacity to typeset texts in rare languages such as Syriac, Coptic, Hebrew, Ethiopian, Greek, Ninevite and Himyarite. Until 1992, when the institute adopted offset printing technology, the print shop used hot metal typesetting. Te manuscripts provided by the authors had to be entered in their entirety using a Monotype machine, the ancestor of today’s computers. By changing the keyboard of the machine, one could enter texts in Greek, Latin or Arabic. Each keystroke would punch a paper tape that was then placed in a caster that cast individual letters according to the sequence punched into the perforated tape. Another machine, dating back to 1898, was used to cast hieroglyphic types.

© Sherif Sonbol Once the types had been cast and cooled, typesetters would hand-compose the pages on print forms observing typographical rules. Te museum now displays the last forms used by the institute in 1992. By studying the hand. designed hieroglyphs carefully, visitors will see how time-consuming the compositors’ task was. Each form was hand-composed one sign at a time and one line after the other. Typesetting one page could take a compositor up to three working days. Te compositors would assemble the letters standing in front of large wooden cabinets that contained Arabic, Roman or hieroglyphic lead types. Tose were stored in large drawers known as “cases”. Traditionally, capital letters were stored in the top drawers, or cases, and non-capital letters in the bottom ones. From this arrangement comes the terms “upper case” and “lower case” that are still in use today. Now standing at the centre of the museum is the printing press, with its beautiful copper ball and 50kg counterweight. Once the text had been set and the form covered in ink, paper was laid out and pressed from the top using a set of levers. Te process was then repeated to print a set of identical copies of the document that its authors would receive for proof-reading. Te room at the IFAO in which the museum is located used to be the facility’s foundry. As the Monotype machines needed to be fed with lead ingots, in order for the print shop to operate it was necessary to smelt and cast the ingots on the premises. In a corner of the room there is a furnace that was once used to smelt the lead as well as melt down the old type. Once it was in liquid form, the metal was cast into ingot- shaped moulds and cooled. Because of the smelting of the lead and Cairo’s sometimes scorching temperatures, the atmosphere in the workshop could be suffocating. In the age of hot metal typesetting, the workers employed in the print shop thus faced sometimes arduous working conditions. Tis was all the more the case because publishing a book on Ptolemaic texts from an ancient temple, for example, could take up to seven years. Te process involved many stages: frst, casting the lead type; second, text editing; and third, allowing time for the authors to proofread the texts, with the proofs often moving back and forth across the Mediterranean. Only when the defnitive version of the text had been approved was the manuscript printed at the Institute in Cairo. All the machines on display in the museum at the IFAO are still in working order. A number of them are still in use, especially for printing the IFAO’s greeting cards and calendars, and the print shop in general, now 110 years old and always located at the Mounira Palace, is still operating today. It has been modernised twice, once in 1992 when the offset process was replaced with hot metal typesetting, and once in 2011 when the adoption of digital printing machines completed the transformation. Each year, the IFAO print shop publishes some 20 works in the felds of Egyptology, Papyrology, Coptic, and Islamic studies, thus having produced more than 7,000 volumes in total throughout its lifetime with a team that was never more than some 15 employees. (Mathieu GOUSSE, “Printing at the French Institute”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 3, 2017).

Le direceur général de la zone archéologique de la Citadelle de Saladin, Gamâl Mustafa, a annoncé l’achèvement dans trois mois du projet de sécurisation élecronique de la citadelle. Ce projet, mis en place par le Conseil de Défense nationale, englobe l’éclairage interne, la sécurisation des accès, ainsi que l’installation d’équipements de vidéosurveillance. Le coût de ce projet s’élève à 13 millions de livres égyptiennes. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie achève le projet de sécurisation élecronique de la citadelle », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 août 2017). During my time as head of antiquities in Egypt, I was able to repatriate over 6,000 stolen artefacs to the country. I asked many museums abroad to return specifc Egyptian artefacs they had in their collecions, but none of them agreed, and in some cases there were battles that people still talk about. Tis month, the American University in Cairo (AUC) and its President Francis RICCIARDONE donated 5,000 Egyptian artefacs that were in its possession to Egypt. No one could believe that an initiative like this could happen these days, but if you know RICCIARDONE you will understand the reason. RICCIARDONE became the president of AUC a year ago. Before this, he was the ambassador of the United States to Egypt from 2005 to 2008. I believe that those four years that he spent in Egypt made him fall in love with this beautiful country. He also became good friends with many Egyptians. He used to do things that I admired. For example, he would travel to Tantâ to attend the Moulid of al- Sayyid al-Badawî Festival celebrating an important Suf saint. RICCIARDONE is truly a kind person, and I do believe that it is because of him that AUC has given all these objecs to Egypt. When I heard this story, I could not believe it at frst, because it is so unusual for a museum or a university to make such a huge donation of artefacs. I received a telephone call one day from RICCIARDONE inviting me for iftâr during Ramadan to meet two old friends, Elias HEBEKA and his wonderful wife Barbara. But there was also a surprise waiting for me: HEBEKA’s son had got married, and he had had a son he had named Zâhî. I was so happy to meet the new Zâhî, who is now nine years old. During the iftâr, I kept talking about the gift that AUC had given to Egypt. RICCIARDONE said to me that “the reason is very simple: why do we have antiquities in storage that no one can see?” He added that “I thought that those objecs could be better shown in a museum, and I was very happy to see that all our objecs are going to be displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation. ” I told him that what he had done could be a good example for others too. I was also astonished that the public did not know the story of this great initiative, since AUC was waiting for the Ministry of Antiquities to announce it to the public. Khâlid al-‘Inânî, the minister of antiquities, gave instrucions to the ministry’s press office to make a public statement and it was published in the press. Now, the question is how did the AUC own Egyptian antiquities in the frst place? Te answer will be a surprise to everyone. Antiquities Law 215/1951 gave foreign expeditions excavating Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic or Islamic sites the right to take 50 per cent of the fnds they discovered. Te division (also known as partage) used to take place at the Cairo Museum, and during this time ‘Abd al-Mu‘min Abû Bakr, professor of Egyptology at Cairo University, used to supervise it. Te AUC was working in Fustât later, and the head of the expedition was George SCANLON who taught Islamic art and archaeology at AUC. Te 5,000 objecs that AUC had in its collecion were thus legally owned by the university, not stolen.

During the 25 January Revolution, some people tried to break open the boxes that contained the objecs, which were stored inside the old campus of AUC in Tahrîr Square. As we know, Tahrîr Square was the theatre of the Egyptian revolution of January 2011. Te press began to talk about the objecs at AUC, but no one really knew the story behind them. One ignorant reporter even invented a scenario in which there was an underground tunnel from the Cairo Museum to the AUC building through which people transported thousands of artefacs to AUC. People believed this story, and another idiot went to the attorney general and fled an accusation against both Cairo Museum and AUC personnel. Târiq al-‘Awadî was the direcor of the Cairo Museum at that time, and he used to go to the office of the distric attorney everyday to tell them that there were no tunnels and that no artefacs had ever left the Cairo Museum in this way. al-‘Awadî told me the story, and as I was the minister of antiquities at that time I gave instrucions to one of my assistants to advise the AUC authorities to move the boxes to the new AUC campus in the Fifth Settlement outside Cairo. As I mentioned above, all the objecs owned by AUC were recorded as belonging legally to the university. Te 5,000 objecs consisted of lamps, wooden masks, amulets, pottery, prehistoric fints, terracotta statuettes and different types of Islamic and Coptic objecs. In preparation for the move, the Ministry of Antiquities appointed a committee to record every piece and to take photographs of each objec and prepare all the necessary legal documents. Afterwards, AUC decided, completely voluntarily, to give all these objecs as a gift to the Ministry of Antiquities. Te objecs were moved to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustât, which will tell the story of Egypt from prehistory until the present day. Tis is especially appropriate since most of the objecs that were donated by AUC came from Fustât. Trough their display at the new museum, the objecs will be able to tell us the great Islamic history of Fustât. I wrote this story in my column in al-Masrî al-Yawm newspaper because I would like our friends and young people to learn from this story that if they ever have the opportunity to do something useful for our country they should go ahead and do it. RICCIARDONE should be remembered as the one who taught us this lesson. I do hope that when the objecs are displayed at the Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, the labels will give credit to AUC to encourage other institutions to do the same. Tis story should be an example to museums all over the world that buys artefacs knowing that they are stolen. Egyptologists working in those museums know the history of such Egyptian artefacs. I know that some museums still do this, although reputable museums do not. Pressure should also be put on other museums that sell their artefacs for money for renovations, such as the Northampton Museum in the UK that recently sold an Old Kingdom statue of Sekhemka for 16 million pounds sterling. Te Toledo Museum in Spain did something similar. I do not think that these museums have the right to sell such artefacs, as it is against all ethical guidelines. How can we explain to our children that a foreign museum has sold our Egyptian artefacs? Museums should preserve the heritage of the world, not sell it. AUC and Francis RICCIARDONE, its president, have set a good example for institutions and museums across the world, making this a story to be remembered. (Zâhî Hawwâs, “AUC: A story to be remembered”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 3, 2017). Le direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Matariyya, Khâlid Abû al-‘Ilâ, a révélé la découverte de 4 blocs de pierre non-inscrits lors des fouilles effecuées sur le site de Sûq al-Khamîs. Ces blocs cubiques étaient probablement utilisés comme socle pour le colosse. Des fragments de granite ont également été mis au jour. Quant aux restes du colosse de Psammétique 1er partiellement exhumé le 7 mars dernier, un contrat sera signé avec une société de protecion, afn de sécuriser les fouilles ainsi que les habitations qui jouxtent le chantier. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le direceur des antiquités de Matariyya : Nous avons découvert 4 blocs sur le site de Psammétique », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 août 2017. Voir également Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie élabore un projet de réaménagement de la zone de Matariyya », Watanî, 6 août).

À 20h30 ce soir, les pyramides de Gîza seront éclairées en vert, en signe de solidarité avec les patients atteints d’hépatite C. Cette acion se déroulera sous les auspices des ministères de l’Archéologie et de la Santé ainsi que l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS). En effet, le ministère de l’Archéologie s’associe à ce genre d’événements par engagement en faveur des grandes causes sociétales. Rappelons que les pyramides de Gîza sont éclairées en bleu chaque 2 avril, afn de célébrer la Journée mondiale de la sensibilisation à l’autisme. (Hiba ‘Âdil, « Les pyramides éclairées en vert en signe de solidarité avec les patients atteints d’hépatite C », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 3 août 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Les pyramides éclairées en vert ce soir », Sada al-Balad, 3 août).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a révélé qu’il a fallu près de 11 millions de livres égyptiennes pour restaurer le musée de Mallawî qui a été saccagé par les Frères musulmans en 2013 à la suite du dispersement de leurs sit-in de Râbi’a et d’al-Nahda. Le ministre a souligné que les revenus hebdomadaires de ce musée ne dépassent pas quelques centaines de L. E. Ils ne suffisent même pas à couvrir les salaires du personnel ni les facures d’eau et d’élecricité. (Muhammad al-Sayyid, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : La facure de la restauration du musée de Mallawî s’élève à 11 millions L. E. », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 août 2017). Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a nommé Dr Khâlid Abû al-Hamd direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie. Il remplace ainsi Mustafa Rushdî qui devient direceur général des antiquités du Delta Ouest (Marsa Matrûh, al-Buhayra et Mârînâ). (Ragab Ramadân, « Abû al-Hamd nommé direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 août 2017). - -

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a déclaré que le manque de ressources fnancières a causé l’arrêt des travaux dans vingt musées à travers le pays. Raison pour laquelle le ministère de l’Archéologie ne construira plus de nouveaux musées qu’en partenariat avec le seceur privé. Les projets culturels génèrent des pertes économiques. Aucun musée au monde n’est capable de s’autofnancer. Quant aux annonces de création de nouveaux musées en Égypte, elles relèvent du « show médiatique ». À cause de la chute du tourisme, les revenus annuels du ministère de l’Archéologie ont chuté à leur tour pour atteindre près de 30 millions de livres égyptiennes. En revanche, les salaires annuels des personnels se chiffrent à 81 millions L. E. ! (Muhammad al-Sayyid, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : 20 musées sont gelés par manque de crédits », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 août 2017).

Les forces de sécurité d’al-Qalyûbiyya ont réussi à arrêter 3 agriculteurs qui entreprenaient des fouilles archéologiques illicites dans les fondations d’une maison située dans le village al-Ga‘âfra à Shibîn al- Qanâtir. Il s’agit de : — Sayyid S. , âgé de 60 ans et propriétaire de la maison.

— Ahmad S. , âgé de 38 ans.

— Tâmir M. , âgé de 36 ans.

La perquisition a conduit les policiers à la découverte d’une fosse de 10 m de profondeur et de 2 m de diamètre. Une instrucion est ouverte. (Muhammad Mahmûd, « Arrestation de 3 agriculteurs pour fouilles illicites à al-Qalyûbiyya », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 6 août 2017).

Te relief of king Seti II cartouche Te Tourism and Antiquities Police have caught red-handed an Egyptian citizen conducing illegal excavation beneath his home in the Upper Egyptian city of Minyâ, where he uncovered a collecion of stone blocks dating back to the reign of ancient Egyptian King Seti II, officials said on Sunday. Te suspec has been arrested and all the excavated items have been confscated, said Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, the head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities.

Te roman basin Gamâl al-Simistâwî, head of the antiquities ministry’s Middle Egypt Antiquities Department, told Ahram Online that the seized items include two limestone reliefs; one engraved with the cartouche of King Seti II and the second bearing the half crown of the king. A Roman-era basin and a collecion of clay pots were also discovered.

A large clay pot An archaeological committee has been assigned with conducing further excavation at the site. (Nevine El- Aref, “King Seti II-era blocks discovered at illegal excavation site in Egypt’s Minyâ”, Ahram Online, August 6, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie nie la découverte d’une tombe de Séthi II à Minyâ : Ce ne sont que quelques pièces archéologiques », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 6 août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Une commission du ministère de l’Archéologie cherche d’autres pièces archéologiques dans une maison à Minyâ », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Les pièces découvertes à Minyâ date du règne de Séthi II mais il ne s’agit pas de sa tombe », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 6 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie dévoile la vérité sur la découverte de la tombe de Séthi II à Minyâ », Sada al-Balad, 6 août ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattâh, « Arrestation d’un agriculteur pour fouilles illicites à Minyâ », al-Wafd, 6 août ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le président du département des antiquités égyptiennes nie la découverte de la tombe de Séthi II », Watanî, 6 août).

Le direceur général des antiquités de l’Est du Caire, Dr Muhammad Rashâd, a déploré la vague de pillage archéologique qui s’est particulièrement intensifée ces dernières années. Entre 2011 et 2015, la zone Est du Caire en a été vicime 5 fois. Sans parler des vols qui n’ont pas été dévoilés. « Ce n’est pas vrai que les responsables de la zone archéologique sont négligents ou complices », insiste Rashâd. « Dans sa grande majorité, le personnel archéologique est composé de gens honnêtes. Ce qui n’exclut pas la présence d’individus corruptibles voire corrompus. Le modus operandi de certains vols suggère qu’on a affaire à des professionnels, qui ciblent délibérément leurs proies, et non à des pilleurs ordinaires ni à des vols fortuits. Néanmoins, il est à la fois injuste et infondé d’accuser tous les archéologues en bloc, car parmi ceux-ci il y a des gens intègres qui s’échinent à protéger le patrimoine. Loin d’être des négligents, nous sommes des gens appliqués à la sauvegarde de nos richesses archéologiques ». (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Muhammad Rashâd : Nous avons été 5 fois vicimes de vol en 4 ans », Sada al-Balad, 6 août 2017).

Work at the Marsa Matrûh library to prepare the halls to host artefacs A museum displaying the history of Egypt’s northern Marsa Matrûh governorate is set to open at Matrûh’s National Library at the end of August. Te projec is part of a cooperation protocol signed between the Ministry of Antiquities and Marsa Matrûh governorate.

An example of the showcases Marsa Matrûh governorate has offered part of its National Library to the ministry for the establishing of an archaeological museum that relates the history of the governorate through all the artefacs discovered within its borders, head of the Museums Secor at the Ministry of Antiquities Ilhâm Salâh told Ahram Online. Te projec is entirely fnanced by Marsa Matrûh governorate. Te museum will consist of two levels and exhibit 1,000 artefacs excavated in Marsa Matrûh over the years.

Te exhibit aims to highlight the role Marsa Matrûh, the country’s northwest governorate that borders Libya, has played along the span of Egyptian history, with a focus on its role as a hub for trade with neighbouring countries and as a border city. (Nevine El-Aref, “Marsa Matrûh archaeological museum set to open in August”, Ahram Online, August 6, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Mise au point entre des responsables du ministère de l’Archéologie et le gouverneur de Marsa Matrûh concernant le musée de la bibliothèque d’Égypte », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le gouverneur de Marsa Matrûh s’engage à soutenir le projet d’implantation d’un musée archéologique dans la bibliothèque d’Égypte », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 3 août).

One of the Senefru’s blocks A collecion of 33 artefacs were transferred to the new Grand Egyptian Museum, known as the GEM, from a store gallery in the Gîza Plateau. A soft opening of the museum is planned for April 2018. Târiq Tawfîq, general supervisor of the GEM, said that the artefacs includes three limestone columns of King Djedka Re Isesi, a ffth dynasty king of the Old Kingdom, as well as 30 stone blocks from the western wall of the temple of King Senefru, the founder of the fourth dynasty, which had been put in storage in 1960. “Te most important of these blocks are those belonging to the lower carved part of the wall,” Tawfîq said. Te carvings on the blocks depic a group of women carrying offerings as they perform religious rituals inside the temple, while walking towards the king. Tere is also a cartouche in the name of King Senefru. Tese women, he said, represent Egypt’s various regions in the Old Kingdom, which included 42 regions in the reign of King Senefru.

Te columns of Djedka Re Ises Akiko NISHASAKA, the direcor of the projec from the Japanese side, said that the projec was carried out within the framework of the Egyptian-Japanese projec to transfer 71 artefacs to the GEM in cooperation with the Japanese International Cooperation Authority (JICA). She said that within the projec, a number of items from King Tutankhamun’s treasured collecion had been transported, including a bed, a chariot, and three pieces of textile.

Egyptian artefacs transported to the GEM”, Ahram Online, August 7, 2017. Voir également Samar al- Naggâr, « 33 pièces archéologiques transférées au GEM », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 7 août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le GEM réceptionne 33 pièces antiques », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 7 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « 33 pièces archéologiques arrivent au GEM », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le GEM réceptionne 33 pièces antiques en provenance de l’entrepôt Ahmad Fakhrî », Sada al-Balad, 7 août ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le GEM réceptionne 33 pièces archéologiques », Watanî, 8 août).

Te Ministry of Antiquities has begun restoration and development work on al-Mahallî Mosque in the Delta city of Rosetta, part of a plan to preserve the city’s monuments and transform it into an open-air museum of Islamic art. Engineer Wa’d Allâh Abû al-‘Ilâ, head of the ministry’s projecs department, said the mosque is in a bad condition, with numerous cracks, a high rate of humidity and a high level of groundwater. Abû al-‘Ilâ said that the restoration work will include fxing the poor sewage system in the area, which has negatively impaced the mosque, while preventing the leakage of sewage into the walls. Cracks will be flled, the walls, columns and ceilings will be consolidated and the foundations strengthened, while a new lighting system will be installed, he said. Te development and restoration work is expeced to last for nearly three years, costing EGP 86 million in total. Once the work is completed, the mosque, which has been closed for years, will be opened to the public once more. Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, Assistant to the Minister of Antiquities for Archaeological Sites, explained that the mosque belonged to Sheikh ‘Alî al-Mahallî, who died in Rosetta and was buried in 495 AD. Te mosque is located in the city center and has a wooden ceiling embellished with gilded decorations and supported by 99 pillars of different shapes. (Nevine El-Aref, “Restoration work begins on al-Mahallî Mosque in the Delta city of Rosetta”, Ahram Online, August 8, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Lancement des travaux de restauration de la mosquée al-Mahallî à Rosette », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 8 août ; « La mosquée al-Mahallî à Rosette est en mauvais état », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 8 août ; “Antiquities Ministry to renovate Rashîd’s al-Mahallî Mosque”, Egypt Independent, August 8 ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Lancement des travaux de restauration de la mosquée al-Mahallî », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 8 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 86 millions L. E. pour sauver la mosquée al-Mahallî », Sada al-Balad, 8 août ; Husâm Zaydân, « Lancement des travaux de restauration de la mosquée al-Mahallî à Rosette », al-Fagr, 8 août).

de « sauver » cet édifce incontournable du patrimoine égyptien. « Suite à une mauvaise restauration effecuée en 2005, le palais a été fermé en 2012. L’infrastrucure des différents édifces que comprend le palais Muhammad ‘Alî ainsi que leurs mobiliers ont été gravement affecés en 2015 par l’explosion d’une voiture piégée aux abords du siège de la Sécurité nationale de Shubrâ al-Khayma, situé à 500 m du palais », explique Ilhâm Salâh, chef du seceur des musées au ministère des Antiquités. Elle rappelle que cette opération terroriste a beaucoup affecé le bâtiment. 21 vitraux colorés ont été brisés, le lustre de la salle principale du palais de la fontaine (situé à l’intérieur du palais Muhammad ‘Alî) est tombé et de profondes fssures au sol, aux murs et aux plafonds sont apparues dans plusieurs salles du palais principal et des bâtiments annexes.

Un salon luxueusement meublé, prêt à recevoir les visiteurs « Les premiers travaux de restauration faits dans l’urgence ont permis de restaurer en vitesse les vitres, les portes et les fenêtres », déclare-t-elle. Un comité de restaurateurs, d’archéologues et d’ingénieurs du ministère fait acuellement des études approfondies sur l’état acuel du palais et de son magnifque jardin pour les joindre au rapport que l’université du Caire prépare depuis plusieurs mois. Selon les archéologues, les études de l’université du Caire doivent aussi déterminer les moyens utilisés pour la restauration, c’est. à- dire les équipements et les matériaux employés. « Sarâyâ al-Gabalâya, l’un des bâtiments du palais, est dans un état de délabrement avancé. Il est le plus endommagé et a besoin d’une restauration immédiate », explique Ayman Gunaydî, direceur du palais, ajoutant qu’un rapport urgent a été présenté au Conseil des ministres pour commencer les travaux de fond qui vont durer de quatre à cinq ans. « Les deux autres palais, Sarâyâ al-Fasqiyya et Burg al-Sâqiya, ont besoin de travaux de restauration plus simples », estime Gunaydî. Cependant, ce n’est pas la première fois que le palais Muhammad ‘Alî soit restauré. Au début des années 1990, le ministère des Antiquités avait entamé pour la première fois un grand projet de restauration et de rénovation. De 2000 à 2005, d’autres travaux qui avaient coûté près de 50 millions de L. E. avaient été effecués. Or, « les matériaux utilisés en 2005 étaient inadéquats et n’ont pas pu résister à l’humidité. Quelques peintures et quelques parties des plafonds se sont effondrées en 2012 », rappelle Salâh. D’après elle, de nouveaux problèmes d’infltration d’eaux souterraines sont apparus ces derniers jours. « Les travaux de restauration doivent préserver les jardins. Ainsi, un protocole d’entente a été signé à la fn de l’année dernière entre le ministre des Antiquités et celui de l’Agriculture pour sauver ces jardins historiques », explique Salâh.

Un plafond fnement décoré dans l’une des salles du palais À part les études et les travaux de restauration, le seceur des musées a fait une autre étude sur les moyens d’exploitation du palais et de son jardin. « Le jardin est immense et devrait être exploité correcement. Il sera divisé en deux parties, une pour les célébrations et le tournage de flms et l’autre sera utilisée comme un musée en plein air », explique Gunaydî. Il a aussi affirmé que les trois bâtiments formant le grand palais Muhammad ‘Alî seront exploités chacun différemment. « al-Gabalâya sera utilisé comme lieu d’exposition temporaire qui changera de thèmes tous les six mois, alors que Burg al-Sâqiya sera utilisé pour la sensibilisation publique. al-Fasqiyya sera, quant à elle, utilisée comme musée et accueillera des événements culturels », ajoute-t-il.

Situé au bord du Nil, à quelques kilomètres au nord du Caire, dans le gouvernorat al-Qalyûbiyya, se trouve l’un des plus beaux palais de Muhammad ‘Alî pacha, qui fut gouverneur d’Égypte (1805-1848). « À l’époque, Shubrâ n’était, en fait, qu’une terre non exploitée par les Égyptiens. Dès son arrivée au pouvoir, Muhammad ‘Alî accorda une importance particulière à cet endroit, où il construisit 13 palais entourés d’un grand jardin. Il n’en reste acuellement que trois, Sarâyâ al-Fasqiyya qui est le palais principal, Sarâyâ al- Gabalâya et Burg al-Sâqiya », relate al-Sa‘îd Hilmî, chef du seceur des monuments islamiques et coptes au ministère des Antiquités. Ce grand palais est un chef-d’œuvre architecural qui mélange le style arabe avec le rococo européen du XVIIIe siècle. « Le style islamique apparaît clairement à l’entrée des trois palais. C’est comme si on pénétrait dans une mosquée ottomane », souligne-t-il. Cette résidence, qui s’étale sur une superfcie d’environ 50 feddans, a été conçue par l’architece français Pascal COSTE et sous la supervision de l’ingénieur royal Zouél-Fakar Kadkhouda. La construcion du palais a duré 13 ans, de 1808 à 1821. « Muhammad ‘Alî l’a fondé pour y accueillir les rois, les ambassadeurs et les délégués des États étrangers, et pour tenir un rôle de résidence royale », explique Hilmî. Le palais principal Sarâyâ al-Fasqiyya (palais de la fontaine) est le plus prestigieux de tous. Au centre de cette demeure se trouve un grand bassin de forme carrée avec des fontaines, dans lequel se trouve une petite île de marbre. Muhammad ‘Alî s’y rendait grâce à une petite embarcation pendant les heures les plus calmes. Autour de ce bassin se trouvent une salle à manger, un salon arabe, un salon royal et une salle de billard. Le deuxième palais, qui porte le nom de Burg al-Sâqiya ou la Tour de la Sâqiya (roue hydraulique), se trouve à l’ouest du palais de la Fontaine. Celui-ci a été construit en 1811 et servait non seulement à fournir de l’eau au palais, mais aussi à irriguer ses jardins. « Des arbres rares aux essences précieuses décorent les coins de l’édifce royal. Les jardins, outre leur beauté, ont également servi de laboratoire botanique », explique le chef du seceur des monuments islamiques et coptes. Avant d’ajouter : « C’est au palais Muhammad ‘Alî que les premiers manguiers, mandariniers et autres arbres fruitiers ont été plantés en Égypte ». Construit sur une colline élevée, avec une superbe vue sur le Nil, le troisième bâtiment, Sarâyâ al-Gabalâyâ (palais de la colline), a été bâti en 1836. Il est formé d’un seul étage comprenant cinq grandes salles. « À l’époque, le palais de la Colline servait également de lieu de résidence pour les invités royaux de Muhammad ‘Alî », explique Hilmî. Les photos de la famille royale de Muhammad ‘Alî, en plus de son nom et le nom de son fls Ibrâhîm pacha, décorent les murs du palais. (Nasma Réda, « Le palais Muhammad ‘Alî revoit le jour », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 9 août 2017).

La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a saisi 23 pièces archéologiques d’une valeur inestimable dans la maison d’un foncionnaire des chemins de fer située à Samâlût. En effet, la perquisition du domicile d’Ahmad Shawqî, âgé de 45 ans, a permis de découvrir : une statue en bronze d’Harpocrate assis, 6 statuettes en bronze d’Osiris coiffé d’une couronne de 7 cm, 6 amulettes en bronze de différentes formes et tailles, 6 bijoux en faïence bleue, 5 boucles d’oreille en argent, un talisman ainsi qu’une statuette pharaonique en ivoire. (‘Isâm Abû Sdayra, « Saisie de statuettes d’Harpocrate et d’Osiris dans le domicile d’un foncionnaire », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 août 2017. Voir également Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattâh, « Arrestation d’un foncionnaire des chemins de fer en possession de 23 pièces pharaoniques », al-Wafd, 9 août).

In al-Nabî Daniel Street in downtown Alexandria stands the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, today a soaring 19th-century Italianate edifce. Te serenity of the synagogue was disturbed earlier this week by engineers and restorers arriving at the building with their equipment to start a long-awaited restoration projec.

Te whirring of machinery will now be heard at the synagogue on a daily basis as the comprehensive restoration work takes place. “Te restoration work is expeced to last for eight months with a budget of LE100 million fnanced by the Egyptian government,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec, told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that the amount was part of a larger LE1. 27 billion budget provided by the government to fnance the restoration of eight monuments in Cairo, Alexandria and Asyût.

Te monuments are the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue and the Graeco-Roman Museum in Alexandria, the Gîza Plateau, the King Fârûq rest house in Gîza, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Fustât, the Baron Empain Palace in Heliopolis, the Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha Palace in Shubrâ and the Alexan Palace in Asyût. “Te Ministry of Antiquities is keen to restore all Egypt’s archaeological sites, including ancient Egyptian, Jewish, Coptic and Islamic sites that represent parts of the country’s heritage,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz told the Weekly. He said that what had been published in some newspapers and posted on social media to the effec that the Jewish community was fnancing the restoration of Jewish monuments in Egypt was unfounded. Under Law 117/1983 and Law 3/2010, all the monuments in Egypt are owned by the Egyptian state and are to be restored and fnanced by the Egyptian government acing through the Ministry of Antiquities. “If any individual or organisation wants to provide funds to restore any monument, they are welcome to do so, but this must be without interference in the acual restoration work carried out by the ministry,” he said. Wa‘d Allah Abû al-‘Ilâ, head of the Projecs Secor at the ministry, said that the work on the Synagogue was being carried out by the Arab Contracors Company in collaboration with the Orascom Construcion Company, which had been assigned the task by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. All the work is under the supervision of the Ministry of Antiquities.

Te architecure and decorative elements of the synagogue will be restored and new lighting and security systems installed. Considered as the oldest and biggest synagogue in the Middle East, the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue was built in 1354, but was destroyed by the French Expedition to Egypt in 1798 in order to build a wall from the Kom al-Dikka area in downtown Alexandria to the Mediterranean. In 1850, the synagogue was rebuilt with contributions from the ruling Muhammad ‘Alî family. Te building has an exquisite luxurious interior design featuring Italian marble columns that support the soaring ceiling. Te synagogue can host 700 worshippers and has rows of wooden seats decorated with the brass nameplates of the donors or worshippers who reserved the seats. Te women’s prayer hall is on the upper level reached by marble stairs. Elegant silver lamps are suspended above the ark of the synagogue, and there is also a small water fountain for ritual hand-washing. (Nevine El-Aref, “Alexandria synagogue to be restored”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 10, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « La synagogue est remise à Orascom et Arab Contracors pour être restaurée », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie s’apprête à restaurer la synagogue d’Alexandrie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 3 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 100 millions L. E. pour restaurer la synagogue d’Alexandrie », Sada al-Balad, 3 août ; Hâgar Samîr, « Préparatifs en vue de la restauration de la synagogue d’Alexandrie », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 3 août ; Samar Zarée, « Eliyahu Hanavi fait peau neuve », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 20 septembre). Les policiers d’al-Daqahliyya ont arrêté 7 individus qui entreprenaient des fouilles archéologiques illicites à Tell al-Miqdâm. Il s’agit de : — Muhammad N. , foncionnaire âgé de 42 ans.

— Son fls Muhammad, âgé de 11 ans.

— Muhsin A. , agriculteur de 40 ans.

— Taysîr E. , agriculteur de 37 ans.

— ‘Alî R. , cultivateur de 32 ans.

— Mahmûd I. , agriculteur de 30 ans.

— Haytham A. , ouvrier de 28 ans.

Ghâda ‘Abd al-Hâfz, « 7 personnes mises en examen pour fouilles clandestines à Tell al-Miqdâm », al- Masrî al-Yawm, 10 août 2017). Te city of Rosetta, also known as Rashîd, at the mouth of the Rosetta branch of the Nile, may not be as old as some other Egyptian cities but it has a very distincive mediaeval allure and is also famous for the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, the black basalt slab that was the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and uncovering the lives of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. In ancient times, Rosetta was the principal port of Egypt, but declined with the rise of Alexandria from 332 BC. During the Coptic and Fatimid periods, Rosetta regained its position as Egypt’s main port, but it declined once again as Alexandria’s trade with the Italian city-states fourished. Te Mamelukes showed interest in Rosetta and its port, leaving architecural treasures modern visitors cherish, but the city’s architecural core belongs to the Ottoman period, especially the period from 1520 to 1800.

After the Ottomans conquered Egypt in 1517, Rosetta became the Egyptian port closest to Istanbul. By the 17th century it was a bustling cosmopolitan centre with a population including Greeks, Turks, Nubians and Europeans. Rosetta then remained a prosperous trading centre attracing the attention of Britain and France as the two major colonial powers controlling trade between Europe and the East. Rosetta turned into one of the most fourishing Mediterranean ports, and rich merchants and the consuls of European countries built elegant houses there in addition to hotels, mosques and churches. When Egypt’s ruler Muhammad ‘Alî built the Mahmûdiyya Canal to carry the Nile’s water to Alexandria in the early 19th century, Rosetta declined once again. As long as Alexandria was fourishing, Rosetta fell into disrepair. Another blow came when the High Dam was built in Aswân, diverting the Nile away from Rosetta. Te city’s freshwater fshing industry ebbed, and the once-vibrant shoreline was negleced. Several restoration attempts were carried out in the last century, but they did not achieve the results hoped for. Some old houses were torn down due to the city’s unplanned development. Today, Rosetta boasts 22 ancient houses, 12 ancient mosques, the ninth-century Abû Shâhîn Mill whose grindstone was originally driven by donkeys, the ‘Azzûz public baths complex, the Abû al-Rîsh Gate and the Qâytbây Citadel where an officer of the French expedition to Egypt found the Rosetta Stone in 1799. Te interior of the citadel resembles that of its more famous brother in Alexandria. Te design of the mediaeval houses reserved the ground foors for business and storerooms, while the frst foors were for men and the second for women. Some of the façades are decorated with red, black and white bricks. Te frst two foors, featuring corbels out into the street, have splendid mashrabiyya (lattice woodwork) windows and façades. Faïence ceramic tiles were also used, known as zellig, like in the Arab Maghreb countries. Among the oldest and biggest mosques in Rosetta is the Zaghlûl Mosque, with the others being scattered all over the city. Te ‘Azzûz baths complex is over 100 years old and comprises two wings, the frst a reception wing which leads to a corridor with a marble fountain in the centre. At the end of the corridor lies a wooden compartment where the master of the baths would once have sat to receive clients. Te second wing is fanked by bathing rooms and has a marble foor ornamented by another fountain. Two magnifcent domed ceilings cover both wings, ftted with coloured glass windows to allow adequate lighting. Annexed to the baths complex is a small house used by the owner and workers.

LTTLE ROSE: “Te city of Rosetta, its name meaning ’little rose’, is the second most important city in Egypt for its Islamic monument after Cairo,” Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, assistant to the Ministry of Antiquities for archaeological sites, told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that the city was one of Egypt’s major tourist attracions not only for its distinguished Islamic monuments but also for its unique location between the western arm of the Nile and the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, ‘Abd al-Latîf pointed out, the city’s historical and archaeological sites are suffering due to the modern jungle of surrounding houses and other buildings. Te city’s poor drainage system has led to the rise of the subterranean water level, which in turn has leaked inside the monuments and affeced the walls and foundations. Shops and other buildings built up against the monuments have also had a negative impac.

In 2003, a major restoration projec started on many of the city’s houses and mosques as well as its ancient mill and gate. Restoration work on the monuments has now resumed, and the al-Mahallî and Zaghlûl mosques are at the top of the list. Moreover, in order to ensure the best use of the city’s historical and cultural assets, the Ministry of Antiquities has launched a major development projec with a view to developing the city into an open-air museum. A detailed study containing proposals for Rosetta’s new identity is now before Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî, who will review it and give the go-ahead.

Dahlîz al-Mulk Street ‘Abd al-Latîf told the Weekly that the development plans had divided the city areas into seven secions, the frst being the area around Dahlîz al-Mulk Street, where there is a concentration of ancient houses and mosques, including the ancient houses of Ramadân, Maharim, Abuham, al-Gamal, Bassiumi, al. ‘Urâbî, Koheih and ‘Ilwân. Te second area is around al-Sheikh Qandîl Street in the centre of the Islamic city where the mosques of Sheikh Qandîl, Galâl Tâbit, al-Turkatlî, Zaghlûl and others stand with their simple and harmonious lines. Te area also boasts the ancient houses of Qandîl, Tabaq, and Tâbit, while neighbouring streets contain the houses of Tukatelî, Galâl, al-Mayzûnî, Deraa and Manâdîlî. al-Mayzûnî was the father of Zubayda, the wife of general Jacques-François DE MENOU, the third commander of the French Expedition to Egypt, who converted to Islam becoming ‘Abdallah DE MENOU. Te third area is the al-Amsalî Complex which includes the house of al-Amsalî Hasîba Ghazâl and the Abû Shâhîn Mill. al-Amsalî was a soldier in the Ottoman army. Te fourth area contains the Arab Killy house, now the Rosetta Museum and its garden. Te south and southeast of Rosetta host the al-Abbasid Mosque overlooking the Nile and the Zaghlûl Mosque, considered the most famous in the city, which played a prominent role in the 19th century. It was from here that the signal to attack the British of the Frazer Campaign, part of the 1807 Anglo- Ottoman War, was made. Te mosque is bigger than al-Azhar and has 244 granite and marble secions. Tis area of the city, the ffth, also houses the ‘Azzûz baths, the al-Samet Dome, the al-Bakrûlî house and the Damksis Mosque. Te sixth area includes the Abû al-Rîsh Gate, the ‘Abd al-‘Âl Mausoleum, and the small mosque of Abû a- Rîsh. Te seventh and last secion includes the Abû Mandûr Mosque, the Qâytbây Citadel and the port. Te development plans will resume restoration work on all the monuments in need of it, as well as close streets lined with monuments or leading to them to traffic, making them into pedestrian areas. Te streets will be repaved and new lighting systems installed. Te fsh market in Dahlîz al-Mulk Street will be transferred and encroachment on the monuments removed. Te façades of houses and shops in the heritage areas will be refurbished in line with their historical and archaeological value. Te interior of the al-Amsalî house will be refurbished using original materials in order to convey the impression of age. Original furniture will be used in the Ottoman houses to give visitors an idea of how rich merchants lived in Rosetta during the 17th and 18th centuries. Gates will be built at the entrance of the main road near the Abû Mandûr site in order to prohibit trucks from passing through.

Gardens will be planted and roads paved leading to the monuments and archaeological sites. Parking areas will be built, along with docks for felucca boats on the Nile. Te Nile Corniche to the Qâytbây Citadel will be developed, and the area’s mud brick workshops will be removed to make the area more environmentally friendly. (Nevine El-Aref, “Rosetta as an open-air museum”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 10, 2017. Voir également MENA, « Les antiquités de Rosette retrouvent leur splendeur grâce à un nouveau plan », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Programme détaillé du ministère de l’Archéologie concernant le développement de Rosette », Sada al-Balad, 5 août ; Hâgar Samîr, « Commission spécialisée pour superviser la mise en place du projet de développement des antiquités de Rosette », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 14 août ; Nasma Réda, « Rosette s’embellit », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 23 août).

Le romancier Nagîb Mahfûz Le ministre de la Culture, Hilmî al-Namnam, et le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, ont inspecé aujourd’hui le musée de Nagîb Mahfûz en cours d’aménagement dans la takiyat Abû al-Dahab. al-Namnam a déclaré suivre pas à pas la progression des travaux visant à créer un musée digne du prix Nobel de littérature 1988. Le ministre s’est également félicité de la coopération étroite établie avec le ministère de l’Archéologie autour de ce projet. Le président du Fonds de développement culturel, Dr Ahmad ‘Awwâd, a annoncé l’arrivée des climatiseurs et l’achèvement de l’installation des ascenseurs destinés à l’usage des visiteurs handicapés. (Ahmad Ibrâhîm, « Les ministres de la Culture et de l’Archéologie inspecent les travaux du musée de Nagîb Mahfûz », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 10 août 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Concertations entre les ministres de la Culture et de l’Archéologie en vue de l’inauguration en novembre prochain du musée de Nagîb Mahfûz », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 10 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nagîb Mahfûz attend son musée depuis 2 ans », Sada al-Balad, 10 août ; Radwa Hâshim, « Litige entre les ministères de l’Archéologie et de la Culture menace l’achèvement du musée de Nagîb Mahfûz », al-Watan, 27 août).

On 16 July this year, Tuhfa Handûsa, often called the “mother of Egyptian archaeologists” and a distinguished emeritus professor of Egyptology at the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, passed away after a long illness. Handûsa was one of the most important pillars of the middle generation of the Egyptian School of Egyptology, which also included important fgures such as ‘Abd al-Halîm Nûr al-Dîn, ‘Alî Radwân, Fâyza Haykal, Gâballah ‘Alî Gâballah, Sayyid Tawfîq, Muhammad Ibrâhîm Mursî and others. She was a scholar without rival in her knowledge of the secrets of ancient Egyptian civilisation, especially ancient Egyptian religion. She was knowledgeable in every feld of Egyptology, however, and a follower of new archaeological discoveries. She was also fond of visiting younger scholars at archaeological sites to fnd out more about the latest discoveries in the world of the Pharaohs. She used to ask very interesting questions about such new discoveries and place them in the immense framework of ancient Egyptian civilisation.

Members of the younger generation, the present writer included, learned a great deal from her huge knowledge of archaeological feldwork because she loved and understood ancient Egypt and the secrets of the Pharaohs more than almost anyone. Handûsa was born in Cairo in 1937 in an aristocratic family. Her father was Ahmad Pasha Handûsa, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University, and she later married Hâshim Fu’âd, former dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University and the president of Egypt’s most prestigious sporting club, the al-Gazîra Club. She received her BA in Egyptology from the Department of Egyptology at the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University and was then appointed a teaching assistant in 1964, an assistant lecurer in 1972, and an assistant professor in 1973 after receiving her PhD in Egyptology from Cairo University on “Marriage and Divorce in Ancient Egypt”. She became an associate professor of Egyptology at the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University in 1980, a full professor of Egyptology in 1987, and chairperson of the Department of Egyptology at the Faculty of Archaeology from 1980 to 1994. She was vice dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University from 1994 to1997. During her long career, Handûsa authored many articles and books on Egyptology, such as Marriage and Divorce in Ancient Egypt (in Arabic). She also translated British Egyptologist Walter Bryan EMERY’s Egypt in Nubia (1965) into Arabic, which was later revised by ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Abû Bakr and published in Cairo in 1970. Later in her career, the Supreme Council of Antiquities under its then secretary-general Zâhî Hawwâs, a former minister of antiquities, published a festschrift in her honour in which many distinguished scholars from all over the world contributed scholarly articles in recognition of her tremendous efforts on behalf of Egyptian archaeologists and antiquities. Handûsa was a member of many associations, societies and institutions of Egyptology and archaeology in Egypt and abroad. In January 2017, the Ministry of Antiquities paid homage to Handûsa’s efforts in teaching generations of Egyptian archaeologists and safeguarding Egyptian antiquities at a special ceremony at the Opera House in Cairo. Handûsa fully deserved the honorary title of the “mother of Egyptian archaeologists”. On a personal level, I can say that she was my own dearest teacher when I started my career of studying Egyptology at Cairo University in 1990. I will not forget her regular visits to our excavations at Gîza and the Bahariyya Oasis. She herself also continued the Cairo University excavations of the late Egyptian archaeologist ‘Abd al- Mun‘im Abû Bakr on the Gîza Plateau with US Egyptologist Edward BROVARSKI. Her work at Gîza was a great opportunity to meet with her and discuss many archaeological and Egyptological issues, always learning much from her vast knowledge. Handûsa was an extraordinary woman. She always treated everybody she met in the same elegant and helpful way, always assisting them as much as she could. She was unfailingly generous, supportive and sensitive. In some ways she was a lady from a different period, an unrivalled aristocratic lady of Egyptian archaeology. We will all sorely miss her, but her human, scholarly and educational legacy will remain alive among us forever. (Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, “Mother of Egyptian archaeologists. Obituary: Tuhfa Handûsa (1937- 2017)”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 10, 2017). Te condition of the Qâytbây Fortress in Alexandria triggered a ferocious debate this week among archaeologists and geophysicists in Egypt, with some going so far as to claim that the 15th-century fortress could be threatened with collapse.

Professor of applied and environmental geophysics at the National Institute of Astronomical and Geophysics Research (NIAGR) ‘Abbâs Muhammad ‘Abbâs said that although the Qâytbây Fortress was in a secure and stable condition it was nevertheless threatened with collapse because the rock on which it is built is in a critical condition. According to a 2015 report based on a study carried out by researchers from the NIAGR in collaboration with the Ministry of Antiquities to study the conservation condition of the fortress and install an earthquake-monitoring station in its vicinity, the underlying “mother rock” on which the fortress is built contains caves and cavities extending to the building’s eastern and northern edges.

“Tese represent a threat to the stability of the fortress,” ‘Abbâs said, adding that the report was the result of the frst and second phase of the study. Tere was to be a third phase, he said, but this had been postponed, as the direcor of underwater antiquities at the ministry had had to travel abroad. ‘Abbâs called upon the Ministry of Antiquities to intervene rapidly to consolidate the underlying rock as well as to install wave breakers around the edges of the fortress facing the Mediterranean. Te report had located weak points in the mother rock in order to fnd the most efficient method to repair them. “Te committee that carried out the study recommended a further study in order to prevent water from the sea reaching the caves and cavities in the mother rock and further extending them,” ‘Abbâs told Al- Ahram Weekly. “Te Qâytbây Fortress is now like a patient in urgent need of medical treatment in order not to see its problems getting worse. ” Rapporteur of the committee evaluating the condition of the rock Islâm ‘Izzat told the Weekly that the fortress itself was in a stable condition. He said the study had resumed in December 2016, and the Ministry of Antiquities had carried out several studies and inspecion tours around the fortress, Corniche, and adjacent Greek Club in collaboration with the Engineering Centre for Archaeology and the Environment at Cairo University. Te last inspecion at the fortress was in July 2017 and recommended the resumption of the study of the mother rock to monitor the caves and cavities using special radar devices, magnetic equipment, and elecrical sensors, he said. “Tis will enable the scientifc committee to correcly assess the condition of the main rock, which is made of sandstone,” he said, adding that another study to determine the movement of the waves and their impac on the rock would be implemented in an attempt to use high-tech methods to prevent the waves from making the problems worse. ‘Izzat said the committee had taken into consideration recommendations from the 2015 study, and now the ministry was carrying out a study in collaboration with the General Authority for Shore Protecion in order to guarantee the permanent protecion of the fortress and the rock on which it is built. Te study would also determine the location of the rock’s deterioration. Te Qâytbây Fortress is not the only strucure built on this, since part of the Corniche, the Maritime Museum and the Yachting and Greek clubs are also built on the rock. Usâma al-Nahhâs, supervisor of the Underwater Antiquities Department at the ministry, said that studies on the fortress’ foundations had started as early as 1992 after the earthquake that had hit the city. Several studies followed in 1998, 2003, 2006 and 2009 when huge concrete blocks were installed in several locations in order to break the waves and prevent the further infltration of seawater. However, over time these blocks had lost their effeciveness, and studies had resumed in 2012, he said.

“All the cavities and caves inside the rock have been found, and work is now continuing to fnd the best solution to consolidate the rock and prevent any further destrucion,” al-Nahhâs said. Te picuresque Qâytbây Fortress was built by the Mameluke sultan Qâytbây in the 15th century to defend Alexandria from Ottoman attack and is located at the mouth of Alexandria’s Eastern Harbour where the famous Alexandria Lighthouse, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World, once stood. Te fortress was heavily damaged during the British bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 and rebuilt around the turn of the 20th century. (Nevine El-Aref, “Treat to Qâytbây Fortress”, Al-Ahram Weekly, August 10, 2017. Voir également Ragab Ramadân, « Mesures urgentes pour sauver la citadelle de Qâytbây menacée d’effondrement », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 4 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : La citadelle de Qâytbây est en sécurité », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « La citadelle de Qâytbây est en sécurité », Sada al-Balad, 7 août ; Hâgar Samîr, « La citadelle de Qâytbây est en sécurité », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 8 août ; “Ministry of Antiquities denies alleged risk of collapse of Qâytbây Citadel”, Egypt Independent, August 9 ; MENA, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie mène des études poussées visant à protéger la citadelle de Qâytbây », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 23 septembre).

Archaeologists claim they could be “very close” to locating a secret cavity located within the Great Pyramid of Gîza, AFP reported earlier this month. A team of scientists have been working to identify the location of a hidden chamber buried within the ancient wonder of the world, adding that the existence of the space was frst deteced last Ocober using non-invasive technology to study the 4,500-year-old monument. “All the devices we put in place are designed to fnd where the cavity is located. We know there is one, but we’re trying to fnd out where,” Mehdi Tayoubi, president of France’s Heritage, Innovation and Preservation Institute told AFP.

Researchers have turned to cutting-edge technology to locate the mysterious cavity – including 3D reconstrucion, infrared thermography and a technique called muography, which records particles known as muons to create images. Te researchers said last year that a cavity deteced “could have the form of at least one corridor going inside the Great Pyramid”. Tey also confrmed the presence of an “unknown void” on the north side of the strucure. But Egypt’s former Minister of Antiquities Zâhî Hawwâs cautioned against concluding the cavity is an undiscovered room, and said more work was needed to establish the nature and size of the space. Hawwâs claimed that the discovery could just be “anomalies” or “small voids” between the stones. “Te core [of the pyramid] has big and small stones, and this can show hollows everywhere,” Hawwâs said. France’s Heritage, Innovation and Preservation Institute launched the Scan Pyramids projec with researchers from Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering in Ocober 2015. Te projec is among the most ambitious of the ventures aiming to uncover mysteries of the pyramid.

Te team’s sophisticated technology includes elecronic sensors from the KEK Japanese Research Laboratory, chemical emulsion instruments from Japan’s University of Nagoya, and muon telescopes from the French Atomic Energy Commission. (“Archaeologists searching for ‘chamber of secrets’ in Khufu Pyramid: AFP”, Egypt Independent, August 11, 2017)

To celebrate Flooding of the Nile Day, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square is organising two free- guided tours for evening visitors. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the Museums Secor at the Ministry of Antiquities, revealed that the tours would be in Arabic and be held 18 and 24 August, during the museum’s evening open hours. Salâh said that guided tours in English would be provided on request during the same hours of the Arabic tours.

Te Ostrava exhibited as the piece of the month Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, direcor general of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square, explained that the tours would go through all exhibited artifacs conneced to the Nile, such as boats and the Nilometer. Te museum’s August piece of the month is a limestone Ostrava depicing the Nile god Hapi. Te fooding of the Nile is an important ancient Egyptian festival celebrating the natural cycle of the Nile food. It was celebrated by ancient Egyptians as an annual holiday for two weeks starting 15 August, and known as Wafâ’ al-Nîl. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian Museum celebrates fooding of the Nile”, Ahram Online, August 13, 2017. Voir également Husâm Zaydân, « Visites gratuites du Musée Égyptien à l’occasion de la Fête du Nil », al-Fagr, 13 août).

La direcrice générale du Musée Égyptien de Tahrîr, Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, a annoncé que le cartel de la stèle de Mérenptah a été corrigé pour devenir la "stèle des vicoires de Mérenptah". Depuis plus de dix ans, cette œuvre était désignée sous le nom de la "stèle d’Israël". Une commission formée par le musée a corrigé cette erreur la semaine dernière. (Samar al-Naggâr, « Musée Égyptien : La "stèle d’Israël" est rebaptisée "stèle des vicoires de Mérenptah" », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 août 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie justife le changement du nom de la stèle de Mérenptah exposée au Musée Égyptien », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 14 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « La direcrice du Musée Égyptien explique les motivations du changement du nom de la stèle de Mérenptah », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 14 août ; MENA, « La "stèle d’Israël" rebaptisée "stèle des vicoires de Mérenptah" », Sada al-Balad, 14 août; «Le Musée Égyptien change le nom d’une stèle "d’Israël" à "Mérenptah" », al-Fagr, 14 août).

One of the newly discovered sarcophagi Tree rock-hewn tombs from the Ptolemaic era have been discovered during excavation work in the al- Kamîn al-Saharâwî area of Minyâ governorate, the Ministry of Antiquities announced on Tuesday. Te discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission from the Ministry of Antiquities working in the lesser-known area to the southeast of the town of Samâlût. Te tombs contain a number of sarcophagi of different shapes and sizes, as well as a collecion of clay fragments, according to ministry officials. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the ministry’s Ancient Egyptian Secor, said that studies carried out on the clay fragments suggest the tombs are from the 27th Dynasty and the Graeco-Roman era. “Tis fac suggests that the area was a large cemetery over a long period of time,” said al-‘Ashmâwî. al-‘Ashmâwî describes the discovery as “very important” because it reveals more secrets from the al-Kamîn al-Saharâwî archaeological site. During previous excavation work, the mission uncovered about 20 tombs built in the catacomb architecural style, which was widespread during the 27th Dynasty and the Graeco-Roman era. ‘Alî al-Bakrî, head of the excavation mission, told Ahram Online that the three newly discovered tombs have a different architecural design from the previous ones. Te frst tomb is composed of a perpendicular burial shaft engraved in rock and leading to a burial chamber containing four sarcophagi with anthropoid lids. Nine burial holes were also uncovered inside. Te second tomb consists of a perpendicular burial shaft and two burial chambers. Te frst chamber is located to the north and runs from east to west, with the remains of two sarcophagi, suggesting that it was for the burial of two people.

Te child sarcophagus A collecion of six burial holes was also found among them, one for a small child. “Tis was the frst time to fnd a burial of a child at the al-Kamîn al-Saharâwî site,” al-Bakrî said. He added that the second room is located at the end of the shaft and does not contain anything except of remains of a wooden coffin. Excavation Works at the third tomb have not yet been fnished. al-Bakrî said examination of the bones shows them to be from men, women and children of different ages, supporting the notion that the tombs were part of a large cemetery for a large city, and not for a military garrison as some suggest.

Excavation work started in 2015 when the mission unearthed a collecion of fve sarcophagi of different shapes and sizes, as well as the remains of a wooden sarcophagus. Te second session began in Ocober 2016, with fve tombs were uncovered. Four of them have similar interior designs, while the ffth consists of a burial shaft. Work is under way to reveal more secrets at the site. (Nevine El-Aref, “Tree Ptolemaic tombs uncovered in Egypt’s Minyâ, contents suggest a ‘large cemetery’”, Ahram Online, August 15, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 3 tombes ptolémaïques à Minyâ », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 15 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Mise au jour de 3 tombes archéologiques à al-Kamîn al- Saharâwî à Minyâ », Sada al-Balad, 15 août ; “Tree Ptolemaic tombs uncovered in Minyâ, discovery indicates “large cemetery””, Egypt Independent, August 15 ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Découverte de 3 tombes ptolémaïques », Watanî, 15 août).

Le ministère des Antiquités a lancé une nouvelle formule pour les résidents étrangers et les touristes qui souhaitent se balader librement dans différents musées et sites archéologiques du Caire et de Gîza : Cairo Pass. Celui-ci est valide pour une durée de cinq jours consécutifs. « Ce nouveau passe permet aux touristes d’accéder aux sites compris dans la formule plusieurs fois pendant les heures officielles de visite », explique Mustafa al-Saghîr, membre du bureau technique du ministre des Antiquités, assurant qu’il y aura dans quelques mois d’autres passes pour des visites annuelles concernant les diplomates et les résidents étrangers, pour de plus longues durées. Cette initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre du plan de redynamisation des sites archéologiques, lancé par le ministère. Cette initiative n’est cependant pas la première, ce type de carnet de visite a été lancé pour la première fois en novembre dernier pour certaines destinations-clés, comme le Louqsor Pass par exemple. « C’est la réussite du Louqsor Pass qui nous a encouragés à créer celui du Caire », souligne Imân Zaydân, assistante du ministre des Antiquités pour le développement des ressources fnancières. « Il est facile d’obtenir ce type de passe. Le touriste n’a qu’à présenter son passeport ou sa carte d’étudiant », souligne Zaydân, ajoutant que le passe se vend au département des relations culturelles au siège du ministère des Antiquités à Zamâlik, aux pyramides de Gîza, au Musée égyptien de Tahrîr et à la Citadelle de Salâh al-Dîn. Le Cairo Pass coûte 80 dollars et 40 dollars pour les étudiants étrangers. « Ce passe, qui doit être payé seulement en dollar ou en euro, vaut vraiment la peine si le touriste décide de se rendre dans plusieurs sites. Cela lui évite, entre autres, de refaire la queue pour acheter des tickets pour chaque site », reprend al-Saghîr. Le passe de visite annuelle pour les Égyptiens et les résidents arabes en Égypte coûte, quant à lui, 400 L. E. pour les adultes et 100 L. E. pour les étudiants. Le ministère a accordé la gratuité aux sorties scolaires et aux personnes âgées de plus de 60 ans. (Nasma Réda, « Cairo Pass, ou comment visiter Le Caire en 5 jours », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 16 août 2017). Te Head of the Central Museums’ Stores Authority, Sa‘îd Shibl, denied claims, on Tuesday, that his authority had released a statement in which it said 32,000 pieces of antiquities disappeared from 27 museum stores.

Te statement was issued from the head of the Central Museums’ Stores authority, after numerous local media outlets circulated reports, over the past two days, on the disappearance of the pieces Shibl told the state-run newspaper of al-Ahrâm, that the unverifed statement attached to numerous media reports is inaccurate and that there will be an official response from the Central Museums’ Stores Authority. Meanwhile, al-Ahrâm newspaper quoted the Head of Antiquities secor at the Antiquities Ministry, who asserted that the circulated statement was ‘in accurate’. He further clarifed that 30,000 antiquities pieces have been subjeced to ‘dissipation’, not stolen as promoted, pointing out that these pieces were owned by an antiquities vendor from Luxor city back when the trade of antiquities was legal. “Tese 30,000 antiquities pieces were not part of the stored pieces at the museums’ stores, the Antiquities Ministry is fully aware that these pieces were owned by a Luxor antiquities vendor, after his death his wife presented some of the 30,000 pieces to the Antiquities Ministry,” he noted. Shibl added that the rest pieces were sold or wasted by the Luxor vendor, not stolen from the museums’ stores as promoted through media reports. (“Antiquities Ministry official denies robbery of 32,000 archaeological pieces from museum”, Egypt Independent, August 16, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Disparition de 32 638 pièces archéologiques entreposées dans les magasins », Sada al-Balad, 13 août ; Radwa Hâshim, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie dévoile le secret des 33 000 pièces antiques perdues », al-Watan, 16 août ; Muhammad Husayn, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie confrme : Nous avons perdu 23 638 pièces archéologiques que nous traquons avec Interpol », al-Tahrîr, 16 août ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie fait des révélations sur les 32 638 pièces antiques disparues de ses entrepôts », al- Masrî al-Yawm, 16 août ; MENA, « 32 638 pièces archéologiques perdues des magasins du ministère de l’Archéologie », al-Fagr, 16 août ; ‘Abd al-Fattâh al-‘Agamî, « Disparition de 32 000 pièces antiques : un crime imprescriptible », al-Tahrîr, 21 août).

La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a mis en examen trois trafquants archéologiques à Minyâ. Il s’agit de : — Ziyâda Bandî, agriculteur âgé de 55 ans.

— Muhammad Salâh, chimiste âgé de 33 ans.

— Sâmih ‘Isâm, étudiant à la faculté de Droit, âgé de 25 ans.

La perquisition du domicile du premier prévenu a permis la saisie de 48 pièces antiques parmi lesquelles fgurent 40 monnaies, 4 lampes à huile en céramique, 2 statuettes en faïence (15 cm), 1 terracotta. Les 2 autres complices étaient en possession d’une statuette en granit représentant une femme, une Sekhmet en bronze, une stèle gravée de motifs foraux. Après aveux, les accusés ont été déférés au Parquet. (Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattâh, « Saisie de 48 pièces antiques à Minyâ », al-Wafd, 16 août 2017). Des fresques, des textes coptes, un ancien enbel (élément de culte) et des ornements géométriques de diverses formes ont été récemment découverts à l’église Saint-Bishoy, dans le monastère du même nom situé à Wâdî al-Natrûn. « Ces éléments ont été mis au jour lors des travaux de restauration de l’église Saint-Bishoy, la plus ancienne et principale église du monastère. Celui-ci comprend 4 autres églises datées d’époques variées : l’église de l’abbé Benjamin, l’église de Saint-Georges, l’église du martyr Abiskharoun et l’église de l’archange Michaël », explique Ahmad al-Nimr, superviseur de la documentation des monuments coptes auprès du ministère des Antiquités et membre du bureau scientifque.

Les travaux de restauration du monastère de Saint-Bishoy ont commencé suite aux pluies torrentielles qui s’étaient abattues sur le gouvernorat d’al-Buhayra en 2015, notamment dans la région de Wâdî al-Natrûn, et avaient gravement endommagé les monastères historiques de Souriane, Barâmus et Saint-Bishoy. Le ministère des Antiquités, en coopération avec les administrations des trois monastères, avait alors mis sur pied un projet de restauration architecurale.

La fresque exceptionnelle de sainte Refqa et de ses enfants. (Photo : Ministère des Antiquités) En enlevant les couches d’enduits dans l’église de Saint-Bishoy, les restaurateurs ont progressivement mis au jour des fresques, dont une qui orne les murs de l’autel. Il s’agit d’une peinture multicolore représentant probablement trois saints et l’archange Michaël. Le peintre copte a dessiné chaque saint dans un recangle séparé : deux à l’est de l’autel et deux à l’ouest. Auréolé, le premier saint a une barbe longue et dense, sa tunique est rouge. Le deuxième recangle représente peut-être un ange ailé tenant un bâton dans sa main droite et un récipient dans sa main gauche. « Le même ange est répété à l’ouest de l’autel, où il est dans un meilleur état de conservation », explique al- Nimr. La scène est ornée de calligraphies coptes. « On ne pourra voir la beauté de la scène qu’à la fn des travaux de restauration. On pourra alors identifer les personnages dessinés », ajoute al-Nimr. Une autre fresque de grande importance enjolive le mur ouest de l’église de Saint-Bishoy : celle de sainte Refqa et de ses enfants. Portant une robe rouge ample, Refqa entoure ses enfants de son bras gauche. Les enfants — Agathon, Boutros, Yohanna, Amon et Amona — sont dessinés en petite taille par rapport à leur mère. « Cette fresque exprime l’amour profond de la mère pour ses enfants. Elle les embrasse avec tendresse », explique le superviseur. La petite famille, originaire de Qûs en Haute-Égypte, a été persécutée et a trouvé la mort sous le règne de l’empereur tyran Dioclétien. Au-dessous de la scène se trouvent des inscriptions en langue copte.

Les fresques attendent une restauration fne pour reprendre leur beauté. (Photo : Ministère des Antiquités) Par ailleurs, les travaux de restauration ont permis de mettre au jour des peintures représentant des croix de plusieurs formes sur les murs de l’église. Ces ornements ont été réalisés au fl des siècles à partir du VIIIe siècle, époque de la construcion de l’acuel monastère de Saint-Bishoy, jusqu’au XIIIe siècle. Outre ces fresques et ces peintures, les restaurateurs ont dégagé un ancien enbel en détruisant l’un des murs des nouvelles annexes dressées dans la cour de l’église. L’enbel se compose de plusieurs marches en briques. « Le moine montait dessus et y déposait la Bible pendant la prière », reprend le superviseur. Sur le plan architecural, des niches ornées de motifs botaniques et géométriques formant des cailles et des poissons ont été découvertes. « Ce style d’ornementation était répandu durant l’époque mamelouke, peut- être pendant le règne de Muhammad al-Nâsir Ibn Qalâwwûn, dont la période était connue

pour la restauration d’églises et de monastères », déclare Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, conseiller du ministre des Antiquités pour les monuments islamiques et coptes. Enfn, les travaux de restauration ont mis au jour des escaliers qui mènent au toit de l’église et des vitres qui entouraient le col de la coupole. Ces découvertes refètent la richesse de l’église principale du monastère de Saint-Bishoy, qui a été soumise à plusieurs travaux de restauration entre l’époque de la construcion des ermitages au Ve siècle et le XXe siècle. (Doaa Elhami, « Saint-Bishoy révèle ses secrets », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 16 août 2017).

Egyptian authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle six 18th century artefacs at a port in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada. Ahmad al-Râwî, the head of the Central Administration of Seized Antiquities Unit at the antiquities ministry, says that the seized artefacs were in the possession of a Saudi citizen.

Te handle of the cane Te artefacs include a cane with a handle carved in stone bearing the shape of a man with a long beard wearing the Jewish cap (kippah), as well as fve stone reliefs engraved with Hebrew text and other decorative elements.

A paper of the seized book A book of 29 papers written in Hebrew was also among the seized collecion, with early studies suggesting that they could be the commandments of Judas Iscariot. al-Râwî asserted that the artefacs were seized after approving their authenticity in accordance with Law 117/1983. (Nevine El-Aref, “Attempt to smuggle 18th century artefacs foiled at Egypt’s Hurghada port”, Ahram Online, August 17, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Saisie de 6 pièces antiques dans le port d’Hurghada », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 17 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Tentative déjouée d’exportation illicite d’antiquités juives à travers le port d’Hurghada », Sada al-Balad, 17 août ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Saisie de 6 pièces datant du XVIIIe siècle », Watanî, 17 août ; Hâgar Samîr, « Saisie de 6 pièces archéologiques dans le port d’Hurghada », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 18 août).

Cairo, and proposed recommendations for the preservation efforts. In its annual report on the Urban Regeneration of the Historic Cairo Projec (URHC) published on Tuesday, the WHC praised “serious steps” taken by Egypt to develop the area and “preserve its architecural and urban heritage. ” Te WHC welcomed “steps that have been taken to start and plan a major [projec to restore Historic Cairo] under the control of the Ministry of Antiquities and the scope of its urban, cultural, economic and social goals aimed at revitalising the old city strucures, and a one-year work programme to undertake studies and defne an overall master plan. ” Te WHC report praised the progress carried out by Egypt “in conformity with the recommendations of the committee. in terms of putting in place both short and long-term measures to address the urgent problems facing the urban fabric of the old city and its socio-economic strucures. ” Te report also acknowledged efforts by Egyptian authorities to remove illegally ereced strucures in historic Cairo and raise awareness among local residents of the archaeological importance of the area. Te WHC also welcomed proposals to put in place a new management strucure for the URHC, which would include the formation of a new body that could be instrumental in driving the URHC Projec forward. Te committee recommended that Egypt give priority to the work of the URHC projec “to achieve its goals and submit the draft master plan and establish benchmarks so that progress can be monitored and defned over time. ” Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, general direcor of the URHC, told Ahram Online that the Ministry of Antiquities is scheduled to submit an update report on the state of conservation in Historic Cairo for review by the WHC at its 43rd session in 2019. ‘Abd al-‘Azîz also said that Egypt will invite a joint World Heritage Center and ICOMOS monitoring mission to view the progress on the projec and the impac of recent administrative measures. (Nevine El- Aref, “World Heritage Committee praises efforts to preserve Historic Cairo”, Ahram Online, August 17, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le WHC loue les efforts déployés par l’Égypte pour le développement du Caire historique », Sada al-Balad, 17 août).

Le secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA), Dr Mustafa Amîn, a confrmé l’utilisation des chiens de garde afn de sécuriser le Musée Égyptien de Tahrîr et la zone archéologique des pyramides. « Le recours aux chiens de garde n’est pas une hérésie, mais plutôt une vieille pratique exigée par la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités », reconnaît-il. Plusieurs archéologues ont posté sur Facebook une copie d’une note officielle du CSA précisant le budget à allouer à l’utilisation de ces chiens de garde sur les sites historiques. Ces sommes folles n’ont pas manqué de susciter le sarcasme des archéologues. En effet, l’entretien mensuel d’un seul chien s’élève à 9 000 L. E. Multipliez par 6 chiens sur le site, ce chiffre mensuel grimpe à 54 000 L. E. Ainsi le budget annuel alloué aux chiens s’élève-t-il à 648 000 L. E. « Autrement dit, le chien coûte 9 000 L. E. par mois, alors que le salaire de l’archéologue n’est que de 900 L. E. ! », ironisent les archéologues. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : Utilisation des chiens de garde pour des raisons de sécurité », al-Yawm al- Sâbi‘, 18 août 2017).

La perquisition du domicile de Wahîd Muhammad, situé dans le village de Mu’shâ, a conduit la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités d’Asyût à saisir une statue exceptionnelle, une arme et de la drogue. L’accusé avait l’intention de revendre cette statue obtenue grâce à des fouilles illicites effecuées dans les fondations d’une maison de la région. Une commission archéologique présidée par l’inspecrice en chef d’Asyût, Muna Yusrî, a confrmé le caracère exceptionnel de cette statue de 37 cm qui date de l’époque tardive. Taillée dans du granit noir, elle représente un prêtre d’Amon, comme le montre l’inscription hiéroglyphique gravée dessus. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Saisie d’une statue d’époque tardive », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 18 août 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Saisie à Asyût d’une statue antique avant sa vente », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 18 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Arrestation à Asyût d’une personne en possession d’une statue archéologique », Sada al-Balad, 18 août).

La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités de Gîza a arrêté 11 personnes qui entreprenaient des fouilles archéologiques clandestines dans les fondations d’une usine située à Kirdâsa. Une instrucion judiciaire est ouverte. (Umniya Ibrâhîm, « 11 individus écroués pour fouilles illicites dans une usine à Kirdâsa », al- Wafd, 20 août 2017. Voir également Îmân ‘Abd al-‘Âtî, « Arrestation de 11 personnes pour fouilles clandestines à Kirdâsa », al-Fagr, 19 août).

Te Zogheb palace, which was originally owned by a Syrian-Italian family and built in 1877, and is one of the oldest buildings on Fu’âd street, is picured in Alexandria, Egypt Feb. 22, 2016. (Photo: Reuters) A beautiful four-foor early 20th century apartment building is being knocked down on Fu’âd Street at the heart of Alexandria, much to the consternation of inhabitants who have lived through what was arguably the city’s belle époque. Another apartment building overlooking the Corniche of Alexandria, in al-Shatbî neighbourhood, has also been evacuated in anticipation of a demolition that architecural heritage preservation acivists are campaigning against on social media. “I am not sure if the campaign will succeed,” lamented Muhammad ‘Awad, the prominent architec who has dedicated years to the preservation and documentation of the architecural heritage of Alexandria’s city centre. ‘Awad told Ahram Online that the problem is that neither building had ever been put on the list of historic buildings that he helped compose during his days as the head of the Alexandria Preservation Trust (APT). Te list includes 1,135 buildings – 33 of which have exquisite architecural decoration – 63 zones, and 38 streets. Fu’âd Street, at the very heart of the city centre, is obviously on the list. However, in the technical sense, preserving a historic street would not necessarily involve a prohibition on knocking down all its old buildings — especially if the owners of the building manage to provide municipal authorities with a valid reason for the demolition.

According to ‘Awad, this reason could be a technical argument, such as fears about the building’s possible collapse, or just a "sufficiently convincing argument" that the owner needs to replace a four-foor building that has two apartments on each foor with a higher strucure that can accommodate more apartments. Since he started his work as head of the APT over 40 years ago, ‘Awad has seen the demolition of numerous historic buildings in Alexandria, notable for their architecural value, the events they witnessed or the inhabitants they had accommodated. ‘Awad particularly laments the demolition of Villa Aghion in 2014. Te villa was construced in the early 1920s by prominent French architec Auguste PERRET, “whose gems in France are proteced by UNESCO. ” ‘Awad also grieves over the fate of the Villa Cicurel, which was demolished in 2015 and carried the name of one of the most prominent Jewish families of early 20th century Egypt, who owned an elegant department store chain. Te villa was construced in the early 1930s by two prominent French architecs; Leon AZEMA and Jacques HARDY. “Tese are just two examples, but we have seen other historic buildings demolished despite being included on the preservation list and despite elementary court rulings [against the demolition],” ‘Awad said. ‘Awad says that this brings up one of the key challenges facing preservation efforts in Alexandria: drafting new legislation and observing existing regulations. “I am convinced that we need much frmer regulations on this matter; and we also need to see specialised courts dedicated to examining cases challenging the demolition of historic buildings,” he said. ‘Awad adds, however, that legislation alone will not be effecive in preventing the “endless dilapidation of the city’s architecural heritage. ” “Realistically speaking, especially if we are talking about keeping the style of the city centre, we need to think about renovation for modern use,” ‘Awad asserted. ‘Awad says that the cost of renovating such buildings is not small, “especially if we are talking about a thorough job and not just repainting the façade. ” One renovation option that ‘Awad says has been working well in Alexandria is the lease or purchase of buildings by construcion companies that turn the interiors into restaurants, cafes and art galleries. “Reuse is a very successful option that has been undertaken in many world capitals that have considerable architecural heritage to preserve,” ‘Awad said. He says this reuse could include turning apartment buildings into hotels or hotel apartments, or to redesign the interiors of apartment buildings to create more apartments. Te problem with such mega projecs, however, is that they require considerable funds, and given the declining economic and cultural attention to Alexandria, the resources needed have not been available in the city. “We have seen some of this attention, of course, but we need much more if we are to preserve the city centre’s style — because as I said, we have lost a lot and there is a lack of strong regulations prohibiting the demolitions,” he argues. ‘Awad says that an “absolutely necessary” step is creating interest in historical Alexandria. ‘Awad’s architecural frm — ‘Awad Associates — is looking to gain support from the European Commission for a projec centred on preserving the museum of 19th century Greek Alexandrian poet Constantine CAVAFY. Te projec would also include preserving many of the city’s other cultural attracions, including museums, theatres, music venues, cinemas, art galleries, literature outlets and gastronomy venues. However, ‘Awad believes that even with the needed support, the projec alone would not be enough. He says that the problem of demolition would persist if no new avenues are made available. “Tere is a truly developmental problem here, and resolving this problem is essential for the cause of preservation,” he said.

‘Awad’s forth point is about the city’s horizontal expansion. “Tis is something that the state has unfortunately failed to prevent, and if they do not start now we will continue to see more beautiful four- foor apartment buildings replaced with high-rise buildings with hardly any aesthetic quality; and this is such a shame for Alexandria. ” ‘Awad argues that the lack of visually artistic quality is a feature of the numerous state construcion projecs implemented in recent years, including hotels ereced along the Corniche as well as the new fy- over built on the Corniche “for no architecural reason whatsoever. ” ‘Awad — who in 2002 entrusted the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with photos, manuscripts and maps for the exhibition of ‘Impressions of Alexandria: Te ‘Awad Collecion’ — fears the looming loss of the aesthetic nature of Alexandria’s city centre and the “diminishing culture of beauty” in a city that used to be one of the most beautiful harbours of the Mediterranean. (Dina Ezzat, “Te fght to preserve architecural heritage of Egypt’s Alexandria”, Ahram Online, August 20, 2017. Voir également Tal‘at Ismâ‘îl, « Alexandrie ou la destrucion de l’identité », al-Shurûq, 25 septembre ; Basant Gamîl, « Alexandrie : hémorragie patrimoniale », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 26 septembre). Sur les conseils d’un charlatan, un père égorge sa flle pour en faire un sacrifce humain aux djinns qui gardent l’entrée d’une tombe archéologique. Ce fait divers barbare s’est déroulé à l’Est du gouvernorat de Suhâg. Les policiers ont arrêté un gang composé de 3 individus dont les fouilles illicites ont mené à la découverte d’une tombe pharaonique. À l’intérieur de celle-ci gisait le corps égorgé de ‘Abîr, une fllette de 9 ans. Son père prétendait qu’elle a trouvé la mort en tombant dans le puits.

Certes, le pillage archéologique est de plus en plus répandu à Suhâg, tout comme le recours aux charlatans locaux et étrangers venus notamment du Maroc. Pourtant c’est la première fois que l’on enregistre un sacrifce humain d’une telle cruauté à Suhâg. (‘Amr al-Sharîf, « Un père égorge sa flle pour en faire une offrande afn d’ouvrir une tombe archéologique à Suhâg », al-Wafd, 20 août 2017. Voir également Yûnis Muhammad, « De l’égorgement des enfants aux GPS : révélations choquantes sur l’univers des fouilles illicites », al-Tahrîr, 22 ocobre ; Hamâda al-Sa‘îd, « Les gangs de trafquants archéologiques dupent les petites gens », al-Ahrâm, 25 ocobre).

de son domicile a conduit à découvrir un puits de 2 x 3 m, d’une profondeur de 7 m. Ce puits étayé conduit à un escalier qui mène à un couloir long de 15 m. Les policiers ont également saisi une stèle en calcaire, gravée d’hiéroglyphes, ainsi qu’une statuette pharaonique de 25 cm représentant un singe assis sur un socle. (Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattâh, « Saisie d’une stèle et d’une statuette antiques dans une maison à al- Sharqiyya », al-Wafd, 21 août 2017). A team of archaeologists and restorers were dispatched on Monday to the Gîza Plateau to inspec work achieved at Khufu’s second boat projec, and to investigate the condition of a damaged beam. Since 2010, a Japanese-Egyptian team has been working to lift, restore and reconstruc the ancient boat, 4,500 years after it was buried as part of King Khufu’s funeral rites. So far, 745 pieces of the 1,264 pieces of the whole boat have been removed from the excavation pit.

Te crane used in lifting up the beams from the pit Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, the head of the Ancient Egyptian Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the boat beam was damaged by accident when a crane malfuncioned, leading it to come into direc contac with a beam within the pit. “A very small part of the beam was subjeced to a very mild deterioration which does not have any impac on the beam itself and could be easily restored during the restoration work carried out by the efficient and skilful Japanese-Egyptian team,” al. ‘Ashmâwî asserted, adding that his observation and the team escorted him during his inspecion tour confrm the report submitted by the projec team. al-‘Ashmâwî told Ahram Online that a committee from the Projecs Department at the ministry is to be assigned to re-inspec the beam in order to make another report. He also said that the whole case is now under an administrative investigation in order to fnd out if there was any employee failure related to the incident. ‘Isâ Zaydân, direcor-general of frst aid restoration at the projec, explained that the pit houses around 1,264 wooden beams in 13 different layers. Te majority of the beams are in a very bad conservation condition while a minority are almost fully decomposed. A total of 732 excavated pieces have so far been restored, Zaydân said, and a collecion of 560 pieces have been transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking Gîza plateau. Tere are plans to lift and restore all the beams in an attempt to reconstruc the boat and put it on display beside the frst boat discovered in 1954 by Egyptian historian Kamâl al-Mallâkh and restored by well- known restorer Ahmad Yûsuf. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian antiquities ministry inspecs Khufu’s boat after accident causes ‘mild’ damage to beam”, Ahram Online, August 21, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Communiqué officiel du ministère de l’Archéologie sur la chute d’un câble d’une grue sur la 2e barque de Chéops », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 21 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : L’accident de la barque de Chéops a causé des dégâts superfciels qui peuvent être facilement restaurés », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 21 août ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Communiqué du ministère de l’Archéologie sur les dégâts subis par l’une des planches de la 2e barque de Chéops », al-Wafd, 21 août).

Râmî Muhammad Nasr, chômeur âgé de 31 ans et son frère Nasr, chômeur de 27 ans sont acivement recherchés par la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités de Banî Swayf. La perquisition de leur domicile, situé dans le village d’Abû Sîr al-Malaq, a permis la saisie de 4 480 pièces archéologiques. (‘Isâm Abû Sdayra, « Saisie de 4 480 pièces antiques dans une maison à Banî Swayf », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 21 août 2017. Voir également Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattâh, « Saisie d’un musée archéologique à l’intérieur du domicile de 2 chômeurs à Banî Swayf », al-Wafd, 21 août ; Ahmad Fathî, « Saisie d’un musée archéologique dans la maison d’un agriculteur à Banî Swayf », al-Fagr, 21 août).

Te Saudi Arabia coins Te Antiquities Unit at Cairo International Airport foiled on Wednesday an attempt by an Egyptian passenger to smuggle to Saudi Arabia a collecion of Khedival-era coins, paper currency, contracs, bonds and other documents.

Palestinian coins Head of the Central Administration for Antiquities Units at the Ministry of Antiquities Ahmad al-Râwî told Ahram Online that a committee led by archaeologist Girgis Munîr has authenticated the items as dating from the Khedival era. al-Râwî said that the smuggler was planning on holding an exhibition in Saudi Arabia where he would sell the items.

Some of the Egyptian coins Direcor-general of the Antiquities Units at Cairo International Airport Hamdî Hammâm told Ahram Online that the coins included 25 Ottoman coins, 50 from the Sultan Husayn Kâmil era (1914 – 1917), 74 from the reign of King Fu’âd (1922 – 1936), 247 from the King Fârûq era (1936 – 1952), as well as three Saudi Arabian coins from the reign of King ‘Abd al. ‘Azîz Âl Su‘ûd (1932 – 1953) and two pre-1948 Palestinian coins printed. “Among the coins from the era of King Fârûq was a very rare gold coin,” Hammâm said, adding that the collecion also included 24 bonds, documents and slave contracs. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian authorities foil attempt to smuggle Khedival-era antiquities to Saudi Arabia”, Ahram Online, August 23, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Échec d’une tentative d’exportation illicite de 426 pièces de monnaie à l’aéroport du Caire », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 23 août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Tentative déjouée d’exportation illicite de 426 monnaies et documents datant de l’époque de Muhammad ‘Alî », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 23 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Échec d’une tentative d’exportation illicite de 426 monnaies archéologiques à l’aéroport du Caire », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 23 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Tentative déjouée d’exportation illicite de 426 monnaies archéologiques à l’aéroport du Caire », Sada al-Balad, 23 août).

Art, magie et beauté. Ainsi on peut décrire la perle du Nil, la ville éternelle de Rosette. C’est avec ces mots que le musée archéologique de Rosette accueille ses visiteurs. Il retrace l’histoire d’un peuple qui a résisté aux attaques et met l’accent sur le rôle politique et culturel de la ville. Le musée occupe depuis 1959 l’une des 22 maisons historiques de Rosette, qui porte le nom de son construceur et propriétaire Husayn ‘Arab Killî, l’un des héros de la ville, qui a fait face à l’armée britannique lors de la bataille de 1807, dirigée par le général FRASER. Il est devenu gouverneur de Rosette entre 1844 et 1849.

La maison a été bâtie au XVIIIe siècle. Le bâtiment est composé de trois étages. Le rez-de-chaussée était autrefois destiné à accueillir les commerçants étrangers. Le premier étage était réservé aux hommes de la famille, avec une salle de réception, et le dernier étage était consacré aux femmes, qui suivaient tout ce qui se passait à l’intérieur sans être vues par les hommes à travers des moucharabiehs. Bien que ce musée fût restauré à plusieurs reprises en 1985 et 2009, le gouvernorat a alloué, dans le cadre du plan acuel de réaménagement de la ville, une somme de 7 millions de L. E. à sa réhabilitation. Les responsables souhaitent renouveler sa muséologie. « Nous cherchons à ajouter à l’exposition de nouvelles pièces, surtout que les missions archéologiques opérant à Rashîd découvrent tous les jours de nouvelles pièces de différentes époques », souligne Sa‘îd Rakhâ, direceur du musée.

Sur les 766 pièces islamiques que possède le musée, 200 seulement sont exposées. Une copie de la pierre de Rosette, dont l’original fait partie de la collecion du British Museum depuis 1802, est placée à l’entrée du musée. Celle-ci a été offerte par le musée londonien en 2009 au Musée de Rashîd après sa restauration. Le musée expose aussi un précieux document dont l’original se trouve au Musée égyptien du Caire : une copie du contrat de mariage du général MENOU, 3e général de l’Expédition française, avec la jeune égyptienne Zubayda, flle du grand marchand Muhammad al-Bawwâb. Il s’agit du premier mariage franco-égyptien documenté. Outre ces pièces, le visiteur aura l’occasion de connaître les différentes armes ottomanes, les uniformes des officiers de cette époque, ainsi qu’une collecion inédite de pièces de monnaie en or. (Nasma Réda, « Le Musée de Rashîd attend sa rénovation », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 23 août 2017).

Bi’r al-Shaghâla necropolis An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Ministry of Antiquities has uncovered fve Roman tombs during excavation works carried out in Bi’r al-Shaghâla site in Dâkhla Oasis in Egypt’s Western Desert. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department, explained that the tombs are built in mud brick and have different architecural style. Te frst tomb has an entrance leading to a recangular hall with two burial chambers while the second has a vaulted ceiling and its entrance leads to a burial chamber.

Te tomb with pyramid shaped end Te third tomb is a pyramid-shaped tomb. Te mission has succeeded in uncovering its upper part while the lower part is still buried in sand. Te fourth and ffth tombs share one entrance and each tomb has a separate burial chamber with a vaulted ceiling. al-‘Ashmâwî pointed out that the mission’s excavations in the area will continue.

Some of the clay pots discovered Gamâl al-Simistâwî, general direcor of antiquities of the Middle Egypt, said that a number of artefacs were found inside the tombs, including the remains of a funerary mask depicing a human face painted in yellow, a set of pottery vessels of different shapes and sizes, as well as two ostraca, one of which contains hieroglyphic text while the second bears text written in Hieratic.

with similar architecural design. Tey are composed of a recangular hall and two side chambers with sandstone vaulted ceilings. Te hall has a mud brick ceiling. al-Shaghâla area is located to the west of Mût city almost 3 kilometres from Dâkhla Oasis in a mid-point between three other archaeological sites. (Nevine El-Aref, “New Roman tombs discovered in Egypt’s Dâkhla Oasis”, Ahram Online, August 23, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte de 5 nouvelles tombes dans l’oasis d’al-Dâkhla », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 23 août ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Mise au jour à Dâkhla de 5 tombes », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 23 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Mise au jour de 5 tombes romaines dans la Nouvelle Vallée », Sada al-Balad, 23 août ; “Five Roman cemeteries discovered in Dâkhla Oasis”, Egypt Independent, August 23 ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte de 5 tombes romaines dans l’oasis d’al-Dâkhla », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 23 août ; Nasma Réda, « Minyâ continue de révéler ses secrets », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 septembre).

Les scanners à rayons X installés à la gare centrale d’Alexandrie ont détecé 2 statuettes pharaoniques dans la valise d’un voyageur. Les socles de ces deux statuettes (20 et 25 cm) portent des inscriptions. L’accusé, T. SH. âgé de 48 ans, a été conduit au commissariat de police d’al-‘Attârîn pour comparution devant le Parquet. (Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Râdî, « Arrestation d’un voyageur à la gare d’Alexandrie en possession de 2 statuettes pharaoniques », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 24 août 2017). Le Conseil d’administration du ministère de l’Archéologie, présidé par Dr Khâlid al-‘Inânî, a approuvé la tenue au Canada d’une exposition archéologique égyptienne durant 6 mois. 37 pièces archéologiques participeront à cette exposition parmi lesquelles des mihrâbs en bois et des céramiques. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve l’envoi de 37 pièces antiques pour une exposition au Canada », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 24 août 2017).

ROMMEL’s Cave Museum in Egypt’s Matrûh will be re-inaugurated on Friday after being closed for seven years for restoration and development. Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî and Governor of Matrûh Major General ‘Alâ’ Abû Zayd will reopen the site, which was used by Axis general Erwin ROMMEL during World War II as a makeshift base. Te restoration and development of the cave was carried out by the antiquities ministry in collaboration with Matrûh governorate.

“I really appreciates the collaboration as the governorate has provided the required budget to restore the museum, as well as offering the ministry a part of Misr Public Library to establish another museum for antiquities that would relate the history of Matrûh through displaying all the artefacs found within its sands,” al-‘Inânî told Ahram Online. He added that the library museum is scheduled to be inaugurated before the end of 2017.

al-‘Inânî pointed out that the opening of ROMMEL’s Cave Museum highlights the aim of the ministry to promote tourism to Egypt through opening new attracions as well as increasing archaeological awareness among Egyptians in general. Tere are also plans to implement evening opening hours at the site. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the ministry’s Museums Department, told Ahram Online that ROMMEL’s Cave Museum contains a collecion of weapons, shells and military equipment used during World War II, as well as military attire, maps showing battle plans, copies of a newspaper produced by ROMMEL’s troops in Africa during the war, and fles on German soldiers. She explains that the museum was closed for restoration and development in 2010, and early this year the ministry resumed restoration work at the cave. Te conservation of its artefacs was carried out by a team of skilful restorers led by Sâmih al-Masrî. Salâh pointed out that the development work included changing the museum displays and installing new lighting and security systems.

“ROMMEL’s Cave is one of the area’s natural caves in the rocky cliff, which has existed since Roman times, and has an entrance and exit on the Mediterranean,” Salâh told Ahram Online. In 1977, she said, the idea of transforming the cave into a museum was launched as a way of paying tribute to ROMMEL’s career. However, the plan was not put into effec until 1988, when it was opened to the public in order to display a collecion of ROMMEL’s personal possessions, many of them donated by his son Manfred, as well as weapons, shells and military equipment used during World War II. (Nevine El- Aref, “ROMMEL’s Cave Museum in Egypt to be re-opened Friday after years of restoration”, Ahram Online, August 25, 2017. Voir également Hâgar Samîr, « Inauguration demain du musée de ROMMEL dans le gouvernorat de Matrûh », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 24 août ; Radwa Hâshim, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure le musée de ROMMEL après son réaménagement », al-Watan, 25 août ; Muhammad ‘Azzûz, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le gouverneur de Marsa Matrûh inaugurent le musée de ROMMEL après 7 années de fermeture », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 25 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Inauguration du musée de ROMMEL », Sada al-Balad, 25 août ; Muhammad Mahmûd, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le gouverneur de Matrûh inaugurent le musée de ROMMEL après 10 années de fermeture », al-Fagr, 25 août).

Le Comité permanent des antiquités égyptiennes a approuvé la demande déposée par le Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Kairo (DAIK), afn de poursuivre ses travaux sur le site d’Éléphantine à Aswân du 1er ocobre 2017 jusqu’au 30 juin 2018. Le programme de la mission englobe la reprise des fouilles dans la ville et dans les temples, la documentation des pièces exhumées et des graffitis, un relevé archéologique, l’achèvement de la photographie en 3D des inscriptions rupestres, ainsi que la restauration et l’étude du temple romain situé au sud de l’île. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le CSA approuve la reprise des travaux de la mission du DAIK à Aswân », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 28 août 2017). Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, handed over a collecion of authentic coins, currencies, and bonds to Iraqi Ambassador Habîb Muhammad Hâdî al-Sadr and to Chinese Ambassador Song AIGUO in a formal ceremony at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square on Sunday. Te returned artefacs had been seized before they could be successfully smuggled out of the country.

“Te artefacs were handed over in accordance with the UNESCO agreement which Egypt joined in 1972, and in accordance with bilateral collaboration agreements which obligate Egypt to seize foreign antiquities if they are smuggled through its territories, and to show them to the relevant embassy in order to check whether they are on their heritage list in attempt to guarantee the protecion of their cultural properties,” Ahmad al-Râwî, who runs the ministry’s unit which oversees antiquities inspecions at ports, told Ahram Online.

Te 44 Iraqi currency pieces, which date back to the early 20th century reigns of Kings Ghazi I, Faisal I, and Faisal II, were seized at Cairo International Airport. Te 13 Chinese bonds and Yuan banknote were seized at the Ramses Post Office port and hold clues to the economic status of the Qing royal family, which ruled the Chinese Empire from the 17th until the 20th centuries. During the ceremony Ambassador AIGUO described the return of these artefacs as “an important part of bilateral cooperation between both countries, as well as a specifc move to jointly protec antiquities. ”

Ambassador al-Sadr noted in his speech that he very much appreciates Egypt’s efforts to protec stolen Iraqi antiquities and that their return reveals the strong friendship and collaboration between the two countries. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egypt returns stolen currency artefacs to Iraq, China”, Ahram Online, August 28, 2017. Voir également MENA, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie remet aux ambassadeurs d’Iraq et de Chine des pièces archéologiques saisies », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 27 août ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Remise au Musée Égyptien ce soir de monnaies et de manuscrits aux ambassadeurs irakien et chinois », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 27 août ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « L’Égypte remet à la Chine et à l’Iraq des antiquités saisies sur son territoire », Sada al-Balad, 27 août).

Le Comité permanent des antiquités égyptiennes, présidé par le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a approuvé la demande déposée par l’University of London, afn de poursuivre ses travaux sur le site de Wâdî al-Hammâmât du 15 septembre au 30 novembre 2017, puis du 15 mars au 15 mai 2018. Les travaux de la mission englobent des relevés architecuraux et GPS des carrières prédynastiques, l’enregistrement et la photographie des gravures, l’exploration des sentiers menant aux carrières, ainsi que la réalisation de sondages sur les sites d’époque tardive. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le CSA approuve la demande déposée par l’University of London », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 29 août 2017).

Lors de la construcion d’une nouvelle école à Timiy al-Amdîd dans le gouvernorat d’al-Daqahliyya, un canal d’époque ptolémaïque a été fortuitement mis au jour. Ce canal est composé de blocs de pierre qui mesurent 90 cm de largeur sur 80 cm de hauteur. Depuis 1890, cette zone a fait l’objet de fouilles archéologiques systématiques sans pour autant découvrir quoi que ce soit. (Himmat al-Husaynî, « Découverte d’un canal archéologique à al-Daqahliyya », Sada al-Balad, 29 août 2017).

Farîd M. , menuisier âgé de 42 ans, et son fls Raymond âgé de 13 ans ont été mis en examen pour fouilles archéologiques illicites sous leur maison située à al-Gamâliyya au Caire. La perquisition de leur domicile a permis de découvrir un puits de 2 x 2 m, d’une profondeur de 6 m, ainsi que des outils pour creuser. Une enquête judiciaire est ouverte. (Ashraf Ghayth, « Arrestation d’un menuisier et de son fls pour fouilles illicites à al-Gamâliyya », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 30 août 2017. Voir également Muhammad Usâma, « Mise en examen d’un menuisier et de son fls pour fouilles clandestines à al-Gamâliyya », al-Wafd, 11 août ; Hiba ‘Abd al-Hâfîz, « Arrestation d’un menuisier et de son fls pour fouilles illicites à al-Gamâliyya », al-Fagr, 11 août).

Le Conseil Suprême de la Culture a décidé de retirer le Grand Prix 2016 d’encouragement de l’État décerné au Dr Ibrâhîm Muhammad al-‘Âydî pour son ouvrage intitulé Ancient Egyptian Geographic Dicionary, 1 061 pages. En fait, ce livre n’est que la traducion en anglais du même ouvrage de l’égyptologue français Henri GAUTHIER. (Basant Gamîl, « Retrait du Grand Prix 2016 », al-Yawm al- Sâbi‘ 31 août 2017. Voir également ‘Alî al-Shûkî, « Le Conseil Suprême de la Culture dévoile les raisons du retrait du Grand Prix 2016 », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 31 août ; Radwa Hâshim, « Retrait du Grand Prix 2016 d’al. ‘Âydî pour plagiat », al-Watan, 31 août ; Shaymâ’ ‘Îsa, « Retrait du Grand Prix 2016 attribué à un plagiaire qui a pillé un ouvrage français », al-Bawwâba News, 31 août). Les policiers de Damanhûr ont arrêté 4 individus en fagrant délit de fouilles archéologiques illicites sous une maison abandonnée à al-Buhayra. Il s’agit de : — M. M. , ouvrier âgé de 37 ans.

— I. H. , étudiant de 22 ans.

— A. K. , ouvrier de 43 ans.

— A. A. , menuisier de 54 ans.

La perquisition des lieux du crime a permis de découvrir une fosse de 120 x 70 cm, d’une profondeur de 8 m, ainsi qu’une pompe pour évacuer les eaux souterraines et des outils pour creuser. (Hamdî Qâsim, « 4 personnes écrouées pour fouilles clandestines à al-Buhayra », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 31 août 2017. Voir également Hâdî Bilâl, « Arrestation de 4 individus en fagrant délit de fouilles illicites à al-Buhayra », al- Wafd, 31 août). - -

III – SEPTEMBRE 2016

Tawfîq with YUEWEN at the GEM Chinese cultural attaché to Egypt Shi YUEWEN visited the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Gîza on Tuesday. YUEWEN visited the museum’s laboratories and witnessed restoration work being carried out on artefacs that are to be among the museum’s collecion, Târiq Tawfîq, supervisor. general of the GEM, told Ahram Online. Te museum, which will see a soft open in 2018, will hold the Tutankhamun halls and a number of gigantic ancient Egyptian colossi, such as the colossus of King Ramses II, which was transported to the GEM from Ramses Square in downtown Cairo in 2006. YUEWEN said that the upcoming period will witness increased cooperation between Egypt and China in the archaeological feld. (Nevine El-Aref, “Chinese cultural attaché in Egypt visits Grand Egyptian Museum”, Ahram Online, September 5, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le Conseiller culturel chinois visite le GEM », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 5 septembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le Conseiller culturel chinois visite le GEM », al-Wafd, 5 septembre). Le superviseur général du musée national de la Civilisation égyptienne (NMEC), Mahrûs Sa‘îd, a démenti les nouvelles publiées sur la disparition de 400 pièces archéologiques des entrepôts de son musée. « Les collecions du musée sont intaces. Aucun vol n’a été commis », affirme-t-il. Quant à la tentative de vol perpétrée en 2015, elle visait plutôt l’entrepôt muséologique de Fustât. En clair, « Aucune miette ne manque au NMEC », martèle Mahrûs Sa‘îd. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie nie le vol de 400 pièces archéologiques du NMEC : Aucune miette ne manque au NMEC », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 septembre 2017).

© Bassam Al-Zoghby Difficile de parler du Caire khédivial, fêtant aujourd’hui 150 ans, sans tomber dans la nostalgie généralisée pour cette belle époque. Le centre-ville possède toujours son charme délabré. Ses façades aux styles écleciques (néo-classique, Art déco, etc. ), ses passages, ses places et ses zones piétonnes se prêtent à faire l’arrière-plan de romans. […] Le centre se détériore et requiert une politique de revitalisation, qui, dans la plupart des cas, se fait au détriment de la population la plus pauvre, car revitaliser signife, pour les uns, en fnir avec la pauvreté. Ces dernières années, Le Caire khédivial bénéfcie d’un nouveau contexte d’acion, même si la volonté de relocaliser les acivités stratégiques en périphérie demeure. Ministères, gouvernorat, nouvel organisme national de l’harmonisation urbaine opèrent un travail d’inventaire patrimonial et de restauration, décrit parfois comme « cosmétique », afn de réhabiliter le centre-ville khédivial.

Le paysage socio-spatial de celui-ci se recompose, notamment avec le regain d’intérêt des investisseurs d’une part, et avec le rôle des artistes et des intellecuels lesquels essayent de redorer le blason du centre culturel, d’autre part. La foncion culturelle est un atout important de la centralité, et ce sera probablement le dernier domaine pour lequel le centre-ville khédivial consacre une foncion centrale indéniable, même avec la mobilité des classes aisées vers les quartiers périphériques. (« Caire khédivial 150 ans après. À la reconquête du centre », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017. Voir également Radwa Hâshim, « Grand lifting pour le Caire khédivial », al-Watan, 15 ocobre).

© Bassam Al-Zoghby Le projet de rénovation du Caire khédivial, qui a vu le jour en 2013, en est à sa troisième et dernière phase. S’agit-il juste d’un lifting ou alors est-ce une restauration de fond ? Le palais ‘Âbidîn se prépare à accueillir dans les jours à venir, dans son grand hall, la statue du khédive Ismâ‘îl, le père du Caire moderne. Cette démarche s’inscrit, en fait, dans le cadre d’un vaste projet de développement du Caire khédivial lancé depuis plus de 3 ans par le gouvernement. Construit entre 1867 et 1950, ce quartier, de forme triangulaire, avec la place Tahrîr au sommet, et les deux places Opéra et Ramsès sur les deux côtés, vient de fêter ces jours-ci ses 150 ans. Les travaux de rénovation initiés par le gouvernement et des investisseurs privés battent leur plein. Le centre-ville reprend progressivement des couleurs. Et une centaine d’immeubles, aux différents styles architecuraux, retrouvent de nouveau leur éclat. « On a achevé jusqu’à présent environ 40 % des travaux en rénovant 200 bâtiments d’un total de 500 immeubles classés comme architecure unique dans le centre-ville », affirme Sa‘îd al-Bahr, direceur du projet.

Les travaux de rénovation battent leur plein dans le centre-ville. (© Bassam Al-Zoghby) « Revitaliser Le Caire khédivial en l’érigeant en zone économique et touristique » est le moteur de ce projet, comme l’explique al-Bahr. Les travaux sont répartis en 3 phases. Deux phases sont déjà achevées avec un coût de 120 millions de L. E. Outre les bâtiments khédivaux, des rues et des places du Caire khédivial ont aussi fait peau neuve, notamment la rue al-Alfî, la rue al-Shawarbî, ainsi que les places ‘Urâbî, Ramsès, ‘Ataba et ‘Âbidîn. La troisième phase lancée ce mois en cours devrait témoigner de la réhabilitation du reste des immeubles khédiviaux et d’autres zones dont la plus importante est celle de la Bourse. Le centre-ville, à lui seul, renferme le tiers des bâtiments classés à caracère particulier sur le territoire national. Après son âge d’or où Le Caire Khédivial fut nommé « le Paris du Nil » ou encore « le Paris de l’Orient », le patrimoine du centre-ville est passé par une longue période de négligence, notamment à l’époque de Nâsir qui le considérait comme un symbole du colonialisme.

Ensuite, avec les politiques urbanistiques adoptées par le président Anwar al-Sâdât à la fn des années 1970, et qui donnaient une priorité aux investissements publics dans les nouvelles cités, le patrimoine du centre- ville n’a bénéfcié d’aucun plan de développement. Un regain d’intérêt pour ce patrimoine a eu lieu avec l’apparition du National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH), créé en 2004. Celui-ci est chargé essentiellement de protéger le patrimoine au « style architecural particulier », en promulguant une série de lois pour la protecion de ces immeubles. Le lancement réel du projet a débuté avec une décision gouvernementale pour évacuer tous les vendeurs ambulants du centre-ville, et empêcher les voitures de s’y garer. « Il était très difficile de commencer le travail de développement et de réhabilitation, au milieu de l’embouteillage », affirme al-Bahr, qui ajoute : « Le gouvernorat du Caire participe acivement à la réhabilitation du centre-ville en fournissant les experts et les entrepreneurs à tous les aceurs qui opèrent dans le centre-ville ». Hâydî Shalabî, direcrice du département de la protecion des zones et des bâtiments historiques au sein du NOUH, explique : « On travaille main dans la main avec le gouvernement. L’organisme est considéré comme un consultant pour le gouvernorat et la seule autorité qui ocroie les accréditations des plans de rénovation. Ces plans doivent répondre à des critères et des réglementations précis concernant la forme, les couleurs et les matériaux utilisés ». Concernant le fnancement, Shalabî précise que l’État n’a rien payé. Les travaux de développement ont été totalement fnancés par la société civile, les hommes d’affaires, le seceur bancaire et les compagnies publiques d’assurance. Ces dernières, comme le souligne Shalabî, sont des aceurs incontournables dans le centre-ville, étant des grands propriétaires des immeubles khédiviaux. On cite par exemple Misr Real Estate Assets, branche d’acivité immobilière, de la compagnie d’assurance Misr Insurance Holding Company, créée en 2007. C’est l’une des plus acives sur le terrain. Selon son site Internet, la société possède 140 immeubles dans le centre-ville dont 68 sont classés patrimoine architecural particulier. Toutefois, Shalabî précise que « le manque de fnancement reste un grand déf, qui ralentit le rythme des travaux de rénovation. Ce qui oblige le gouvernement à se contenter de la rénovation des façades, sans pouvoir intervenir à l’intérieur des bâtiments dont la majorité sont vétustes ». Shalabî dévoile pourtant que parmi les travaux de la troisième phase de ce projet, est prévue « la rénovation totale (intérieure et extérieure) » de l’immeuble khédivial numéro 15 situé dans la rue ‘Imâd al-Dîn, et qui doit servir comme guide pour la rénovation totale des autres bâtiments. Autre problème, qui menace la préservation de ce patrimoine et qui est considéré comme un grand obstacle devant les travaux de développement, comme l’explique Shalabî, c’est l’ancienne loi des loyers qui permet au locataire de payer des sommes très faibles, décourageant ainsi les propriétaires d’entretenir leurs immeubles. En parallèle, sur le même chantier de travail, mais ne partageant pas les mêmes problèmes, le seceur privé prend aussi part dans les travaux de rénovation. al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment pour l’investissement immobilier, créée en 2008, et qui possède 22 immeubles dans le centre-ville, est également acive sur le plan du renouvellement urbain, et marque un retour des investissements privés au centre-ville dirigés depuis des années vers les nouvelles cités. En fait, au départ, le rachat des immeubles khédiviaux par cette société avait suscité une grande polémique sur le but réel de cette société. Aujourd’hui, comme l’indique Muhammad al-Tâhir, membre délégué d’al-Ismaelia for Real Estate, les doutes ont été dissipés, et une sorte de partenariat entre le seceur public et privé commence à se forger.

Si les moyens fnanciers ne présentent pas de problème, ni même les négociations avec les locataires pour vendre leurs appartements à la société, « la rénovation de l’intérieur n’est pas une mission facile », comme l’explique Muhammad al-Surûgî, direceur des projets au sein de la société al-Ismaelia for Real Estate. « Les anciens bâtiments ne possèdent pas de plan, ce qui nécessite des études acharnées avant de pouvoir commencer la rénovation », déplore al-Surûgî. Les travaux de la société se concentrent acuellement dans la rénovation de l’immeuble Viennoise qui est considérée comme « la grande œuvre de la société », comme le précise al-Surûgî, qui va être utilisé comme un « Open Building », consacré essentiellement aux bureaux administratifs. Mais reste à savoir si ces travaux de développement du Caire khédivial vont vraiment faire du centre-ville un pôle administratif, économique et culturel comme c’était le cas au XXe siècle. Pour Târiq Wâlî, expert urbaniste, le mot du développement utilisé par le gouvernement n’est pas du tout « adéquat » à ce qui se passe réellement sur le terrain. « Le gouvernement se contente d’un lifting du quartier qui est contesté. Une vision globale de l’avenir du centre-ville fait toujours défaut. Contrairement au seceur privé qui, lui, a un objecif bien clair, à savoir réutiliser les immeubles restaurés pour être rentables », dit Wâlî. Et d’ajouter : « Le développement d’un quartier doit englober toutes ses composantes : les édifces, les citoyens, les acivités. Et la nécessité de se demander : quel est l’objecif des travaux du développement ? Quelle sera la nouvelle foncion du centre- ville ? ». S’intéresser au côté social du centre-ville n’est pas évidemment inscrit dans le plan du gouvernement, comme l’explique Salâh Zakî, architece et professeur à l’université d’al-Azhar. « Le citoyen, qui est un aceur principal dans le processus, est le grand absent de la vision du gouvernement. Augmenter la sensibilisation des habitants au patrimoine khédivial est une condition fondamentale pour le succès des travaux du développement du quartier », ajoute-t-il. « Combler les lacunes techniques, sociales, fnancières et même législatives qui menacent la durabilité de la réhabilitation du centre-ville. C’est le but de la formation de la commission nationale pour la préservation du Caire patrimonial, qui a vu le jour en décembre 2016 par un décret présidentiel », comme l’indique Târiq ‘Attiya, porte-parole de la commission. Selon ce dernier, cette démarche démontre que la conservation de ce patrimoine fgure parmi les priorités de l’État à l’heure acuelle. « Après 8 mois de travail, on est aujourd’hui en train de fnaliser un rapport où on va essayer de formuler une vision globale et stratégique, comprenant des propositions de lois, des modèles de fnancement et de partenariat social, ainsi que les moyens susceptibles de régler les problèmes de la circulation, de la sécurité et du nettoyage du centre-ville », dit ‘Attiya, avant de conclure : « On va essayer également de trouver une certaine formule de coopération entre tous les aceurs qui opèrent au centre-ville pour garantir la durabilité du développement du Caire khédivial ». (Aliaa Al-Korachi, « Questions autour de la rénovation du centre- ville », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017).

‘Umar Nagâgtî. (© Bassam Al-Zoghby) L’architece ‘Umar Nagâgtî est l’une des fgures incontournables du centre-ville et du laboratoire d’études urbaines, Cluster Cairo. Il nous laisse visiter la librairie spécialisée de sa fondation et nous fait redécouvrir le Downtown avec ses yeux d’expert.

Durant une conversation avec l’architece Nagâgtî, nous survolons les terrasses du centre-ville, ainsi que ses passages, ses cinémas, ses bars et ses studios de photographie. On passe ainsi par le roof de l’hôtel Carlton, fondé par une société suisse en 1935, par le bar en plein air du Lotus, installé sur la terrasse d’une pension classique qui date des années 1950, par les passages de Kodak, Philips et Tawfîqiyya. On va du centre à la périphérie, et vice-versa, pour en souligner les aspecs de l’informalité ou analyser l’hétérogénéité sociale d’un point à l’autre. « L’informalité ne se limite pas à la périphérie ou à la ceinture de quartiers champignons encerclant la ville. Les communautés les plus luxueuses ont besoin de services fournis par des chauffeurs, des portiers, des voituriers… Ces derniers ont besoin à leur tour de boire un thé par exemple, donc, on installera un petit café de fortune, dans le coin, un logement avec les moyens du bord, pour habiter non loin de son lieu de travail et ainsi de suite. D’où les divers aspecs de l’informalité et les grappes d’agglomérations sans nom, que l’on peut détecer autour des compounds entourés de hauts murs, à la périphérie de la métropole, comme en plein centre-ville, avec les magasins qui débordent sur le trottoir ou les marchands ambulants et les voituriers du marché Tawfîqiyya », indique Nagâgtî, qui a étudié et enseigné à l’University of British Columbia, à Vancouver, et à l’University of California, à Berkeley, et dont les études supérieures ont porté sur l’usage informel de l’espace public. « Les gens s’organisent différemment dans ces cas. L’espace est régi à travers des règles alternatives, établies par un réseau complexe de différents aceurs locaux, allant de bas en haut ; nous essayons donc d’en déchiffrer les codes », explique-t-il. « Les passages du centre-ville, par exemple, constituent un lieu idéal pour examiner l’interférence du public et du privé, dans un même espace. Ils nous permettent de redécouvrir la ville de l’intérieur vers l’extérieur. On s’introduit ainsi dans la ville par la cuisine, et non pas par le salon où l’on reçoit d’habitude les visiteurs », ajoute l’architece pour expliciter son point de vue, mais aussi la démarche de Cluster Cairo, le laboratoire d’études urbaines qu’il a fondé en 2011, avec sept autres chercheurs et architeces, adoptant tous une même approche pluridisciplinaire. Le laboratoire a d’ailleurs commencé ses acivités, quelque six mois après la révolution du 25 janvier, par une documentation sur les changements urbanistiques qu’a subis Le Caire, en période postrévolutionnaire, notamment en l’absence de toute surveillance sécuritaire. De plus, il a inventorié l’ensemble des initiatives culturelles qui ont émergé durant la même époque, lorsque tout le monde avait l’impression de se réapproprier la ville, chacun suivant son champ d’acion et ses compétences.

Des locaux lumineux, ouverts sur le reste du Caire. (© Bassam Al-Zoghby) Dans cet esprit, ont été lancées aussi d’autres initiatives urbaines, à l’instar de la plateforme Mugawra et la revue Cairo Observer. « On s’entretenait régulièrement, dans un premier temps, avec ceux-ci et tous les autres, présents sur le terrain, chacun selon ses points d’intérêt. On collaborait, sans avoir de partenariat officiel. Aujourd’hui, c’est différent. Les rencontres se font de plus en plus rares. Nous ne sommes plus à la phase des transformations révolutionnaires, mais plutôt à celle de la réforme et du changement progressif. Il faut donc aller, de bout en bout, suivant des taciques intelligentes pour réaliser de petits succès. C’est notre modus operandi, à l’heure acuelle », dit Nagâgtî. « Il y avait une raison politique et urbaine, justifant le lancement de ces initiatives. La révolution était aussi d’ordre urbain, les gens s’insurgeaient contre l’injustice urbanistique et les politiques de marginalisation adoptées par le gouvernement, lesquelles ont mis à l’écart les deux tiers des habitants du Caire, appartenant au seceur informel. L’État a abandonné son rôle ; il y a eu beaucoup de pression sous l’effet du néolibéralisme, et d’un coup, l’explosion. Les manifestants se sont déchaînés d’abord dans les rues de la capitale et sur les places, ensuite ce fut l’insurrecion générale ».

Ces jours lointains, passés en liesse à la place Tahrîr, évoquent chez les uns une nostalgie aussi vive que celle hantant d’autres lorsqu’il est question d’aborder « la belle époque » du Caire khédivial. Dans les deux cas, l’idéalisation et la généralisation sont de mise. Par exemple, on a tendance à glorifer le bon vieux temps et l’âge libéral d’avant 1952, alors que le centre-ville cairote, à l’époque, était très stratifé, voire interdit à certaines couches de la société. De même, on accorde à la place Tahrîr une haute valeur symbolique, alors qu’en réalité celle de Tal‘at Harb est beaucoup plus centrale pour le Dowtown. « Tahrîr a un poids historique, étant bordé de plusieurs organes politiques importants. En quelque sorte les leviers de l’État. Mais ce n’est pas le plus important sur les plans urbain et géographique. On penche souvent vers la romantisation du Caire khédivial, alors que je préfère l’appeler le centre-ville, pour insister sur son côté pluriel, à l’opposé du caracère exclusif du Caire khédivial », fait remarquer Nagâgtî, pour qui les artistes peuvent jouer le rôle de catalyseurs, afn de développer le centre-ville de manière plus sensible, à même d’inclure tout le monde. D’où la collaboration étroite qui se fait entre Cluster Cairo, les artistes indépendants et les propriétaires d’Art House comme Zawya ou Cimathèque. « L’art respire la diversité. Il nécessite d’aller à la rencontre des gens pour créer. L’artiste est un aciviste, de par sa nature. Il fait appel au changement. Donc ce n’est pas par hasard qu’ils étaient en premier, à la place Tahrîr, durant les 18 jours de la révolution et qu’ils étaient à l’origine de la redécouverte du centre-ville vers le début des années 2000, avec l’émergence des troupes dites indépendantes et de l’art alternatif. Et ce, après les trois décennies de négligence et de régression qu’a connues le centre-ville, depuis l’ouverture économique sous Sâdât ». Pour l’architece, c’est grâce à eux que le centre-ville est redevenu un lieu à la mode. Et c’est souvent avec eux qu’il travaille, afn de réaménager certains espaces, comme les passages, pour accueillir des expositions de livres ou d’art visuel, des performances, des marchés hebdomadaires, etc. En même temps, Cluster Cairo envisage de transformer les terrasses des maisons en des pôles d’attracion économiques. L’idéal serait de travailler sur un immeuble type, donc réaménager le passage en bas du bâtiment ancien ainsi que sa terrasse, sans porter atteinte à la vie quotidienne de ses habitants. Cela peut sans doute s’intégrer au sein du plan de réhabilitation acuel, appliqué par le gouvernement, mais aussi par certaines entreprises privées. « L’essentiel est de ne pas susciter d’antagonisme, d’aboutir à un consensus ou à un terrain commun, avec les habitants, les municipalités ou autres parties gouvernementales, avec le seceur privé, etc. qui doivent tous se sentir concernés par notre projet. C’est ce qu’on appelle de la diplomatie urbaine. Par exemple, en travaillant sur les passages de Kodak et Philips, en s’entretenant avec les habitants, il y avait des idées et des appréhensions contradicoires : certains ne voulaient pas placer des bancs publics devant leurs échoppes pour que les amoureux ne s’y installent pas, d’autres réclamaient d’avoir une sorte de parasol pour faire la prière à l’ombre. C’était à notre équipe de designers de trouver une solution et de négocier : vous me laissez faire ceci, en échange de cela », raconte Nagâgtî, toujours à la recherche d’un point d’intersecion entre les divers protagonistes, afn de rendre son centre-ville à la portée de la main. Un centre-ville qu’il ne cesse de cartographier, de réinventer et de faire découvrir aux autres, à travers des visites thématiques guidées, des conférences ou des publications. (Dalia Chams, « ‘Umar Nagâgtî :

Il nous faut de la diplomatie urbaine », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017).

Suhayr Zakî Hawwâs Passionnée du centre-ville du Caire auquel elle a consacré sa vie professionnelle, auteure de la première encyclopédie sur Le Caire khédivial et également professeure d’architecure et de design urbain à la faculté de Polytechnique de ‘Ayn Shams, Suhayr Zakî Hawwâs a participé au projet de réhabilitation du centre- ville. Entretien. Al-Ahram Hebdo : Quand et comment l’idée de rénover Le Caire khédivial a-t-elle surgi ? Suhayr Zakî Hawwâs : L’idée de rénover le centre-ville du Caire appartient à l’ingénieur Ibrâhîm Mahlab, quand il était Premier ministre, elle remonte à 2013. Avant de quitter son poste, il m’a confé la tâche de participer à ce projet avec M. Galâl al-Sa‘îd, qui était alors gouverneur du Caire, ainsi que d’autres personnalités. Les travaux ont concrètement commencé en 2015. J’ai été chargée de travailler sur le développement et la rénovation de la place ‘Urâbî, rue al-Alfî, la place ‘Âbidîn avec ses bâtiments, à Bâb al- Lûq, les immeubles khédiviaux situés rue ‘Imâd al-Dîn et rue Shawarbî. Ces rénovations ont pris fn en 2015. Mais vu la dégradation de la rue al-Alfî, on a dû la refaire et elle a été inaugurée en juillet dernier. — Quelle est la conception du projet de rénovation ?

— Quand on parle projet, on pense à une date qui a un début et une fn. Ce n’est pas le cas pour celui-là. Ici, les choses sont différentes. Il n’est pas question de refaire des rues et des places ou de rénover un bâtiment

ou de restaurer des motifs décoratifs d’un immeuble. Pas du tout. Mais c’est tout une conception différente, une vision futuriste de la région. Le but de ce projet est de revoir le centre-ville du Caire comme il était dans les années 1930 et 1940. C’était l’âge d’or de cette région. En fait, on est encore au début et la restauration n’est que la première étape du projet. Bien qu’on ait terminé la rénovation de plusieurs rues, je considère que tout ce qui a été fait jusqu’à présent n’est que le point de départ. C’est toute une vision à accomplir. C’est un projet infni. — Vous donnez là l’impression que c’est un mégaprojet, avec plusieurs objecifs et visions. Comment donc atteindre ce but ?

— Il faut une sensibilisation culturelle des habitants pour qu’ils puissent valoriser la beauté esthétique et patrimoniale de tout ce qui se trouve autour d’eux. Il faut leur montrer une qualité de vie différente sans pollution visuelle et auditive. Il faut remettre en place les cinémas, les salles de théâtre, les ateliers d’art. C’est avec une vie culturelle de qualité que tout peut changer, c’est ce qui va attirer la société dite cultivée à se rendre au centre-ville, et c’est le seul moyen de rehausser cette région.

— Quelles sont les entraves que vous avez affrontées lors de l’exécution du projet ?

— Le fnancement est le problème majeur que nous affrontons. L’Union des banques participe avec une grande part au fnancement. Et dernièrement, un comité national à été formé sous l’ordre du président de la République avec pour but de préserver le patrimoine du Caire et de rechercher des ressources de fnancement pour le projet.

Autre problème aussi, les gens eux-mêmes : les propriétaires des magasins qui décorent les devants de leurs magasins à leur guise, les cabinets de médecins, ou les bureaux qui mettent des plaques de différentes dimensions et couleurs qui gâchent la beauté des immeubles. Le problème c’est que les gens ne respecent pas le règlement. Les responsables de la municipalité doivent appliquer les lois avec plus de vigueur.

— Vous avez évoqué les problèmes que vous avez rencontrés avec les gens eux-mêmes. Cela veut-il dire que les habitants sont réticents vis-à-vis de ces rénovations ?

— Au début, ils résistaient à tout changement, mais avec le temps et les travaux qu’ils ont vu avancer, ils ont commencé à accepter ce que nous faisons, surtout que le gouvernement est devenu plus stric dans l’application de la loi. Cela était clair pour eux avec l’évacuation des vendeurs ambulants qui envahissaient les trottoirs du centre-ville. En vérité, les habitants deviennent de plus en plus non seulement compréhensifs mais très souvent coopératifs.

Il faut savoir que la société civile a aussi un rôle très important à jouer avec les citoyens, notamment les sensibiliser à l’importance et la beauté des endroits qui les entourent. Il y a la société Cluster Cairo, il y a aussi le journal mensuel Mantiqtî (mon quartier) dont le contenu est très intéressant et qui travaille sous la supervision du National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH).

— Quel est le rôle de la compagnie al-Ismaelia for Real Estate dans les travaux de rénovation ?

— C’est une compagnie très consciente de la conception et la vision des travaux que nous cherchons à établir. Depuis à peu près 10 ans, elle a commencé à acheter des immeubles pour les rénover et les réutiliser en exploitant leur valeur patrimoniale. Aujourd’hui, elle possède près de 22 immeubles, et elle a mis un plan de développement. On s’est entendu avec elle sur les priorités des travaux. Et on coopère ensemble.

— Pourquoi le centre-ville est-il arrivé à cet état de décadence ?

— Quand j’ai commencé mon projet sur la documentation du centre-ville, j’ai réalisé comment le gouvernement d’après la Révolution de 1952 a marginalisé ce trésor patrimonial et historique. Des palais ont été transformés en écoles publiques, des bâtiments d’une grande valeur esthétique ont été nationalisés, aucune restauration n’était faite pendant des années. Cela sans oublier la

loi sur les loyers qui a causé une forte dégradation des immeubles puisque leurs propriétaires ne pouvaient pas faire leur maintenance. Même les grands magasins ont été nationalisés, les étrangers ont quitté le pays, les habitants originaux du centre-ville ont dû quitter et une classe sociale importante a commencé à disparaître. Toutes les circonstances ont contribué à la dégradation de ce trésor patrimonial du centre-ville. — Ce n’est pas en fait la première fois que vous travaillez sur Le Caire khédivial, cela remonte à bien longtemps. Comment avez-vous commencé les travaux sur le centre-ville ?

— Cela remonte aux années 1990. C’était un rêve mutuel avec mon père, son but était de revivifer la beauté d’antan du centre-ville du Caire et son image civilisée qui faisait sa gloire dans les années 1930, de sorte que Le Caire avait été choisi, à cette période, parmi les 10 plus belles capitales du monde. Mon père Zakî Hawwâs, ingénieur à la faculté de Polytechnique de ‘Ayn Shams avait son bureau au centre-ville.

Et en 1996, le comité général de planifcation urbaine a lancé un projet pour rehausser le niveau urbain du Caire. Mon père a remporté le projet du centre-ville qui était de trois phases. Après sa mort en 2000, j’ai pris en charge de poursuivre le projet que j’ai terminé en 2001. C’était un projet sur des études architecurales, urbanistes et de planifcation ayant pour but d’essayer de relever le statut urbanistique du centre-ville. Plus tard, en août 2004, on a créé National l’Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH) par un décret présidentiel, j’étais l’une des fondatrices de cet organisme. L’encyclopédie que j’ai préparée en 2002 a attiré l’attention des responsables de l’importance de promulguer une loi préservant ce patrimoine marginalisé. Ainsi, la loi 44/2006 a été promulguée pour enregistrer sur la liste du patrimoine des bâtiments qui ne sont pas des monuments, mais qui ont des aspecs particuliers. Que ce soit des endroits reliés à des événements historiques, ou à des personnages importants pour en faire un site de visite ou un endroit à caracère architecural ou urbain particulier.

Suite à cette loi, près de 500 bâtiments en Égypte ont été enregistrés en tant que patrimoine. Grâce à cet enregistrement, le centre-ville n’a pas été sujet à l’application de la loi générale, mais il suit les règlements du Haut Conseil de la planifcation et du développement urbain présidé par le Premier ministre. — Et qu’en est-il de votre encyclopédie intitulée Le Caire khédivial ?

— En parallèle avec le projet de mon père, j’ai travaillé sur mon ouvrage qui a fait son apparition en 2002. Bien que j’aie eu beaucoup de difficultés à publier cette encyclopédie, j’ai insisté sur le fait de commémorer la mémoire de mon père. Je suis restée deux ans enfermée pour que cet ouvrage voie le jour. C’est en fait le seul qui existe sur le marché avec tant de détails architecuraux, les motifs des bâtiments et l’historique de chaque rue. Il y a aussi des plans détaillés d’un grand nombre d’immeubles. C’est la première référence presque complète sur le centre-ville du Caire. Avec l’apparition de cette encyclopédie, on a créé le terme du Caire khédivial.

— Alors, c’est à vous que l’on doit la nomination du Caire khédivial ?

— J’ai fait beaucoup de recherches sur cette question. Le khédive Ismâ‘îl a créé la région ismaïlienne qui comprend la place Tahrîr, rue Sulaymân pacha, les places de ‘Ataba et de l’Opéra, son fls, le khédive Tawfîq, a installé la région de Tawfîqiyya au nord de celle ismaïlienne. Ensuite le khédive ‘Abbâs Hilmî II, passionné par l’architecure européenne, a ramené l’architece italien Antonio LASCIAC qui a construit 4 immeubles similaires à la rue ‘Imâd al-Dîn au style baroque et qui ont été nommés immeubles khédiviaux. Et en fait, ce sont ces lieux qui forment le centre-ville du Caire. Il était alors normal d’attribuer au centre- ville la nomination du Caire khédivial, puisque c’est sous les khédives que le centre-ville a été construit. (Hala Fares, « Suhayr Zakî Hawwâs : C’est avec une vie culturelle de qualité que

tout peut changer », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017).

Rihâm ‘Arrâm Rihâm ‘Arrâm, direcrice générale du département de la préservation du patrimoine du Caire, fait le point sur le projet de réaménagement du Caire khédivial. Al-Ahram Hebdo : Le projet de réaménagement du Caire khédivial a commencé en 2014. Où en sont les travaux aujourd’hui ? Rihâm ‘Arrâm : Le but de ce projet est de redonner au Caire khédivial sa beauté d’antan qui dépassait à un moment celle de Paris et de Londres. Le projet a commencé avec l’inauguration du parking de la place Tahrîr qui a résolu le problème de l’encombrement des véhicules. Cette première étape a été suivie de plusieurs autres dont la plus importante était celle d’évacuer les marchands ambulants qui occupaient presque toutes les rues et les places du centre-ville. C’était une étape indispensable. On a essayé de mettre fn au chaos qui régnait partout. Sur un autre plan, on a beaucoup travaillé sur les bâtiments du Caire khédivial pour mettre en avant leur beauté. Pour ce, nous avons eu recours aux urbanistes Suhayr Hawwâs, Galila Al-Qadi et l’architece Sahar ‘Atiyya. Le Caire khédivial est un triangle qui réunit les places Ramsès, Tahrîr et ‘Ataba, ainsi que la région rectangulaire qui comprend les divers édifces ministériels à Qasr al-‘Aynî. Elle comprend aussi les façades des bâtiments de la rue Muhammad ‘Alî, qui longent la rue Hasan al-Akbar jusqu’à la Citadelle, le quartier de Hilmiyya al-Gadîda et les façades de la rue al-Gaysh qui commencent de la place ‘Ataba jusqu’à celle de Bâb al-Sha‘riyya. Mais cette région croise Le Caire fatimide à plusieurs endroits.

— N’avez-vous pas été confrontée à un problème de fnancement ?

— À vrai dire, le gouvernorat, seul, ne pouvait pas assumer le coût du projet. Nous avons eu recours au seceur bancaire et aux sociétés d’assurance.

— Pensez-vous que le projet ait réalisé ses objecifs ?

— Je pense que le projet se déroule de manière satisfaisante. Le Caire khédivial a retrouvé sa splendeur d’autrefois. Nous avons étudié chaque endroit et examiné ses besoins. Certains lieux exigeaient de nouvelles infrastrucures. C’est le cas de la rue Sérail al-Azbakiyya qui a été dallée après le renouvellement de son infrastrucure. Quant aux bâtiments patrimoniaux, ils ont été restaurés. Les couleurs des édifces ont été analysées, les surfaces préparées afn d’utiliser les matériaux d’origine, les ornements ont été nettoyés et soumis à une restauration fne. Les arches et les balcons ont été complétés. Toutes ces étapes ont été photographiées et documentées. Le réaménagement du Caire khédivial est en effet un énorme projet.

— Concrètement, qu’est-ce qui a été fait jusqu’à présent ?

— Une partie des travaux est aujourd’hui achevée. Elle comprend le parking de la place Tahrîr, la création d’une nouvelle promenade sur la corniche qui commence au niveau du pont du 15-Mai et se prolonge jusqu’à celui de Qasr al-Nîl. Il y a aussi le réaménagement de la rue al-Alfî qui vient d’être inaugurée il y a deux semaines, celle-ci est devenue une rue stricement piétonne.

Nous avons restauré jusqu’à présent 200 bâtiments environ. Les places ‘Âbidîn, Qulalî, Bâb al-Lûq ont également été réaménagées, sans oublier la rue Shawarbî qui a été munie de banquettes pour les piétons et dont l’infrastrucure a été renouvelée. Les travaux ont coûté jusqu’à présent 100 millions de L. E. Nous travaillons en ce moment sur la rue du 26-Juillet. Et au cours de la prochaine étape, nous travaillerons sur les bâtiments de la rue ‘Adlî, la rue Tal‘at Harb et la rue Clot Bey, ainsi que sur les places ‘Ataba et Opéra. (Doaa Elhami, « Rihâm ‘Arrâm : Le Caire khédivial retrouvera sa beauté d’autrefois », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017).

Muhammad al-Tâhir. (© Bassam Al-Zoghby) Muhammad al-Tâhir, membre délégué de la société al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment, estime que le centre-ville possède beaucoup d’atouts, et que réhabilitation et investissements ne sont pas contradicoires. Al-Ahram Hebdo : Voilà déjà 9 ans que vous avez lancé votre entreprise. Pourquoi choisir précisément la région du centre-ville pour investir ? Et comment faire des bénéfces tout en ayant comme objecif une rénovation urbaine ? Muhammad al-Tâhir : Tout a commencé en 2008 quand un groupe d’investisseurs égyptiens et arabes, amoureux du centre-ville, a été animé par l’idée de redonner vie à cette région qui représentait un jour un centre culturel et commercial le plus vital du pays. Le choix même du nom de la société d’al-Ismaelia a été inspiré par l’endroit puisque au départ, le centre-ville a été nommé Ismaelia en référence au khédive Ismâ‘îl, celui qui a conçu et décidé d’ériger cette région. La vision de l’entreprise était alors d’acheter les bâtiments à caracère patrimonial exceptionnel, les rénover sans dénaturer leur style architecural d’origine de l’extérieur aussi bien que de l’intérieur. Les bâtiments restaurés seront réutilisés à des fns administratives, commerciales et résidentielles. Notre entreprise n’est pas la seule dans le monde à avoir entamé un tel projet. Les expériences internationales sont nombreuses concernant la réhabilitation des centres-villes. Il est tout à fait possible de réhabiliter le centre et de tirer des bénéfces économiques de son seceur immobilier à caracère architecurel particulier.

— 9 ans après, quel est le bilan de vos travaux ?

— On possède aujourd’hui environ 22 bâtiments dans le centre-ville, dont les plus célèbres sont celui de Kodak, Viennoise dans la rue Champollion, du cinéma Radio rue Tal‘at Harb. Malheureusement, la situation chaotique qui régnait dans le centre-ville, après la révolution de 2011, avait beaucoup ralenti notre plan d’investissement. Mais, on s’est lancé de nouveau avec force dans le chantier après le 30 juin 2013 grâce aux efforts déployés par le gouvernement pour la délocalisation des vendeurs ambulants et au grand rôle joué par le National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH) pour limiter les infracions contre le patrimoine du centre-ville. Le gouvernement, lui-même, possède aujourd’hui son propre projet de réhabilitation des bâtiments khédiviaux.

— Quels sont les avantages d’investir dans le centre-ville ?

— Le centre-ville a beaucoup d’atouts. En premier lieu, son emplacement géographique dans le centre du pays par lequel passent tous les moyens de transport en Égypte. Deuxièmement, l’architecure et la planifcation urbaine du Caire khédivial sont les plus belles en Égypte. Quant aux avantages économiques, les prix de l’immobilier sont acuellement compétitifs par rapport à d’autres régions au Caire qui possèdent une architecure distinguée.

— Quel est votre plan de réhabilitation des bâtiments khédiviaux ?

— En fait, le plan du développement diffère d’un bâtiment à l’autre, que ce soit dans la durée ou dans la nature même de rénovation, totale ou partielle, puisque chacun d’eux possède un caracère très spécial. La rénovation des façades à l’identique ne nous présente aucun problème. Mais les problèmes

surgissent une fois qu’on commence la rénovation de l’intérieur des immeubles. Notre grand déf devient alors de moderniser l’intérieur de ces anciens bâtiments selon les nouvelles règles d’utilisation, comme installer des climatiseurs, des réseaux téléphoniques, des appareils d’alarme incendie, augmenter la capacité du voltage de l’élecricité, doubler le nombre d’ascenseurs, etc. Tout ceci sans dénaturer la planifcation originale du bâtiment et devenir en même temps rentable. — Parallèlement à la société al-Ismaelia, le gouvernement a lui aussi son plan de restauration.

— À mon avis, les travaux du gouvernement sont passés par deux phases. La première s’est intéressée seulement à rénover les façades des bâtiments, les trottoirs, les passages piétons en leur redonnant leur esthétique d’antan. Cette démarche a été bien en soi puisqu’elle a attiré l’attention des passants qui ont vu qu’il y a quelque chose de nouveau qui se passe dans le quartier. Mais malheureusement, les bâtiments ont perdu plus vite que prévu de leur éclat. En fait, l’absence de la durabilité menace la réussite de tout projet de rénovation, notamment dans le seceur immobilier.

La deuxième phase, c’est à mon avis celle de la vraie prise de conscience. Elle a pris forme avec la création, début 2017, de la commission nationale pour le développement et la protecion du Caire patrimonial. D’une part, celle-ci œuvre à garantir la durabilité des rénovations en posant des règles pour les travaux de maintenance ou des règlements pour empêcher les infracions. D’autre part, cette commission a réussi à devenir un point de liaison et à entamer un dialogue entre les aceurs publics et privés des projets de réhabilitation du centre-ville à travers des réunions périodiques. Ces réunions nous aident à transmettre notre vision de réhabilitation du centre-ville d’une façon plus rapide et plus claire. — Et ce dialogue a-t-il porté ses fruits ? — En fait, ce dialogue est arrivé en retard, mais l’essentiel est qu’il a vu fnalement le jour. Les doutes qui planaient au départ autour du but réel de la création de notre entreprise, comme tentative de la prise du centre-ville, ont été dissipés de la part du gouvernement et des citoyens. Je pense qu’on est aujourd’hui sur la même longueur d’onde avec le gouvernement concernant la vision de la réhabilitation du centre-ville. Et on partage le même objecif. Augmenter la valeur des bâtiments permettra de hausser la valeur de la région du centre-ville et d’attirer plus d’investissements qui se dirigent essentiellement vers les nouvelles cités.

En plus, le gouvernement possède plus de la moitié des bâtiments du centre-ville. Le déménagement des ministères dans la nouvelle capitale va lui poser aussi un grand déf : comment seront réutilisés les bâtiments libérés ? Je pense que le gouvernement va tirer un grand proft des travaux de la réhabilitation de cette zone. (Aliaa Al-Korachi, « Muhammad al-Tâhir : On peut tout à fait réhabiliter le centre, et en tirer des bénéfces économiques », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 septembre 2017).

On Egypt’s Mediterranean coast near the town of Marsa Matrûh stands the Fox Grotto Museum welcoming visitors and summer holidaymakers. After seven years of closure for restoration and development, the museum, the place where German army feld-marshal Erwin ROMMEL, the so-called “Desert Fox,” hid in the area’s cliffs and planned German military operations against the British during World War II, was fnally reopened by Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî and Matrûh governor ‘Alâ’ Abû Zayd this week. ROMMEL was one of Germany’s leading feld commanders in World War II, and he was famous for his courage, determination and leadership. He fought the 12-day Battle of Alamein against the British from 23 Ocober 1942, only to retreat on 4 November in the face of an onslaught by British troops. According to a plaque at the Cave Museum, ROMMEL died in Ocober 1944, having been accused of plotting against the life of German dicator Adolf HITLER and given the choice of either standing trial or quietly committing suicide to ensure the safety of his family. ROMMEL chose the latter course, and his death was announced as having been due to a heart attack. Te cave is located in front of ROMMEL Beach in Marsa Matrûh, and it was originally cut out of the rocky cliffs during the Roman period as a storage space due to its position near an ancient seaport. When the German troops entered al-‘Alamayn, ROMMEL seleced the cave as his headquarters because it was hidden in the cliffs overlooking the harbour. In 1977, the idea of transforming the cave into a museum was launched as a way of paying tribute to ROMMEL’s career. However, the plan was not put into effec until 1988, when it was opened to the public in order to display a collecion of ROMMEL’s personal possessions, many of them donated by his son Manfred, as well as weapons, shells and military equipment used during World War II.

Te museum is not like any other in Egypt, as it is cave-shaped with showcases installed within its walls. Some artefacs are exhibited freely on the rocks.

It contains ROMMEL’s full-length leather coat, clothes trunk, photographs, feld telephone, compass, military attire, maps he drew himself, battle plans and medals he received. Copies of a newspaper produced by ROMMEL’s troops in Africa during the war called al-Wâha (Oasis) are also on display, as well as boxes housing the fles of German soldiers from the time. “Te reopening of the Cave Museum highlights the aim of the Ministry of Antiquities to promote tourism through opening new attracions as well as increasing archaeological awareness among people in general,” al-‘Inânî told the Al-Ahram Weekly. He described the development of the museum as “a positive example of collaboration between the ministry and the governorate. ” Te Matrûh governorate had allocated a budget of LE2. 5 million to restore the cave. “I really appreciate the collaboration as the governorate has provided the required budget to restore the museum, as well as part of the Misr Public Library to establish another museum that will relate the history of Matrûh by displaying artefacs found in the area,” al. ‘Inânî added, saying that the library museum was scheduled to be opened before the end of 2017. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the Museums Secor at the ministry, explained that the collaboration had come within the framework of protocols with all the governorates in Egypt to spruce up delayed restoration work in regional museums and open them to the public. Te Kafr al-Shaykh Museum would be next, she said, as the Kafr al-Shaykh governorate had offered a budget of LE30 million to resume work at the museum. Salâh said that in 2010 the ROMMEL Museum had been closed for restoration and development and closed to the public. However, in April the ministry had resumed restoration work and the conservation of the artefacs in collaboration with the governorate. Te opening hours of the museum will be extended into the evening in order to provide visitors with a night-time option after spending the day at the beach. (Nevine El-Aref, “Fox Grotto reopens”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 7, 2017. Voir également Lamîs al-Sharqâwî, « Le musée ROMMEL suscite l’admiration des habitants de Marsa Matrûh », al-Wafd, 4 septembre). Le Premier ministre, Sharîf Ismâ‘îl, a approuvé l’envoi de 9 pièces archéologiques pour participer à l’exposition "La straordinaria scoperta del Faraone Amenof II", organisée au Museo delle Culture (MUDEC) à Milan du 13 septembre au 7 janvier 2018. Cette décision a été publiée aujourd’hui au Journal Officiel. (MENA, « Le Premier ministre approuve l’envoi de 9 pièces archéologiques pour participer à une exposition en Italie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 septembre 2017. Voir également « Le Premier ministre approuve l’exposition de 9 pièces archéologiques en Italie », al-Wafd, 7 septembre). In the Rawd al-Farag distric in Cairo stands the 19th-century Prince ‘Umar Tûsûn Palace, its architecure largely hidden behind four modern school edifces. Te palace was nationalised after the 1952 Revolution like other former royal palaces and buildings in Egypt, and it was converted into a secondary school. Subsequently it was badly negleced. Te palace was originally built after 1886 and comprises a basement and two upper foors. Te basement has a long corridor leading to the Nile Corniche where a yacht was once docked to transport the prince on his journeys outside Cairo. Te frst foor has a main hall with several chambers to host visitors, a library, dining rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and rooms for servants. Te second foor houses the private rooms of the prince’s family and a special wing for him with separate bathrooms and side rooms.

Te palace has two gardens, the frst outdoors and the second indoors as a small winter garden. Tere is a small extension building once used for storage. Te ceilings of the rooms in the palace are particularly distinguished, being carved in wood and bearing gilded decorative elements. Te palace was registered on Egypt’s Heritage List of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities in 1984, but it was still badly negleced. Several restoration projecs were drawn up, but none was implemented. However, all this is in the past, as today steps towards the palace’s restoration are being taken by the Ministry of Antiquities and Cairo University’s Construcion Engineering Technology Laboratory. Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the palace projec aimed to document it using the latest technology and 3D laser scanning to analyse the architecural and decorative elements of the palace as well as its environment. “Te projec is the frst step towards the palace’s restoration as the information provided will be very useful in pinpointing the best restoration methods and techniques,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said, adding that the projec was being funded by Cairo University’s Science and Technology Development Fund. Information provided by the laser scanning would be used to build up a 3D digital model of the palace in order to fnd the most appropriate and best scientifc methods for its restoration, he said. “Tis is a state-of-the-art technique used internationally in the restoration of monuments in order to obtain high-quality results in a short time,” ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said. Prince ‘Umar Tûsûn was a descendent of the khedive Muhammad ‘Alî on both sides of his family and was born in Alexandria in 1872. He studied business and languages in Switzerland, and after his return to Egypt he was occupied in a wide range of public acivities, which refeced his multi. dimensional personality. He was fond of archaeology and engaged in archaeological research in the area of Alexandria. He found the head of a statue of Alexander the Great in al-‘Aqaba, and in 1933 he stumbled upon the remains of a sunken city in the Mediterranean fve km from the Gulf of Abûqîr. He was the head of the Royal Agricultural Society, a member of the Geographical Society, and the author of “La Géographie de l’Égypte à l’époque arabe,” a multi-volume study of Egyptian geography in the Islamic period. He was also a member of the Arabic Language Academies of Cairo and Damascus and a patron of the University of Cairo, as well as being a founding member of the Sporting Club of Alexandria. Prince ‘Umar Tûsûn was also a committed Egyptian nationalist. He backed the Egyptian Revolution of 1919. He was the patron of many scholarly and educational societies and is said to have personally subsidised hundreds of Egyptian villages. He was the only member of the former royal family to pay much attention to Egyptian farmers. Although a Muslim, prince ‘Umar Tûsûn served as president of the Coptic Archaeological Society, authored a monograph on the Coptic monasteries of Wâdî al-Natrûn, and served as honorary president of the Archaeological Society of Alexandria for more than 40 years until his death in 1944. (Nevine El-Aref, “Documenting the palace”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 7, 2017). In March 2004, I travelled to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor to witness a historic event: the reopening of the tomb of the Pharaoh Ramses VI. Te tomb was reopened after the restoration of the king’s magnifcent inner sarcophagus. As I stood in the valley and the warm wind hit my face, I refeced on this great pharaoh.

Ramses VI was the ffth king of the 20th Dynasty (1156–1145 BCE). He came to the throne after the death of his predecessor, Ramses V, who had ruled Egypt for only one year. Ramses VI ruled for six years and usurped the tomb of Ramses V as his own fnal resting place. He enlarged this rock-cut tomb into one of the largest in the Valley of the Kings, with a series of halls and descending corridors stretching in a straight line for about 100 metres, culminating in a burial chamber 45 metres deep. Te walls of the chamber are decorated with painted scenes and inscriptions from ancient religious texts. Te scenes are taken from the Book of Gates, a description of what is in the underworld, and the Book of Caves, a book that helped the king travel safely to the afterlife. Te king’s mummy was buried inside the stone sarcophagi that had been ftted one within the other and placed within a pit cut in the sunken foor of the burial chamber. Te massive outer sarcophagus is of red granite; the inner one is an anthropoid sarcophagus carved out of a rare hard greenish stone. Both sarcophagi had been broken into pieces centuries ago; the inner sarcophagus had been shattered into hundreds of small pieces. Between June 2001 and 2003, a major conservation projec for the inner sarcophagus of Ramses VI and its lid was carried out by the American Research Centre in Egypt (ARCE), in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). All of the fragments of the inner sarcophagus were colleced, cleaned and re-assembled. Although many pieces were missing, enough had been preserved for the stone box to be partly reconstruced up to its original height, and to give a clear idea of its size and decoration. It is carved with scenes designed to assure the perpetual rebirth of the king through his identifcation with the Sun God Re and with Osiris. It bears traces of paint and now rests on a large limestone base shaped to represent in size and outline the original red granite outer sarcophagus. Tis newly restored sarcophagus gives the visitor the opportunity to see the last surviving remains of the many splendid artefacs that once accompanied the king into his afterlife. Te face of the sarcophagus was taken by English explorers in 1823. Te original is now in the British Museum in London, and a mask was made for the reconstrucion of the sarcophagus in Egypt. I hope that the British Museum will soon return the original to us, because it should be in the tomb and not in the museum. Te tomb of Ramses VI is a magical place, and I hope that everyone will travel to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor to see the beautiful restored sarcophagus and experience the magic and mystery of ancient Egypt. THE TOMB OF AMENHOTEP I: Amenhotep I (1525–1504 BCE) was one of the pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty, but his tomb has not been found in the Valley of the Kings. German archaeologist Daniel POLZ, who once represented the German Institute in Cairo, believes that the king is buried in the cemetery of Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ, where he has been excavating for a long time. Amenhotep I’s tomb is one of the few royal tombs that have never been found, and all the evidence suggests that he was not buried in the Valley of the Kings. When I became secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Andrzej NIWI. SKI, a Polish scholar, came to see me and asked me what my plans were for the following week. When I asked him why, he replied that he was going to fnd an intac tomb and he would like me to accompany him. He was convinced that the tomb of Amenhotep I was in the cliffs of Dayr al-Baharî near the Valley of the Kings. Two years later, I was visiting the area and entered the tomb that housed the cache of mummies discovered by the ‘Abd al-Rasûl family in 1871. Te mummies were transferred to the Cairo Museum in 1881. While I was there, I noticed workmen removing huge blocks of stones from the cliff. I was worried because this is dangerous work that could threaten the Temple of Hatshepsut direcly underneath the workers. I learned that the excavation was under the direcion of NIWI. SKI.

Te SCA immediately stopped the work at this site to ensure the protecion of the temple. I told NIWI. SKI that the work above was dangerous and could ruin the frst level of the temple. He said that he had been about to fnd the tomb when we stopped him. NIWI. SKI found about 250 graffiti in the area, some representing fsh, dogs and human fgures that can be dated to the Pre-Dynastic Period. Five graffiti were found belonging to a scribe named Butehamun from the 21st Dynasty. Earthquakes in the area had shifted the rocks and revealed eight passages behind the temple made by thieves searching for tombs and treasures. It is known that thieves entered the area and reached the bedrock and also investigated the area horizontally. Inside one of the tunnels, more graffiti were discovered. NIWI. SKI found that some of the tunnels were still sealed, showing evidence that this had been done by officials of the cemetery. He thought that the fallen blocks above the Temple of Hatshepsut were not dislodged by earthquakes, but by ancient Egyptian workers who had moved them to hide a cache or a tomb that could belong to Amenhotep I. He also thought that the Abbott Papyrus, an account of tomb robberies now in the British Museum in London, contained evidence that the tomb of Amenhotep I was located in this area because the names Mentuhotep and Amenhotep are mentioned. Tese things had convinced him that here was something important buried there. NIWI. SKI was convinced that he would fnd the tomb. When we stopped the work above the temple, we felt we had no other choice because it seemed the search was useless, and there were concerns about the damage being done to the cliff. However, the SCA decided to give him one last chance. Tis time he would have specialists working with him trained in excavation techniques. Tis was NIWI. SKI’s last chance, and we hoped he would discover something that would always be remembered. NIWI. SKI never found the tomb, but he still hopes to fnd it. Although I am not optimistic, we never know what secrets the sands of Egypt may hide. (Zâhî Hawwâs, “Ramses VI and Amenhotep I”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 7, 2017).

Une équipe expérimentée de restaurateurs du ministère de l’Archéologie, présidée par la spécialiste Shâdya Ahmad, se penche acuellement sur la restauration du mausolée de ‘Alî Zayn al-‘Âbidîn, situé dans le quartier de Sayyida Zaynab. Cette intervention, qui durera 60 jours, a été fnancée par un mécène privé. Une grande célébration sera organisée à la fn des travaux. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Achèvement dans 60 jours de la restauration du mausolée de ‘Alî Zayn al-‘Âbidîn », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 8 septembre 2017).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a dévoilé que son ministère emploie 37 000 salariés pour un budget mensuel de 80 millions de livres égyptiennes. Le ministère assume seulement 50 % des salaires, alors que le gouvernement et le ministère des Finances en assument le reste. al-‘Inânî a rappelé qu’avant la révolution du 25 janvier 2011, le Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA) réalisait des gains d’environ 1 milliard L. E. et que la vente des billets d’accès aux musées et autres sites historiques couvrait les salaires. À présent, le budget du CSA est défcitaire à cause de la chute du tourisme, conclut al-‘Inânî. (« Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Nos gains se chiffraient à 1 milliard L. E. avant la révolution », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 10 septembre 2017. Voir également Umniya Fawzî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Les salaires mensuels des employés sont de 80 millions L. E. , alors que nos revenus ne dépassent pas les 50 millions », al-Fagr, 10 septembre).

al-‘Inânî delivers his speech at the Petit Palais In a gala ceremony held on Tuesday night at the Petit Palais in Paris, Egypt’s embassy in France celebrated the 200-year anniversary of the discovery of the Abû Simbil temples. Te ceremony was attended by French elites, the French minister of Defence, and a number of foreign ambassadors in Paris. During the ceremony, Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities, Khâlid al-‘Inânî, delivered a speech relating the history of the temple salvage operation in collaboration with UNESCO, in 1962 during the building of the High Dam. He also highlighted the archaeological value of both temples and the efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to preserve the country’s heritage and to speed up all archaeological projecs put on hold in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution. At the end of his speech, Khâlid al-‘Inânî invited the attendees and all French citizens to visit Egypt and to explore and admire its unique heritage. A replica exhibition was held on the margins of the ceremony, where a replica of King Tutankhamun’s chariot and models of both Abû Simbil temples were displayed.

Also on display were bronze busts of three people who played a major role in the Nubia salvage operation: minister of culture during the salvage operation Tarwat ‘Ukâsha, Egyptologist Silîm Hasan, and French Egyptologist Christiane DESROCHES NOBLECOURT. Tese busts were created by the antiquities ministry’s replica producion unit and were borrowed by the foreign ministry for the celebration. Te busts will be returned to their original displays at the Abû Simbil Visitor Centre after the exhibition is closed. Tarwat ‘Ukâsha (1921-2012) participated in many cultural heritage projecs, especially rescuing the Abû Simbil temples. He played a pivotal role in the international campaign to save the monuments of Nubia. Silîm Hasan (1893 -1961) was the head of the Egyptian mission, which evaluated the impac of the construcion of the High Dam on the monuments of Nubia. He published many reports and much research on the topic. Christiane DESROCHES NOBLECOURT (1913. 2011) was the frst French woman to lead an archaeological excavation (in 1938). She was also known for making an appeal for international support to save the monuments of Nubia. She is the author of many publications on Egyptian civilisation. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian embassy in Paris celebrates bicentennial of Abû Simbil temple discovery”, Ahram Online, September 13, 2017. Voir également Ahmad al-‘Isâwî, « Grande célébration pour fêter le 200e anniversaire de la découverte d’Abû Simbil », al-Shurûq, 13 septembre ; MENA, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : La France était un partenaire principal dans le sauvetage des temples de Nubie », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 13 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Célébration à Paris du 200e anniversaire de la découverte d’Abû Simbil », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 13 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie participe à Paris à une célébration du sauvetage des temples d’Abû Simbil », Sada al-Balad, 13 septembre ; “Paris hosts Egypt’s celebration of Abû Simbil relocation anniversary”, Egypt Independent, September 14 ; Sahar Diyâ’, « L’ambassade d’Égypte à Paris célèbre le bicentenaire de la découverte du temple d’Abû Simbil », al-Wafd, 15 septembre ; Îmân Shawqî, « L’ambassade d’Égypte à Paris célèbre le bicentenaire de la découverte du temple d’Abû Simbil », Watanî, 15 septembre).

Entretien avec Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, chef du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère

des Antiquités. Al-Ahram Hebdo : Les découvertes archéologiques se succèdent à Louqsor. Croyez-vous que Dirâ‘ Abû al- Nagâ puisse révéler d’autres secrets ? Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî : Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ est une nécropole encore vierge qui cache des trésors archéologiques importants. C’est un site fertile où l’on a découvert des tombes de nobles et de ministres, surtout ceux de la XVIIIe dynastie pharaonique, et qui renferme encore plus de secrets. Nos missions archéologiques travaillent pour les déchiffrer. — Est-ce le cas des autres sites à Louqsor ? — En plus de cette nécropole, on peut aussi citer al-‘Asâsîf, al-Qurna et le village de Qurnat Mura‘î, toujours à Louqsor. Ces sites n’ont pas encore dévoilé tous leurs secrets. Les travaux s’y poursuivent afn de les mettre au jour. — Vous attendez-vous à de nouvelles découvertes à Louqsor ?

— J’espère… Je crois que la vallée des Rois et celle des Reines nous cachent encore beaucoup de choses. Les archéologues, surtout les Égyptiens, fouillent jour et nuit ce site. On attend une bonne surprise dans le futur proche, qui va certainement éblouir le monde.

— Pourquoi insistez-vous sur le fait de dire « les archéologues égyptiens »?

— L’Égypte a toujours ouvert la porte à toute coopération avec les missions archéologiques étrangères, car il est difficile pour un seul pays de fouiller, restaurer et maintenir ce grand nombre de sites archéologiques. Mais les Égyptiens sont des experts et adorent leurs antiquités. En plus, ils représentent entre 60 et 70 % de n’importe quelle mission étrangère opérant en Égypte. Donc, ils ont l’expérience nécessaire dans le domaine des fouilles, de la restauration et de l’aménagement du patrimoine.

— Le gouvernorat de Louqsor a fnancé les récentes fouilles archéologiques, ainsi que les travaux de restauration des sites. Qu’en est-il des autres gouvernorats ?

— Les responsables en Égypte sont conscients de l’importance des fouilles archéologiques, ce qui fait que les gouverneurs coopèrent avec le ministère des Antiquités d’une façon ou d’une autre, chacun selon son budget ou ses priorités. Par exemple, on ne peut pas comparer Louqsor, qui est un site archéologique important qui dépend essentiellement du tourisme culturel, à une ville balnéaire comme Hurghada ou Sharm al-Shaykh.

— Au début de cette année, le ministre des Antiquités a promis que 2017 serait l’année des découvertes. Êtes- vous pour ou contre cet avis ?

— Bien sûr, 2017 est l’année des découvertes archéologiques en Égypte par excellence. Rappelons l’exceptionnelle découverte de la statue de Matariyya, au Caire, ainsi que les tombes de Minyâ, de l’oasis de Dâkhla, de Louqsor, ou encore le sol

en mosaïque d’Alexandrie. Bien que l’Égypte dévoile chaque jour de nouveaux secrets, au cours des six dernières années, le travail s’est presque arrêté. Cette année, les travaux de fouille ont repris et d’importantes découvertes ont été faites et ont attiré l’attention du monde entier. On vous promet encore de nouvelles découvertes tout aussi précieuses. — Comment évaluez-vous l’importance des récentes découvertes ?

— L’important est que l’Égypte ait pu récemment montrer une image positive au monde entier et a pu attirer les regards à nouveau sur ces trésors archéologiques inestimables. Bien que les nouvelles découvertes ne soient pas aussi grandes que les anciennes, je ne nie pas qu’avec le nouveau ministre, notre discours avec le monde a beaucoup évolué. Nous disons aux touristes : Visitez l’Égypte pour découvrir les secrets de sa civilisation et admirer ses trésors inestimables. Vous êtes toujours les bienvenus sur la terre des pharaons. (Nasma Réda, « Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî : 2017 est vraiment l’année des découvertes archéologiques en Égypte », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 septembre 2017).

Te place: Kibâsh Road in Luxor, the event: a grand inauguration ceremony, the timing: the beginning of next year, attendees: world’s leading archaeologists, intellecuals, local and international media, and Pharaonic civilization fans. Te Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî announced the inauguration of the Kibâsh Road which links the Karnak and Luxor temple complexes on Friday September 8 while inspecing the site of the projec. Te projec is an attempt to return the Kibâsh Road to its former glory of about 5,000 years ago at a cost of LE240 million. Karnak Road is the largest archaeological projec in the Middle East. With the inauguration of the Road, Luxor will become the largest open museum in the world. Te projec experienced fnancial and administrative obstacles that caused its suspension for over a year and a half that were solved in coordination between Luxor governor and the ministries of Antiquities and Tourism. Kibâsh Road will change the tourism map in Luxor and all of Egypt, al-‘Inânî said on Friday. It is the largest walkway for thousands of years of 2,700 meters long, where hundreds of famous archaeological statues are lined up on its two sides, he added. (“Kibâsh Road inauguration anticipated beginning of 2018”, Egypt Independent, September 13, 2017. Voir également Muhammad al-Samkûrî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le gouverneur de Louqsor inspecent le dromos », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 8 septembre ; Shams Yûnis, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece les travaux du Dromos », Sada al-Balad, 8 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le gouverneur de Louqsor inspecent le dromos », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 9 septembre ; Haggâg Salâma, « Grâce au dromos, Louqsor deviendra le plus grand musée à ciel ouvert au monde », al-Wafd, 11 septembre).

Despite the heat wave that hit Luxor on Saturday last week, hundreds of Egyptian, Arab and foreign journalists, the crews of TV channels and photographers, as well as foreign ambassadors to Egypt, focked to the Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ necropolis on the west bank of the Nile to explore the newly discovered tomb of the goldsmith of the ancient Egyptian god Amun-Re.

Painted wooden sarcophagus with mummy inside Although the tomb belongs to a goldsmith, its funerary collecion does not contain any gold. Instead, it houses a collecion of stone and wood ushabti fgurines of different types and sizes, mummies, painted and anthropoid wooden sarcophagi, and jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones.

Kills found inside the tomb “It is a very important discovery that sheds light on the necropolis’ history and promotes tourism to Egypt,” Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that although the tomb was not in a very good condition because it had been reused in a later period, its contents could yield clues to other discoveries. “It contains a collecion of 50 limestone funerary cones, 40 of which are evidence of the presence of four other official tombs,” al. ‘Inânî asserted. He added that the discovery of the goldsmith’s tomb had come to light in April when the same Egyptian excavation mission had uncovered the tomb of Userhat, a New Kingdom city councillor. While removing the debris from the tomb, excavators had stumbled upon a hole at the end of one of the tomb’s chambers, which had led them to another tomb. “More excavations within the hole revealed a double statue of the goldsmith and his wife depicing his name and titles,” al-‘Inânî said, adding that the fnd was signifcant because of the high number of artefacs found intac in the tomb. In the courtyard of the tomb, he said, a Middle Kingdom burial shaft had been found with a family burial of a woman and her two children. “Te work has not fnished,” al-‘Inânî said, adding that the excavation would continue in order to reveal more of the tomb’s secrets as another hole had been found within the burial shaft that could lead to another discovery. “I believe that due to the evidence we have found we could uncover one, two, or maybe other tombs in this area if we are lucky,” al-‘Inânî said. Luxor Governor Muhammad Badr attended the ceremony as well as MPs, the Greek and Cypriot ambassadors to Egypt, the Chinese cultural attaché and the Swiss head of mission. Mustafa Wazîrî, head of the excavation mission and direcor of Luxor antiquities, said that the tomb had got its number (Kampp 390) as German Egyptologist Frederica KAMPP had registered the tomb’s entrance but had never excavated or entered it.

Wooden ushabti fgurines of the deceased Te tomb, he continued, belongs to a goldsmith named Amenemhat and could be dated to the second half of the 18th Dynasty. It includes an entrance located in the courtyard of another Middle Kingdom tomb numbered Kampp 150. Te entrance leads to a square chamber where a niche with a dual statue depicing the tomb’s owner and his wife is found.

Te statue shows the goldsmith sitting on a high-backed chair beside his wife who wears a long dress and a wig. Between their legs stands a little fgure of one of their sons. Te tomb has two burial shafts, a main one for the tomb’s owner and the second one located to the left of the tomb’s main chamber. Te main shaft is seven metres deep and houses a collecion of mummies, sarcophagi and funerary masks carved in wood along with a collecion of ushabti fgurines. Te second shaft bears a collecion of 21st and 22nd Dynasty sarcophagi, which deteriorated during the Late Period. Wazîrî told the Weekly that in the open courtyard the mission had stumbled upon a collecion of Middle Kingdom burial shafts, among them one that belonged to a family burial where a woman and her two children were unearthed. It includes two wooden coffins with mummies and a collecion of head rests. Early studies on the mummies, he said, had shown that the woman had died at the age of 50 and during her life had suffered from cavities in her teeth that had led to an abscess in her jaws and a bacerial disease in her bones. Studies on the mummies of her two children, Wazîrî continued, had shown that they belonged to two adult males between 20 and 30 years old. Both mummies are in very good condition. “Tis woman probably was in considerable pain as the size of her bones is abnormally enlarged,” osteologist Shirîn Ahmad Shawqî, who studied the bones, told the Weekly. Inside the coffin the headrest of the deceased woman was found, as well as a group of pottery vessels. One of the male mummies shows that he was also suffering from cavities during his lifetime, while the second one was probably put later in the same coffin because the bones are bare.

Archaeologists work on mummies found in the goldsmith’s tomb Archaeologist Muhammad Ba‘bash, a member of the excavation team, said that the mission had stumbled upon several funerary objecs belonging to the tomb’s owner. Among the discovered artefacs were the limestone remains of an offering table, four wooden sarcophagi that were partly damaged and decorated with hieroglyphic texts and scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, and a sandstone dual statue of a trader in the temple of the Pharaoh Tuthmose III named Mah. A collecion of 150 ushabti fgurines carved in faience, wood, burned clay, limestone and mud brick was also unearthed.

not been found,” Wazîrî commented, adding that according to the cones these officials were named Maati, Bengy, Rourou and the vizier Ptahmes. “Questions about these individuals will be answered upon the completion of the excavations,” he said. Te other cones belong to Neb-Amun, a grain harvester and the supervisor of the god Amun’s grain storehouses, whose tomb is probably TT145, and Nebsenu, a high priest of Amun, whose tomb is probably Kampp 143. al-‘Inânî inside the tomb Te Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ necropolis is well. known for its distinguished tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers and officials from the 17th Dynasty to the Late Period. It houses simple burials with few grave goods and the burials of top officials. During the Second Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom, the necropolis was the site of a residence cemetery, as Tebes became the imperial capital and the seat of government.

Weekly, September 14, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « al-‘Inânî annonce la découverte d’une tombe à Louqsor », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 septembre ; Nevine El-Aref, “Amun-Re goldsmith tomb uncovered in Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ necropolis on Luxor’s west bank”, Ahram Online, September 9 ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’une nouvelle tombe pharaonique à Louqsor », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 9 septembre ; “Pharaonic tomb uncovered in Luxor”, Egypt Independent, September 9 ; Shams Yûnis, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : La tombe de Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ appartient à un joaillier nommé Amenemhat », Sada al-Balad, 9 septembre ; Amânî Khayrî, « Le direceur des antiquités de Louqsor révèle la découverte d’une tombe », Watanî, 9 septembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al- Râziq, « Le chef de la mission archéologique de Louqsor raconte les circonstances de la découverte de la tome », al-Wafd, 9 septembre ; Nasma Réda, « Amenemhat se dévoile à Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 septembre).

Lors d’une communication prononcée dans un colloque international organisé à Vienne, la direcrice générale du Musée Égyptien, Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, a passé en revue les principales pièces d’époque préhistorique qui resteront exposées au musée de Tahrîr. Elle a également parlé du réaménagement muséologique des pièces de la salle 55. (Samar al-Naggâr, « La direcrice du Musée Égyptien passe en revue les principales pièces lors d’un colloque international organisé à Vienne », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 septembre 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le développement muséologique au sein du Musée Égyptien exposé lors d’une conférence internationale à Vienne », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 14 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « La direcrice du Musée Égyptien participe à une conférence internationale organisée en Autriche », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 14 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « La direcrice du Musée Égyptien participe à Vienne à une conférence sur la préhistoire », Sada al-Balad, 14 septembre).

Police arrested a man today at Mar Girgis metro station in Old Cairo, on suspicion of stealing an artefac from the Coptic Museum, general-secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Amîn, announced. Amîn told Ahram Online that the alleged criminal was a security guard at the museum, and during his shift he chopped off a wooden decorative element from a door panel from the church of St Barbara. Te man hid the stolen piece inside a plastic bag under his clothes and left the museum after fnishing his shift. Te police arrested him at the metro station, which is a short walk away from the museum. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the museum department within the antiquities ministry, told Ahram Online the case was sent to the general-prosecutor and the stolen item was now in police possession during investigations. (Nevine El-Aref, “Metro station police foil security guard’s attempt to steal artefac from Coptic Museum”, Ahram Online, September 14, 2017. Voir également Khayr Râghib, « Arrestation dans le métro d’un foncionnaire du musée Copte en possession de pièces archéologiques », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 septembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Mise en examen d’un surveillant du musée Copte pour vol d’incrustations », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 14 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le direceur du musée Copte révèle les circonstances du vol des incrustations », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 14 septembre ; Cristina ‘Ayyâd, « Arrestation d’un employé du musée Copte en possession d’antiquités », al-Fagr, 14 septembre).

Détails de la porte de Sainte Barbara Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a déclaré que le vol des incrustations de la porte de Sainte Barbara, exposée au musée Copte, prouve le dysfoncionnement du système sécuritaire. Le gardien ayant commis ce vol et qui a été arrêté hier doit être sévèrement sancionné. Il doit être doublement puni, vu qu’il était responsable de la sécurité des lieux. En plus, ce voleur a sauvagement arraché les incrustations, ce qui a défguré la porte de Sainte Barbara. Toutefois, le laboratoire de restauration et de maintenance se chargera de la remise en état de cette pièce. Dr Amîn a déploré les défaillances du système de sécurité mis en place dans les musées et les sites archéologiques. Une nouvelle stratégie sécuritaire est indispensable, afn de mettre un terme aux pilages, dit-il. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Après le vol commis au musée Copte, le ministère de l’Archéologie révise son système sécuritaire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 15 septembre 2017. Voir également « Les forces de sécurité déjouent une tentative de vol du musée Copte », al-Wafd, 14 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le direceur du musée Copte dévoile les circonstances du vol des incrustations de Sainte Barbara », Sada al-Balad, 14 septembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Arrestation d’un gardien du musée Copte », Watanî, 14 septembre).

Le Metropolitan Museum of Art a acquis un couvercle extraordinaire d’un sarcophage qui remonte à la Ière dynastie. Il sera exposé dans les galeries du musée. Selon le site Artnews. com, ce couvercle est la propriété d’un collecionneur privé et anonyme depuis 1971. Il a été mis en vente par ses héritiers. Ce cercueil porte une inscription de Nedjemankh, prêtre de la divinité Hérichef à tête de bélier dont le culte était répandu en Moyenne-Égypte. L’intérieur de ce couvercle est tapissé de feuilles d’argent, afn de mieux protéger le visage du prêtre. L’extérieur du couvercle est couvert d’or. (Basant Gamîl, « Le Metropolitan Museum of Art acquiert un cercueil datant de la Ière dynastie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 17 septembre 2017). - -

It was back in 1922, upon writing his ‘Alexandria: a history and a guide,’ that E. M. FORSTER wrote, “If one would judge Alexandria by her gardens, one would have nothing but praise. ” Almost a century later, Muhammad Dusûqî, a founding member of Save Alex, a pressure group dedicated to preserving the city’s heritage, fears that the country’s most prominent Mediterranean port city is facing a challenge in preserving its foral wealth as well as its architecural heritage. “Public gardens have always been at the heart of city planning and life in general in Alexandria. Today, this concept is being seriously challenged, as we see a declining interest in preserving gardens, and certainly an attempt to attach parts of municipal gardens to clubs that only serve those affiliated to the power elite,” Dusûqî, who is also the founder of the Walls of Alex blog, said in an interview with Ahram Online. Dusûqî says that many think of preserving Alexandria only in terms of a beautiful but highly eroded architecural history, but only a few give adequate attentions to the botanical heritage of the city. “Tis botanical history is by no means less signifcant than the architecural heritage of Alexandria. In Save Alex, as well as in the Walls of Alex, we voice concern about both issues among other things that relate to the beauty of this harbour city,” Dusûqî said. Most recently, Dusûqî has been campaigning to fght the declining awareness of the city’s botanical wealth. In a series of lecures and articles, this preservation acivist has been sharing information and picures of the long history of four main public parks and gardens in the city; the municipal gardens (better known as al-Shallâlât, or the waterfalls), al-Nuzha (which holds both the zoo and al-Zuhûr fower garden), Antoniadis and al-Muntazah. Tese parks were planted and fourished mostly during the heyday of Alexandria in the second half of the 19th century. Dusûqî notes, however, that the beginning was acually during the reign of Muhammad ‘Alî at the start of the 19th century, when the ambitious and visionary ruler of Egypt decided to dig the al-Mahmûdiyya Canal, which brought the Nile water to Alexandria near the southern entrance to the city, which had been suffering growing neglec. “It was this canal that helped give the city its many acres of exotic botanical wealth, and it has also held a special place in the hearts of those who lived in and loved the city,” Dusûqî said.

Te al-Mahmûdiyya Canal (Photo: Courtesy of Dusûqî’s archive) Dusûqî reminds us that across the al-Mahmûdiyya Canal, there were once beautiful houses surrounded by some exotic gardens. “Tose, however, were so callously removed during the 1950s and 1960s upon the construcion of the city’s industrial zone [under then-president Gamâl ‘Abd al-Nâsir]. ” “Tere is very little left of those once-beautiful gardens,” Dusûqî added. “An exceptionally rich garden that surrounded the mansion of Prince ‘Umar Tûsûn, who was the chair of the agricultural association in the early 20th century, is all gone except for a single and sad Ficus Benghalensis,” he said. Today, as Dusûqî shows in a disheartening photo, this beautiful and old evergreen has been turned into a storage spot for a car workshop.

Ficus Benghalensis in Prince ‘Umar Tûsûn’s garden (Photo: Courtesy of Dusûqî’s archive) “Tis is certainly a crime that should not have been allowed,” Dusûqî said, adding that this would not have been the case if not for “hasty and poorly thought out development planning. ” Dusûqî is now worried about a new development that could contribute to the erosion of the city’s “natural history”; the current plans to fll in the al-Mahmûdiyya Canal as part of a large development scheme. “Apart from the historic signifcance how the canal was dug — as it was the fruit of long and hard labour by Egyptian workers, some of whom literally gave their lives in the process, as others did with the Suez Canal — the al-Mahmûdiyya Canal is part of the history of Alexandria,” Dusûqî argued.

Te al-Mahmûdiyya Canal (Photo: Courtesy of Dusûqî’s archive) He suggested that the digging of this canal was the beginning of a new rise of the city that allowed for waves of migration that opened the door for the city’s boom in the early decades of the 20th century. Dusûqî believes that granting the gardens and public parks of Alexandria a new spirit is possible only with “consolidated effort from pressure groups. Te municipality should not be left to its devices without pressure from civil society. ” Dusûqî says that regaining public gardens and parks has great cultural and even political signifcance, because “ultimately, it is about the acquisition of the public space. ” In the fear that preservation efforts may be in vain, Dusûqî is joining other keen acivists in documenting with picures and maps the gardens and parks of Alexandria. (Dina Ezzat, “Interview: Architec Muhammad Dusûqî on the desperate need to save Alexandria’s parks”, Ahram Online, September 17, 2017).

A British-Egyptian archaeological mission from Cambridge University has discovered a gypsum head from a statue of King Akhenaten during excavation work in Tell al-Amarna in Egypt’s Minyâ governorate. Te head — which is 9cm tall, 13. 5 cm long and 8 cm wide — was unearthed during excavation work in the frst hall of the Great Atun Temple in Tell al-Amarna, secretary. general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Wazîrî told Ahram Online. Wazîrî says the discovery is important because it sheds more light on the city that was Egypt’s capital during the reign of King Akhenaten, the 10th pharaoh of the 18th dynasty whose reign was among the most controversial in ancient Egyptian history. Te Cambridge University mission is led by archaeologist Barry KEMP, who started excavations in Tell al- Amarna in 1977 at several sites including the grand Aten Temple, the al-Ahgâr village, the northern palace, and the Re and Banehsi houses, according to direcor-general of Antiquities in Middle Egypt Gamâl al- Simistâwî. Te mission has also carried out restoration works at the Small Atun Temple and the northern palace. (Nevine El-Aref, “Gypsum head of King Akhenaten statue unearthed in Egypt’s Minyâ”, Ahram Online, September 17, 2017. Voir également Radwa Hâshim, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’une tête d’Akhenaton à Tell al-Amarna », al-Watan, 30 septembre ; « Mise au jour d’une tête de statue d’Akhenaton à Tell al-Amarna », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 30 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nouvelle découverte archéologique révèle les secrets de Tell al-Amarna », Sada al-Balad, 30 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte d’une tête d’Akhenaton à Tell al-Amarna », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 30 septembre).

Dr Mustafa Wazîrî Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a nommé l’acuel secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Amîn, au poste de conseiller du ministre pour les affaires techniques. Par conséquent, l’acuel direceur général des antiquités de Louqsor, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî, le remplacera à la tête du CSA. « Ahmad Mansûr, « Mustafa Amîn nommé conseiller du ministre et Mustafa Wazîrî secrétaire général du CSA », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 18 septembre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Nomination d’un nouveau secrétaire général du CSA », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 18 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Mustafa Wazîrî nommé secrétaire général du CSA », Sada al-Balad, 18 septembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Mustafa Wazîrî nommé secrétaire général du CSA », al-Wafd, 18 septembre). General Administration of Tourism and Antiquities Police referred two suspecs over to prosecution on Sunday for illegally excavating underneath their homes in Cairo and al-Sharqiyya governorates.

An unidentifed 42 year-old man, from the Sayyida Zaynab area in Cairo, and his nephew dug a square- shaped hole to tunnel towards the bottom of Ibn Tûlûn mosque, Direcor of investigation department, Gen Hishâm Qadrî, said. Meanwhile, a jeweller in al-Husaniyya city in al-Sharqiyya was also arrested on charges of illegal excavations underneath his house, along with seven accomplices. Te Tourism and Antiquities Police seized broken archaeological pottery as well as tools used in the dig. In February 2016, three camel vendors were arrested for breaking off pieces of the 4,400-year-old Gîza Pyramid of Menkawre and selling them to the tourists, for a prices ranging between EGP 250 and EGP 5,000. (“Two suspecs arrested over illegal excavation in Cairo and al-Sharqiyya”, Egypt Independent, September 18, 2017).

Les sapeurs-pompiers de Gîza ont réussi à éteindre un incendie qui s’est déclaré mardi dans le musée de la Barque de Chéops. Ce sinistre, qui n’a pas causé de pertes humaines, est dû au tableau élecrique qui alimente la climatisation centrale du musée. Après avoir interrogé le personnel et les responsables de la sécurité du musée, les enquêteurs ont écarté tout soupçon criminel. Le dossier est transmis au Parquet général. (Hamdî Dabsh, « Le musée de la Barque de Chéops vicime d’un incendie », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 18 septembre 2017). L’adjoint du ministre pour les affaires archéologiques, Dr Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, a pris la décision n° 1/2017 visant à réorganiser le travail dans la zone archéologique du Sud Sinaï. La décision porte nomination de Muhammad Badîr Khalîl au poste de direceur des antiquités du Sud-Sinaï et de ‘Awnî Mukhtâr Hasan au poste de direceur des antiquités de Fîrân et d’al-Tawr. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nomination de deux nouveaux direceurs pour les antiquités du Sud Sinaï », Sada al-Balad, 18 septembre 2017).

Te Egyptian Archaeological Unit at Cairo International Airport succeeded to foil an attempt to smuggle Ottoman pistols to Turkey while a unit in Safâgâ Port foiled an attempt to smuggle a collecion of 21 silver coins from the reign of King Fârûq to Saudi Arabia. Hamdî Hammâm, the head of the unit at Cairo International Airport, said the guns were determined to be rare, ancient relics after being examined by experts. One of the guns is 56 centimetres long and consists of a metal handle and a chamber marked with foliage decorations while the two others are 48 centimetres long and consist of a wooden handle, a metal curving with a metal trigger, and a decorated bullet chamber. Te coins are dated to the Ottoman period, the Sultan Husayn Kâmil era and the reign of King Fârûq. (Nevine El-Aref, “Two attempts to smuggle Ottoman pistols and coins foiled”, Ahram Online, September 19, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Échec d’une tentative d’exportation illicite de 21 monnaies d’époque ottomane », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 septembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Les autorités portuaires saisissent 21 monnaies datant des règnes du sultan Husayn Kâmil et du roi Fârûq », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 12 septembre ; « Échec d’une tentative d’exportation illicite de 21 monnaies à travers le port de Safâgâ », al- Wafd, 12 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la saisie de 3 pistolets d’époque ottomane », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 16 septembre ; « Tentative déjouée d’exportation illicite de 3 pistolets antiques vers Istanbul », al-Wafd, 16 septembre).

Louvre museum, designed by French architec Jean NOUVEL, surrounded by sea water. Te Louvre Abu Dhabi opens its doors to the public on November 11, 2017 (Photo: AFP) Te Egyptian cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center has denied media reports that Egyptian Pharaonic antiquities have been sold or smuggled to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In an official statement on Tuesday, the IDSC said that the antiquities ministry has said that Egypt has not sent any antiquities to make a debut at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, set to be officially inaugurated in November. Images have been circulating on social media showing a number of Emirati officials inspecing Pharaonic antiquities inside the museum, raising speculation that Egypt had given up the items. Te ministry clarifed that the antiquities picured were from archaeological collecions already in the Paris Louvre. Te Paris branch of the museum currently includes about 50,000 pieces in its Egyptian collecion, dating from 4,000 BC to the fourth century AD. “Egypt has no right to interfere to stop the antiquities from being presented based on the law,” the IDSC statement added, pointing that the acquisition of any antiquities by international museums was “legal. ” “Te antiquities were transferred outside the country legitimately before the issuing of a 1983 law that banned the trade in antiquities,” the IDSC said, adding that prior to the passing of the law, countries that conduced excavations in Egypt had the right to have a share in the antiquities found. Tis is not the frst series of denials by officials on the issue. On Monday, the head of the Egyptian museums department at the antiquities ministry, Ilhâm Salâh, denied the rumours that the Abu Dhabi items had been smuggled out of Egypt, calling on the media to ensure the accuracy of their reports. Egypt has been making efforts to retrieve smuggled artefacs from foreign countries. It has called upon other countries to prevent illegal exchange, transfer, import or re-export of antiquities within their territories. Te Louvre Abu Dhabi is the result of a 2007 agreement between the UAE and France. (“No unauthorised Egyptian artefacs at Louvre Abu Dhabi: Cairo”, Ahram Online, September 19, 2017. Voir également MENA, « La vérité sur l’envoi de pièces archéologiques égyptiennes aux Émirats depuis 20 ans », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 18 septembre ; « La présidente du département des musées : L’Égypte n’a envoyé aucune pièce archéologique pour être exposée dans le Louvre Abou Dhabi », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 18 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie s’explique sur l’exposition de pièces pharaoniques au Louvre Abou Dhabi », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 18 septembre ; MENA, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie nie l’envoi d’aucune pièce archéologique aux Émirats depuis 20 ans », Sada al-Balad, 18 septembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « La vérité sur la présence de pièces archéologiques égyptiennes au Louvre Abou Dhabi », al- Wafd, 19 septembre ; Wâ’il Sa‘d, « Le gouvernement nie la vente d’antiquités égyptiennes pour être exposées au Louvre Abou Dhabi », al-Watan, 19 septembre ; Yahya Hilmî, « Le gouvernement nie la vente d’antiquités pharaoniques pour être exposées au Louvre Abou Dhabi », al-Fagr, 19 septembre).

Burglars broke into Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha palace Tuesday after they unlocked the office door of the trustees and stole keys for other rooms in the palace. Te committee responsible for inaugurating Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha palace in Shubrâ area, Cairo, announced the break-in. Both Public prosecution and the Tourism and Antiquities Police were notifed to trace the burglars’ fngerprints and initiate investigations on the incident, Chief of Museum Secor at the Ministry of Antiquities, Ilhâm Salâh said. None of the archaeological artifacs in the palace were stolen, Salâh asserted after a preliminary inspecion of the palace. After the prosecution fnishes a full forensic investigation, a committee will start inventory work of the grounds to confrm nothing was stolen, she added. Te Palace of Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha has been a signifcant location in Egypt’s modern history. Alone, it is a rare archaeological masterpiece dating back to 200 years, combining both Western and Islamic art styles. (“Burglars break into Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha palace”, Egypt Independent, September 19, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Fracure des portes du palais Muhammad ‘Alî à Shubrâ et disparition des clés de certaines salles », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 19 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Disparition des clés d’une des salles du palais Muhammad ‘Alî à Shubrâ al-Khayma », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 19 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie révèle les circonstances du vol du palais Muhammad ‘Alî à Shubrâ », Sada al-Balad, 19 septembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Fracure de la porte du palais Muhammad ‘Alî », Watanî, 19 septembre).

Medallions On Wednesday the Museum of Islamic Art will receive a collecion of Ottoman-era Egyptian artefacs that were seized early this week at Cairo International Airport. Te objecs were in the possession of a passenger who was trying to smuggle them to Istanbul. Upon confscation, an archaeological committee led by Hamdî Hammâm, the direcor-general of the antiquities unit at the centre, approved the authenticity of the objecs.

calligraphy, and three 18th and 19th century manuscripts. A round Ottoman tapestry woven in red velvet is also among the seized collecion, as is a collecion of Ottoman medallions and manuscripts. Mamdûh ‘Uthmân, the museum direcor, said that the objecs would be restored and put on special display at the museum. (Nevine El-Aref, “Ottoman-era artefacs seized at Cairo airport to go to Museum of Islamic Art”, Ahram Online, September 20, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le musée d’Art islamique réceptionne des pièces archéologiques saisies à l’aéroport du Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 20 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le musée d’Art islamique réceptionne des pièces archéologiques saisies à l’aéroport du Caire », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 20 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le musée d’Art islamique réceptionne quelques pièces archéologiques saisies à l’aéroport du Caire », Sada al-Balad, 20 septembre). Un projet de développement et de réaménagement de la région de Saqqâra vient de prendre fn cette semaine. C’est dans le cadre de la coopération égypto-française dans le domaine des antiquités que l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD) avait choisi de fnancer ce projet de développement et de sécurisation de la région, en coopération avec le ministère égyptien des Antiquités. Le coût du projet s’élève à 500 000 euros. Le projet qui a commencé en 2010 comprend deux étapes. La première a été achevée entre 2010 et 2013 et consistait surtout à organiser des stages de formation destinés à un groupe de jeunes employés égyptiens opérant auprès du ministère des Antiquités. La première étape consistait également à élaborer un plan de gestion du site de Saqqâra. « Un certain nombre d’inspeceurs ont été formés pour le développement et la gestion des sites touristiques pour améliorer leur performance », explique Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, direceur du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère. Quant à la seconde étape du projet, elle a été faite entre 2013 et 2016. Durant celle-ci, la pyramide d’Ounas a été illuminée de l’intérieur, et plus de 22 panneaux explicatifs ont été installés sur le site pour faire connaître les plus importants monuments de la région de Saqqâra comme la tombe de Ti, les mastabas de Mérérouka et de Kagemni, le complexe funéraire de Djoser, la chaussée d’Ounas, etc. Un grand panneau a été fxé à l’entrée de la région. « La seconde étape comprenait également les mesures sécuritaires et le développement de l’entrée du site avec l’installation d’un portail en fer forgé, d’un guichet de tickets, d’une salle pour les inspeceurs et les forces de police. De plus, des toilettes ont été construites de façon à ce que les connexions d’eau et de drainage sanitaire ne causent aucun dégât pour les monuments », souligne ‘Alâ’ al-Shahhât, vice-président du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes et président du groupe égyptien du projet. Le côté français n’a pas oublié de commémorer le nom du grand égyptologue français Jean-Philippe LAUER, en republiant son ouvrage Les Pyramides de Saqqâra. Les noms de Saqqâra et de LAUER sont inséparables puisque c’est à lui que l’on doit la résurrecion de toute la région de Saqqâra.

Durant l’inauguration, le ministre égyptien des Antiquités, Dr Khâlid al-‘Inânî, a effecué un tour dans la région accompagné de Son Excellence l’ambassadeur de France au Caire, Stéphane ROMATET, ainsi que Stéphanie LANFRANCHI, direcrice du bureau de l’AFD au Caire, Laurent BAVAY, direceur de l’Ifao, et la députée Sahar Tal‘at Mustafa, présidente de la Commission du tourisme au Parlement égyptien. Son Excellence l’ambassadeur de France a affiché sa satisfacion quant à l’accomplissement du projet de développement du site de Saqqâra, qu’il visitait pour la première fois.

Quant à Stéphanie LANFRANCHI, elle a déclaré que le projet était basé sur un don de 500 000 euros, et que le choix de la région de Saqqâra revenait à sa valeur historique, signalant que ce projet était l’un des premiers fruits de la coopération entre l’Égypte et l’AFD, qui a commencé à travailler en Égypte il y a 10 ans. Au cours de sa tournée dans la région, le ministre égyptien a annoncé que l’intérêt accordé aux régions touristiques et l’amélioration des services offerts aux visiteurs égyptiens et étrangers fgurent parmi les priorités du ministère. « Dans certains sites touristiques, les services ont vraiment besoin d’être développés, afn d’attirer plus de touristes pour être à la hauteur des antiquités qu’ils renferment », a-t-il assuré, signalant que le ministère est sur le point d’achever un projet de développement dans la région du plateau de Gîza. « Le projet du plateau de Gîza est fnancé par le gouvernement égyptien avec un coût de 300 millions de L. E. Ce projet sera inauguré pendant la première moitié de 2018 ». (Rana Gohar, « Saqqâra se renouvelle », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 20 septembre 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et l’ambassadeur de France inspecent le projet de développement de Saqqâra », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 16 septembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece le projet de développement et de sécurisation de la zone de Saqqâra », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 16 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece les travaux de développement et de sécurisation du site de Saqqâra », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 16 septembre ; « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Réaménagement du site de Saqqâra et renforcement des mesures de sécurité », al-Wafd, 16 septembre ; Nada Muhammad, « Don français de 500 000 euros pour réaménager la zone de Saqqâra », al-Fagr, 16 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « L’AFD fnance le réaménagement du site de Saqqâra », Sada al-Balad, 17 septembre).

A gathering of journalists and TV crews are scheduled to witness the arrival of a dozen colossal statues at the new Grand Egyptian Museum on Wednesday. Târiq Tawfîq, supervisor general, told Ahram Online that the statues are being transported from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr and include a unique collecion of depicing the fourth dynasty king Khafre, a bust of King Tutmose II wearing the nemes, a red granite statue of goddess Hathor, a colossus head of king Userkaf and two large limestone fragments of the sphinx’s beard.

King Khafre statue Te statues are to be displayed on the museum’s Grand Staircase. ‘Îsa Zaydân, general direcor of the frst aid restoration department at the GEM, said that all the artefacs were subjeced to restoration before packing and a detailed report on their conservation condition was written.

Te experts said that all necessary procedures have been taken to ensure the pieces are transported safely. One technique used for the Hathor statue was an American method, they told Ahram Online, which involves fxing the artefac on a foam base and covering it in Japanese tissue paper. Te museum on the Gîza plateau is scheduled to open at some point in 2018. (Nevine El-Aref, “Batch of colossal statues to be moved to Grand Egyptian Museum on Wednesday”, Ahram Online, September 20, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « De nouvelles pièces archéologiques arrivent au GEM », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 20 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 10 statues colossales arrivent au GEM », Sada al-Balad, 20 septembre). - -

It seems that the shadow cast over Italian-Egyptian relations is about to disappear. Te ambassadors of both countries have returned, and the ancient Egyptians will be spending the autumn in Milan in “Te Extraordinary Discovery of Pharaoh Amenhotep II” exhibition inaugurated last week at the city’s Museum of Cultures (MUDEC). It tells the story of the 18th-Dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep II, son of Tutmose III, the sovereign of a lavish court and heroic central fgure in a rich historical period that historians have baptised a Golden Age. A wonderful display of artefacs and photographs has been carefully seleced from the most important ancient Egyptian collecions in the world for the Milan exhibition. Te Egyptian Museum in Cairo has loaned nine pieces, and other source institutions include the Stichting Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the National Archaeological Museum in Florence, and the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture in Rome. Tese museums and other private collecions have loaned for the occasion statues, weapons, items from daily life at court, burial assemblages and mummies. Te exhibition also sees the collaboration of the University of Milan, which has loaned the original excavation documents for the Pharaoh’s tomb, as well as the collaboration of the Milan civic museums network, in particular the Castello Sforzesco Museum that has provided fnds from its Egyptian collecions while it is temporarily closed for renovation. Te exhibition poster featuring a beautifully carved marble bust of Amenhotep II can be seen everywhere on display in Milan, in the city’s streets, stations, shops and restaurants.

Te MUDEC where the exhibition is being held has been turned into an ancient Egyptian ceremonial arena for the occasion. To the music of harps, young men wearing golden nemes and silver kilts in the ancient Egyptian style with golden collars and belts greet exhibition visitors.

Further inside the exhibition, the atmosphere becomes more dramatic, providing an impressive setting for the granite, limestone, marble, wooden, golden and faience objecs on display. All in all, visitors are taken into a truly epic experience to explore the life and history of Amenhotep II in a succession of poetic dramatisations as well as an audio-visual demonstration. Multi-media shows are used throughout the exhibition rooms, offering an immersive experience that conjures up the ancient Nilotic atmosphere of the Egyptian landscapes of the second millennium BC. Architec Cesare MARI, the designer of the specacular displays, said that the atmosphere had been produced through an ambiance of bright light and semi-darkness, as well as soft. hued, shimmering colours in the exhibition’s various secions. “Blue in different shades is a colour used throughout the exhibition to refec two key moments in the king’s story: his life and death,” he told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said that light blue had been used in the halls displaying the life of the king, while dark blue was used in the halls showing his funerary collecion. In the main area there is a replica of the Pharaoh’s tomb relating its discovery and the mummies’ cachette uncovered inside it by French Egyptologist Vicor LORET.

“Although the replica is built in wood and 20 per cent smaller than the original, it is always in scale,” MARI said, adding that new technology in the form of a “tattoo wall” had been used to decorate the tomb’s walls. “Tis is the frst exhibition on Amenhotep II ever held in Italy,” Patrizia PIACENTINI, holder of the chair of Egyptology at Milan University, told the Weekly. She described the exhibition as a dream come true and an ambition that she had had since 2008 when an exhibition was organised at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo about the discoverer of Amenhotep II’s tomb LORET. “Te opportunity came almost a decade later when the MUDEC decided to bring Egypt to Milan by organising an ancient Egyptian exhibition on this distinguished Pharaoh,” PIACENTINI said. Although he was an important sovereign, Amenhotep II has never before been the subjec of a monographic exhibition, and he is little known to the public at large. “Perhaps it is because he was eclipsed by his famous father Tutmose III,” PIACENTINI said, adding that the documents regarding the discovery of his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1898 were also unknown until 15 years ago. Today, these original documents are owned by the University of Milan, which conserves them in its archives. Te public will be given access to them for the frst time in the exhibition in a “theatrical” context, giving visitors the chance to recall the excitement of the discovery with the reconstrucion of the pillared royal tomb. “Tis immersive experience, focusing on the funerary beliefs of the time and mummifcation, allows the public to enter the sepulchral room to admire the treasures that accompanied the Pharaoh on his journey to the hereafter,” PIACENTINI said. Te artefacs from the tomb not only include the mummy of the Pharaoh himself, but also those of a number of New Kingdom royal fgures that had been hidden inside the sepulchral rooms to protec them from raiders in antiquity. Egypt’s ancient Nile Valley civilisation during the second millennium BC will also come under examination in other secions of the exhibition. Daily life, with the uses and customs of the social classes nearest to the court of Amenhotep II, is also illustrated through jewellery, cosmetics and weapons that show the technological levels reached in this period of ancient Egyptian history.

Te theme of funerary beliefs provides insights into the lengthy and complex duration of this extraordinary ancient civilisation. Te exhibition therefore sets out to inform the public of a double rediscovery: that of the historical fgure of Amenhotep II, and that of the rediscovery of his important funerary collecion unearthed inside his tomb in the Valley of the Kings. PIACENTINI said that objecs on display in the exhibition had been borrowed from the Egyptian Museum, among them a beautiful statue representing the great Pharaoh with strong muscles and a relaxed smile. A second statue depics him as a sphinx, while a third is his official statue showing him sitting on a throne. A black panther statue from his funerary collecion is also among the borrowed items from Egypt, as well as the jed and ankh symbols of life, a painted wooden boat and two painted wooden statues of a goddess in the shape of a winged cobra. Amenhotep II’s classmates from school became top officials during his reign, and some of these are also presented in the exhibition through their funerary collecions. Children will be attraced to the exhibition through its use of lovable cartoon mice in its posters. Francesca CALABRETTA, the organiser of the exhibition, said that its great distincion, devised specifcally for the MUDEC, was that it harmoniously combined academic study with a captivating experience that would immediately engage visitors. Te exhibition runs until January 2018 and is sponsored by the Milan City Council. (Nevine El-Aref, “Remembering a Pharaoh”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 21, 2017). As I always say, we have many ambassadors who well represent their countries in Egypt. Many of them fall in love with Egypt and Egyptians and enter the hearts of people here. When they leave, you can see the tears in the eyes of all their friends. However, we also have another kind of ambassador, one who never understands Egyptians and never tries to help. Te task of such people is only to write reports and get information from some Egyptians who do not really represent the people because they do not love their country. Ambassador Hugo PORTUGAL is one of the frst kind of ambassadors. He is a decent and very kind man, and he has a smile on his face all the time. He loves Egypt, and he has spent his time working for the beneft of his country, Peru, and Egypt. He always looks for an opportunity to help all Egyptians. He supported Mushîra Khattâb for the position of direcor-general of UNESCO, for example, inviting most Latin American ambassadors to meet and support her because he believed that the position should go to an Arab and she was the best placed to represent the Arabs. He believed that Mushîra was the best candidate for the position. During his term as ambassador in Egypt, Hugo used to travel all over the country and enjoyed visiting archaeological sites. As he told me once, “we have pyramids in Peru, but Khufu’s Pyramid captures my heart because of its magic and mystery. ” When I met Hugo, we became good friends at the very frst moment. I discovered that he knew about my relations with Peru and about how I had become a good friend of the country and had received the highest award from the president of Peru, the Order of the Sun. Te story began, as Hugo and I remember, when the Peruvian minister of foreign affairs came to see me when I was head of antiquities in Egypt. Te minister said that he had a problem and that the National Geographic magazine had told him that I was the only one who could help him to solve it. Yale University in the US had borrowed thousands of artefacs from Peru from the excavation of the site of Machu Picchu dating back some 100 years. Te Peruvian authorities had many times asked for the return of these artefacs, but had kept on receiving negative responses. “What can we do,” he asked.

“Mr minister,” I said, “if you do what I tell you, you will receive all the artefacs back within hours of your speech and not even days. Go back to Lima and tell your office to announce that you will hold a press conference concerning the loans to Yale University. In the press conference, you should explain the story and read the contrac signed between the Peruvian government and Yale University. Ten, say that you have decided to take the president of Yale University to court. ” “It is important to mention the name of the president because university presidents in the United States like to keep their names clean. ” Te minister went back to Lima to do exacly what I told him. A few hours after the press conference, he received a telephone call from the president of Yale University to say that he would return all the objecs to Peru. Alan GARCIA, the then president of Peru, invited me to Peru and held a great celebration in one of the squares of the capital Lima near the president’s palace and awarded me the Order of the Sun as the country’s highest honour. Hugo PORTUGAL also noted that people in Egypt had been very happy that Peru had attended the frst conference for the repatriation of stolen artefacs in Cairo. Peru signed a protocol along with a further 19 countries guaranteeing cooperation on the repatriation of stolen artefacs. I told Hugo that I had been responsible for choosing Lima to host the second conference for the repatriation of artefacs in 2011. Te second story about my relationship with Peru shows how much Hugo loves both his own country and Egypt. He called me one day to tell me that I had been invited to visit Peru. Te visit came at the same time as his vacation during the summer, but he would break his vacation to accompany me to Peru. I met him the day following my arrival in Lima and he accompanied me to meet the president. We arrived at the palace before the arrival of the then president Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI and met the ministers of foreign affairs, culture and information. We discussed many topics and the minister of foreign affairs said he was a very good friend of former Egyptian foreign minister ‘Amr Mûsa. He said that whenever he asked Mûsa how he was doing, he would reply “so far so good. ” Tey had been colleagues as ambassadors at the United Nations. Te president then arrived, and we continued our discussion about the management of archaeological sites and how it was important for Peru to set up a travelling archaeological exhibition because the country had discoveries as important as those made in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Tis site we discussed was called Sipan, and all the beautiful artefacs that had been found there were exhibited inside a beautiful museum. I told the president that travelling exhibitions could bring Peru a great deal of publicity and even funds to help in the construcion of new museums. I gave a signed book of mine to the president as a gift, along with a replica of my hat. He recognised that it was similar to that worn by the fcional US archaeologist Indiana Jones. I told the president that Hugo PORTUGAL was a great ambassador and that he was doing great service to Peru and had won the hearts of all Egyptians. Hugo, in cooperation with my friend Jose KOECHLIN, then arranged for me to give a lecure at the University of Loyola in Lima with over 500 people in attendance and Hugo and his wife sitting in the front row. Te second great honour that Peru awarded me was an honorary docorate from this University. Hugo and Jose arranged for me to visit most of the archaeological sites in the country, and I was accompanied by Jose who introduced me to the Sipan Museum and the Mummy of Cao inside it. I will never forget the moment I received the Order of the Sun in Peru, being the only Arab who had ever received it. It is the oldest order in South and North America, dating back to 1821. Te other great moment was when I received the honorary docorate and saw the smiles on the faces of Hugo and Jose. Many ambassadors held great farewell gatherings for Hugo in Egypt, including the ambassador of Greece, Michael Christos DIAMESSIS, and the ambassador of Chile, Fernando ZALAQUETT, two other great ambassadors. But the largest farewell party was the one arranged by Inâs ‘Abd al-Dâyyim, head of the Cairo Opera House. Many people who love Hugo came to the event. Inâs and I gave speeches, as did Hugo himself.

We are now saying goodbye to Hugo PORTUGAL, but he should know that we will never forget him. He has been transferred to another position in the Peruvian consulate in Los Angeles, but hopefully we will be able to see him again. Hugo PORTUGAL is one ambassador who won the love of all the Egyptians who met him during his time in Egypt. (Zâhî Hawwâs, “Farewell ambassador Hugo”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 21, 2017).

Te Egyptian-German archaeological mission operating in Matariyya area discovered on Sunday two toes belonging to the statue of King Psamtik I, which was excavated in March, sources with the Antiquities Ministry told al-Masrî al-Yawm on Monday. Te statue was mistaken for King Ramses II in March before the Antiquities Ministry announced it belonged to Psamtik I. Te mission also found the statue’s pedestal made of limestone and bearing a hieroglyphic inscription, the sources added, pointing out that the pedestal was partially damaged by groundwater. Te mission is keeping quiet on this discovery, hoping to fnd more remains of the statue, because fnding the toes and the pedestal confrmed the possibility of fnding the rest of the statue in the same place, according to the sources. Te discovered parts so far represent 40 percent of the huge statue, said the sources. Te excavated parts were transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square and will be transferred later to the Grand Egyptian Museum, said Antiquities Minister Khâlid al. ‘Inânî. Te statue belongs to King Psamtik I, and not Ramses II, al-‘Inânî said, adding that Psamtik I belonged to the 26th Dynasty, and ruled Egypt for 54 years. Parts of the eight-meter statue were found submerged in groundwater in the Matariyya area in ‘Ayn Shams distric at the location where King Ramses II is believed to have built his Temple, in a city called Oun in Ancient Egypt. Te discovery included parts from two statues of two kings, one of who is King Psamtik I. al-‘Inânî said in March the discovery was one of the most important ones made in recent archaeological digs, as it demonstrates the greatness of the temple in ancient times in terms of the magnitude of the building and the statues that were adorned by fne, precise patterns and inscriptions. (“Two toes of King Psamtik I statue excavated in Matariyya”, Egypt Independent, September 25, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Repêchage aujourd’hui d’une pièce archéologique à Matariyya », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 9 septembre ; MENA, « Repêchage d’un fragment d’un colosse de 8 tonnes à Matariyya », Sada al-Balad, 9 septembre ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Mise au jour à Matariyya de nouveaux fragments du 1er colosse de Psammétique », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 25 septembre).

Dr Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a nommé Dr Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf au poste de président du seceur des antiquités islamiques, coptes et juives, en remplacement d’al-Sa‘îd Hilmî. (Hiba ‘Âdil, « Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf nommé président du seceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes », al- Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 25 septembre 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « al. ‘Inânî nomme Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf président du seceur des antiquités islamiques, coptes et juives », Sada al-Balad, 25 septembre). A new British documentary, Egypt’s Great Pyramid: Te New Evidence, has revealed that the Great Pyramid, Khufu, was built using an intricate system of waterways which allowed thousands of workers to transport 170,000 tonnes of limestone in wooden boats along the Nile River. Te 2. 5-tonne blocks were ferried through a system of specially designed canals before arriving at an inland port built just yards away from the base of the Great Pyramid, the documentary says. Experts had long recognized that the stones from the pyramid’s chambers were transported from Luxor to Gîza, the location of the Great Pyramid, but had never agreed how they got there. Te discovery of an ancient papyrus diary in a cave at the ancient Red Sea port of Wâdî al-Garf, the unearthing of a lost waterway beneath the Gîza plateau and the fnding of a ceremonial boat, now strongly suggests that thousands of labourers transported tons of limestone along the Nile River Nile wooden boats. Te papyrus scroll is the only frst-hand record of how the pyramid was built, and was written by an overseer named Merer. He explained in detail how the limestone was moved from the quarry in Tura to Gîza using the Bronze Age waterways. Te ancient text described how Merer’s team dug huge canals to channel the water of the Nile to the pyramid. By renovating the wooden planks from the ceremonial boat and then scanning them with a 3D laser, the archaeologists could fgure out how they were frst assembled, the documentary explains. (“Video: New documentary reveals secret of how ancient Egyptians built Pyramids”, Egypt Independent, September 25, 2017. Voir également Basant Gamîl, « Une nouvelle étude révèle le transport des pierres de Tura », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘ 24 septembre ; Ahmad Muharram « Découverte d’un papyrus dévoilant les secrets de la construcion de la pyramide de Chéops », Sada al-Balad, 25 septembre ; « Un nouveau papyrus révèle le mystère de la construcion des pyramides », al-Ahrâm, 25 septembre). Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a nommé al-Sa‘îd Hilmî au poste de président de l’administration centrale des antiquités islamiques et coptes. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « al-Sa‘îd Hilmî nommé président de l’administration centrale des antiquités islamiques et coptes », Sada al-Balad, 25 septembre 2017).

Le musée Manyal offre une excursion au sein de l’Empire ottoman au XVIIIe siècle grâce à l’exposition « Coiffé d’une plume ». Inaugurée la semaine dernière et allant jusqu’au 28 ocobre prochain, cette exposition est constituée de 75 gravures et peintures ainsi que de 4 statues de cire.

« Cette collecion, composée de 100 tableaux, est inédite et est exposée pour la première fois au grand public. Vu l’étroitesse de la salle, nous en avons présenté 75 seulement », explique Walâ’ al-Dîn Badawî, direceur général du musée Manyal. Ils décrivent la tenue des hauts foncionnaires de l’Empire ottoman, du sultan au petit employé, en passant par le premier ministre, le juge et le mufti. Réalisées par le peintre français Jean-Baptiste VAN MOUR, ces peintures refètent aussi en détail la vie sociale à l’époque ottomane et montrent comment étaient habillés les artisans à cette époque comme le barbier, le vendeur de confture ou de café.

L’histoire de cette exposition remonte au début de l’année. « Nous avons découvert dans les dépôts du musée un tas de tableaux conservés et qui sont inscrits dans les registres. Mais sans la moindre classifcation », raconte le direceur. Restaurés, les tableaux ont retrouvé leur splendeur d’antan. « Nous avons constaté qu’ils ont été réalisés par le peintre français Jean-Baptiste VAN MOUR. Ils décrivent des scènes de la vie de l’époque ottomane, comme celle du tribunal et celle du prince coiffé de la plume », affirme le direceur. Les premières scènes montrent les hauts foncionnaires de l’empire comme ce prince qui ouvre le passage au sultan pendant les festivités officielles. Le tableau maître de l’exposition est celui du tribunal dont les membres sont le mufti, Cheikh al-Islam (plus grande position religieuse sous l’empire), et al-Sadr al-A‘zam (équivalent du premier ministre). « Ce dernier était coiffé d’un turban à plume, soit d’un paon ou d’une autruche », reprend le direceur. Les vêtements des hauts foncionnaires et la forme de leur turban refètent leurs foncions au sein de la cour, voire au sein de l’empire. Par exemple, la personne responsable de frapper la monnaie était coiffée d’un long turban et portait un manteau ordinaire oriental. Le ministre des Finances portait un manteau oriental orné de fourrure au col et aux épaules. Ce type de manteau était porté par plusieurs foncionnaires comme l’adjoint du chef de l’armée et l’employé du divan. Parmi les foncionnaires représentés dans cette collecion de tableaux on trouve Bâb ‘Alî Alaï Gawchaï, direceur du divan. Il écrivait les rapports d’al-A‘zam destinés au sultan. Il était coiffé d’un turban rayé entouré d’un ruban blanc. En plus, sur le front, il portait une plume attachée au turban au moyen d’une broche. Il tenait à la main droite un long bâton fn. Outre les tableaux des hauts foncionnaires, il y a des scènes du sultan Mahmûd Agha, assis sur son trône. Il est coiffé de son turban blanc auquel est attachée une plume d’autruche. « Le sultan ‘Abd al-Magîd Khan était le premier à imposer l’usage de la plume », explique Badawî. Au début, cette plume était réservée au sultan et à son épouse. Ensuite, la plume est devenue une récompense et une preuve d’estime offerte par le sultan. Peu à peu, le cercle des personnes portant une plume s’est élargi pour regrouper les hauts foncionnaires. Le sultan portait un costume vaste et large durant les jours du Baïram. Une scène le représente dans son sérail avec le superviseur du harem et le chef des serviteurs du palais. On voit aussi le grand vizir coiffé d’un turban conique et portant un costume vert. L’exposition présente aussi des portraits des employés de la cour, comme le chef de la cuisine du sultan et ses ustensiles, le chef des eunuques noirs, le chef des eunuques blancs, le maître des cérémonies et d’autres. D’après Badawî, certains de ces foncionnaires jouaient un rôle fondamental dans la cour, notamment le harem.

La cour comprenait encore des personnes chargées de divertir le sultan comme le clown, le nain et le muet du palais. Le visiteur peut voir aussi la danseuse, les musiciennes et le danseur. D’après le direceur, tous ces styles vestimentaires ont inspiré la mode européenne qui a envahi le monde entier. En fait, l’exposition place le visiteur au sein de la société turque. On y trouve des scènes de bains, de barbiers, de vendeurs ambulants, d’hommes en tenue hivernale et de bouffons. On peut voir aussi l’imam d’une mosquée, un fdèle qui prie, ainsi que l’homme qui fait respecer la loi. Bref, le visiteur a une vision complète de la société turque du XVIIIe siècle à l’apogée de l’Empire ottoman. Cette collecion attirera sans doute les historiens. (Doaa Elhami, « Plongée dans l’univers vestimentaire ottoman », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 27 septembre 2017).

al-‘Inânî celebrating the completion of Memphis development projec Remains of Ptah Temple Te serenity of the ancient site of Memphis, Egypt’s frst capital city and one of the longest-inhabited major cities in the world, was disturbed earlier this week when Egyptian and foreign archaeologists, ambassadors, journalists, photographers and TV crews focked to the site to celebrate the completion of the Memphis Walking Circuit Development Projec. Te new circuit connecs eight archaeological sites: a shrine of the Pharaoh Ramses II, a chapel to his father Seti I, the Apis House, the Great Temple of Ptah, two temples of the goddesses Hathor and Sekhmet and a series of tombs of high priests. Visitors are taken back in time to the ancient city and are able to explore various parts of the settlement. Memphis is believed to have been the most populated city in ancient Egypt, reaching 100,000 inhabitants at its peak. Te overall effec of the redevelopment has been to make the ancient site much friendlier to visitors. Looking to the site today, Mark LEHNER, direcor of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), which contributed to the projec, told Al-Ahram Weekly that it could be hard to imagine what Memphis would have looked like in the past. It was a cosmopolitan city, he said, where all the dramas of human life had unfolded. What could be seen today was just a snapshot of a once-bustling ancient city dating mostly to the New Kingdom, and there was much more waiting to be discovered. Te visitor route starts by the banks of the River Nile at the city’s famous docks, leading to the city itself through four areas around the Great Temple of Ptah. Te royal palace is located to the east, and an area where many people once lived and worked is to the south. To the west, there is the oldest known remains of Memphis, including the cemetery of the high priests. Te route ends at the centre of the city within the sacred temple complex. “Te projec is the fruit of the strong relationship between Egypt and the United States in the feld of archaeology, in collaboration with the AERA and the University of York of London,” Khâlid al-‘Inânî, minister of antiquities, said. He said the projec came within the framework of the bilateral agreement between Egypt and the United States entitled “Sustainable Investment in Tourism in Egypt,” under which USAID had given some LE9 million in August 2015.

It aimed at cleaning, stabilising and documenting the site’s monuments. A visitor route was developed telling the story of the eight monuments on the site. During the projec and within the Memphis Heritage Field Schools Programme, 89 inspecors from the Ministry of Antiquities were trained in site management, cultural-heritage planning and conservation.

Remains of Hathor Temple A website called “Memphis Egypt” was launched to broadcast information on Memphis and its monuments. Videos to promote tourism at the site are on the site, and brochures and guidebooks have been issued. al-‘Inânî said that collaboration between the Ministry of Antiquities and USAID had a long history, seen in different projecs in Luxor, Alexandria, Suhâg, the Red Sea and Gîza. “Egypt is keen on encouraging and welcoming all kinds of cooperation in order to help preserve and conserve the country’s unique heritage,” he concluded. “Tis projec is an investment in both the past and the future,” US chargé d’affaires Tomas GOLDBERGER said, adding, “the United States is committed to continuing our partnership with the Ministry of Antiquities to conserve Egypt’s cultural heritage and increase tourism. ” NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Many tourists already visit the colossal limestone statue of Ramses II at Memphis, but fewer visit the surrounding eight sites where archaeologists have excavated important parts of the ancient city. Te new Walking Circuit, with signage developed by Ministry of Antiquities students with USAID support, will encourage visitors to learn more about ancient Memphis and contribute to the local economy. Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr described the projec as “a cornerstone in the long and continuing cooperation with USAID to protec Egypt’s cultural heritage. USAID has provided assistance valued at over $100 million since 1992 for the preservation and restoration of cultural- heritage sites in Old Cairo, Gîza, Memphis, Luxor, Alexandria, Suhâg and the Red Sea,” she said. “Cooperation in the feld of archaeology is very important because it not only provides job opportunities for Egyptian youth, but also supports the tourism secor, one of Egypt’s main sources of income,” Nasr added. Memphis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but for the last three decades its specacular monuments have been under threat from urban expansion. Tanks to the USAID grant, the two-year projec will create a Walking Circuit at Mît Rahîna as part of a wider heritage, outreach and training programme. LEHNER told the Weekly that this circuit would encourage visitors to learn more about ancient Memphis. He explained that the projec had established a feld school, the 13th of its sort in Egypt, to train Ministry of Antiquities inspecors and related professionals in cultural-heritage management and outreach. “Te inspecors, who play a key role in supervision at historic sites, will use their skills to enhance the management of other important locations across Egypt,” LEHNER said. Once the frst set of students have completed their training, some becomes instrucors for the next set in an effort to make the school sustainable. Te aim of the projec is also to work in partnership with the local population in helping to protec excavated sites, reduce incursions, and stop their use as rubbish dumps. Locally-run businesses will beneft from the increase in tourism resulting from the improvements.

“Tis projec has inspired people both locally and globally in the regeneration of what is one of Egypt’s most important sites, giving the world a greater insight into its signifcance for human history,” LEHNER told the Weekly. (Nevine El-Aref, “Memphis redeveloped”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 28, 2017. Voir également MENA, « Achèvement du réaménagement de 8 sites archéologiques à Memphis », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 23 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie célèbre l’achèvement du réaménagement de la nécropole de Memphis », Sada al-Balad, 24 septembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Les ministres de l’Archéologie et de l’Investissement assistent à l’inauguration du projet de développement de la zone de Memphis », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 24 septembre).

‘Atiyya Radwân Te death of Egyptian archaeologist ‘Atiyya Radwân in 2012 was a great shock to me personally and to many other archaeologists and Egyptologists all over the world. I had known Radwân for a long time, but I have never been able to forget my frst meeting with him at the prehistoric site of Nabta Playa in Egypt’s southwestern desert where we were working together on an expedition run by Southern Methodist University in the United States under the supervision of the late Fred WENDORF. Radwân was a very brave, supportive and generous man, qualities that were immediately evident on our frst meeting, and he had an amazing sense of humour. He was one of the few individuals that you are never likely to forget even after a single meeting. For many people, he was a best friend. Te Ministry of Antiquities has now dedicated Volume 88 of its Annales du Service des Antiquités de l’Égypte to Radwân. It includes reports and articles on different Egyptological topics by Egyptian and foreign Egyptologists and archaeologists, as well as a review of my own recent book Voice and Image in Saite Egypt: Self-Presentations of Neshor Named Psamtikmenkhib and Payeftjauemawyneith (Wilkinson Egyptology Series Volume II. Tucson: University of Arizona). Te volume has been produced in recognition of the great achievements, sincere dedication, and hard work of Radwân in the service of Egypt and its antiquities and museums. Radwân held a position as an archaeologist at the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation (EAO), later the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), and now the Ministry of Antiquities. He held prestigious positions at the SCA, where he as head of the Museums Secor and of the Central Administration for Upper Egyptian and Oasis Antiquities in the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor. Radwân was born on 5 March 1953 in al-Daqahliyya and graduated from the Department of Graeco- Roman Antiquities in the Faculty of Arts at Alexandria University in 1975. He started his career at the EAO as inspecor of ancient Egyptian antiquities in al-Daqahliyya in 1978 and then of Abû Simbil in 1984, becoming chief inspecor of antiquities in 1986. In 1997, he became direcor of Aswân and Nubia Antiquities, and in 2001 he was promoted to direcor of the Desert Antiquities Administration, also becoming direcor of the Excavation Administration and supervisor of Under-Water Archaeology in the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor in 2002. He had been a member of the Permanent Committee of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities at the SCA since 2002.

In 2005, he became the direcor of the Delta, Sinai, and Northern Coast Antiquities in the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor, and in 2007 he was appointed head of the Central Administration for Upper Egyptian and Oasis Antiquities in the same secor. He was later appointed head of the Museums Secor and then head of the Egyptian Antiquities Museum at the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome. Radwân took part in various courses on feldwork and excavation, such as that given by the Southern Methodist University in Texas in 1992, and on excavation, mapping, and archaeological surveying, such as that organised at Washington State University in 1994. He was appointed the supervisor of SCA archaeologists at the Mît Rahîna Field School with the American Research Centre in Egypt (ARCE) in 1995, becoming head trainer in 1996 and deputy direcor in 1997. With the cooperation of the ARCE and Southern Methodist University, he trained SCA archaeologists on excavating prehistoric sites, mapping and archaeological surveying in 2000 and 2003. He also participated in the excavation of the site of Sirte in Libya in 2003 and supervised a training course for Egyptian archaeologists at the Scientifc Centre in Sinai in 2004-2005 and in Luxor in 2005. Radwân took part in many international and national conferences and symposia in Egypt and abroad, including his participation in a conference on desert antiquities at University College London in the UK in 1998 and at a later conference on Egyptology in Trier in Germany. He gave presentations at the German Archaeological Institute in Heidelberg and Berlin and at the University of Gottingen in 1999. He also accompanied the Ramses II exhibition in Dallas, Texas, in 1989, and the Egyptian exhibition in Basel, Switzerland, in 2004. He worked with many foreign archaeological expeditions in Egypt, such as that of the Brooklyn Museum to the Valley of the Kings in 1979, the Austrian expedition to Faqûs in the al-Sharqiyya governorate in 1980, the American Prehistoric Expedition to the Western Desert in 1980, the German expedition to Qantîr in Faqûs in 1981-1982, and the American Prehistoric Expedition to Wâdî al-Qubbâniyya west of Aswân in 1981. 1984. He excavated at many archaeological sites in Egypt, including Taposiris Magna in 2005. 2007, al-Dab‘a on the Northern Coast in 2007, Luxor in 2003, the Dâkhla Oasis in 2002-2005, and Idfû in 1998. He was head of the archaeological team for the drainage projec at the Karnak and Luxor Temples in Luxor. In 2012, he left his position at the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome and returned to Cairo as a result of illness. He died while still holding the position in his beloved home city of Mansûra. Radwân has been sorely missed, and his death at such a young age was a great loss to Egyptian archaeology even as his achievements will remain appreciated forever as the appearance of the present edition of the Annales du Service des Antiquités de l’Égypte testifes. (Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, “An archaeologist remembered”, Al-Ahram Weekly, September 28, 2017).

Te synagogue from inside Antiquities officials have decided to add the Menasce Synagogue in Alexandria to the national heritage list of Islamic, Coptic and Jewish monuments. According to Muhammad Mitwallî, general direcor of antiquities in Alexandria, the synagogue was built by philanthropist Baron Yacoub DE MENASCE in 1860. Te decision by the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ board of direcors comes after inspecion and investigation of the synagogue’s architecural and archaeological conditions.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, a deputy minister of antiquities and head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Department within the ministry, told Ahram Online that the decision came within the framework of the ministry’s keenness to add all Egyptian monuments to the country’s heritage list, regardless of era or religious affiliation. “All the monuments, whether ancient Egyptian, Jewish, Coptic, Islamic, on Egyptian land are the country’s properties and unique heritage,” he said. ‘Abd al-Latîf explained that the registration of the synagogue, which is located in al-Manshiyya Square, will make it an official historical site under the antiquities protecion law, law no. 117 of 1983, and under its amendments in law no. 3 of 2010. Tis legislation guarantee the ministry’s full responsibility for and protecion of the site. Te decision comes after the Permanent Committee of Islamic Antiquities reviewed the scientifc reports submitted by the archaeological committee, which inspeced the synagogue and noted its good architecural condition. Te recangular. shaped building is surrounded by a stone wall with a decorative element. Te main façade of the synagogue has two rows of windows and the interior is divided into two secions. Te foors are paved with ceramic tiles, while the ceilings have domed shapes. MENASCE was the frst of four MENASCE men who headed the Alexandrian Jewish community. (Nevine El-Aref, “Menasce Synagogue in Alexandria to be added to Egypt’s heritage list”, Ahram Online, September 28, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve l’inscription de la synagogue Menasce sur la liste du patrimoine », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 27 septembre ; « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve l’inscription de la synagogue Menasce sur la liste du patrimoine », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 27 septembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve l’inscription de la synagogue Menasce sur la liste du patrimoine », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 27 septembre).

Te ministry of antiquities is launching a new initiative in collaboration with hotels to promote museums and archaeological sites. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the ministry’s Museum Department, told Ahram Online that the initiative started this week at one of Egypt’s hotels, where a large advertisement was placed in the lobby. Te banner shows photos of the Museum of Islamic Art’s collecion, its opening hours and a map of some of the country’s archaeological sites. A collecion of brochures about the museum will also be put in every room of the hotel. “If the initiative proves success it will be extended to all hotels around Egypt,” Salâh said. (Nevine El-Aref, “Antiquities ministry launches initiative promoting museums, sites at Egyptian hotels”, Ahram Online, September 28, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le département des musées promeut le musée d’Art islamique dans les hôtels du Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 25 septembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le musée d’Art islamique attire les touristes d’une manière originale », Sada al-Balad, 25 septembre ; “Antiquities Ministry starts promoting museums at Egyptian hotels”, Egypt Independent, September 29). - -

IV – OCTOBRE 2017

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a inauguré ce matin un nouvel entrepôt muséologique construit dans l’oasis d’al-Khârga dans le gouvernorat de la Nouvelle Vallée. Ont assisté à cette inauguration : le ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports, Khâlid ‘Abd al-‘Azîz ; le gouverneur de la Nouvelle Vallée ; Muhammad al-Zamlût ; le gouverneur du Fayyûm, Gamâl Sâmî ; le président du département des antiquités égyptiennes, Dr Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî ; ainsi que le président du département des projets, Wa’d Abû al-‘Ilâ. Dr al-‘Ashmâwî a précisé qu’il s’agit du premier entrepôt muséologique assez sophistiqué des points de vue archéologique et sécuritaire jamais construit depuis janvier 2011. Il est cerné par une enceinte munie de miradors et équipé intérieurement et extérieurement d’alarme incendie et de vidéosurveillance. Le direceur général des antiquités de Moyenne-Égypte, Gamâl al-Simistâwî, a souligné que cet entrepôt est censé abriter environ 10 000 pièces archéologiques en provenance des magasins d’al-Khârga et de Douch attachés à la mission archéologique française, ainsi que des pièces islamiques entreposées dans le musée de la Nouvelle Vallée. De son côté, Wa’d Abû al-‘Ilâ a précisé que ce nouvel entrepôt d’une superfcie de 2 400 m2 se compose d’un seul étage divisé en deux secions administrative et archéologique, de 9 salles d’entreposage, d’unités pour abriter les pièces archéologiques volumineuses, d’un studio de photographie et de tirage photo, d’un laboratoire de restauration, d’un poste de sécurité et de 3 bureaux administratifs.

La construcion de cet entrepôt a nécessité près de 18 mois de travaux et 7 millions de livres égyptiennes fnancés par le ministère de l’Archéologie. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Khâlid al. ‘Inânî inaugure un entrepôt muséologique dans l’oasis d’al-Khârga », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 1er ocobre 2017. Voir également Samar al- Naggâr, « Inauguration du bâtiment du nouvel entrepôt muséologique dans la Nouvelle Vallée », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 1er ocobre ; Nisma Farag, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure l’entrepôt muséologique de la Nouvelle 1er Vallée », Masrâwî, ocobre ; MENA, «Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure le premier entrepôt muséologique de la Nouvelle 1er Vallée », al-Shurûq, ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Inauguration du bâtiment de l’entrepôt muséologique dans la Nouvelle 1er Vallée », al-Wafd, ocobre ; Muhammad Ahmad, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure l’entrepôt muséologique de la Nouvelle Vallée », al-Dustûr, 1er ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Inauguration du bâtiment de l’entrepôt

muséologique à al-Khârga », al-Ahrâm al. 1er ‘Arabî, ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 7 millions L. E. pour l’inauguration de l’entrepôt muséologique de la Nouvelle Vallée », Sada al-Balad, 1er ocobre).

Une mission archéologique égyptienne a réalisé une découverte prometteuse dans la zone al-Hammâmât située à Tell Atrîb à Banhâ dans le gouvernorat d’al-Qalyûbiyya. Il s’agit de vestiges d’un bâtiment en terre crue d’époque grecque, de murs en briques rouges, ainsi que de poteries servant au stockage des denrées alimentaires. Une source officielle de l’équipe de fouilles a annoncé que ces vestiges permettraient probablement la mise au jour de la ville antique ou d’un temple. (Ibrâhîm al-Hawwârî, « Nouvelle découverte archéologique », Sada al-Balad, 4 ocobre 2017. Voir également « Mise au jour de nouvelles vestiges antiques à Tell Atrîb », al-Watan, 4 ocobre).

Ministry of Antiquities stumbled upon pre-Dynastic rock markings. Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the markings can be dated to the late pre-Dynastic era, and were found engraved on sandstone rocks. Tey depic scenes of troops of renowned animals at that time, such as hippopotamuses, wild bulls and donkeys, as well as gazelles. Markings showing workshops for the producion of tools and instruments were also found on some of the rocks. Nasr Salâma, direcor general of Aswân and Nubia Antiquities, described the newly discovered markings as “unique and rare” in Egypt. He pointed out that similar markings were previously uncovered at sites in al-Qarta and Abû Tanqûra, north of Kom Umbû town.

New discovered graffiti “Tese markings helped archaeologists to determine the exac dating of the newly discovered ones in Subayra Valley,” Salâma asserted. He added that 10 new secions of wall markings at around 15,000 years old had been discovered. ‘Âdil Kîlânî described the discovery as important because it dates to the same period of markings founds in caves in southern France, Spain and Italy, which confrms the idea that art and civilisation during that time spread from Africa to Europe and not vice versa. (Nevine El-Aref, “Ancient wall markings of wild animals uncovered in South Aswân”, Ahram Online, Ocober 4, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte à Aswân d’inscriptions rupestres de l’âge de pierre », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte à Aswân d’inscriptions rupestres de l’âge de pierre », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de graffitis prédynastiques à Aswân », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 3 ocobre ; MENA, « Découverte de nouvelles inscriptions à Wâdî Subayra », Sada al-Balad, 3 ocobre ; “Predynastic graffiti rock dating back to stone age unearthed south of Aswân”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 4).

La zone archéologique de la ville de Memphis, ancienne capitale de l’Égypte pharaonique, située entre la nécropole de Saqqâra et celle d’Abûsîr à Mît Rahîna, a beaucoup souffert de la croissance démographique. En vertu d’un accord signé entre l’Égypte et les États-Unis, l’Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA), un projet de réaménagement de cette zone a été lancé sur ce site en 2015. « Avec une aide de 9,2 millions de L. E. fournie par l’United States Agency for International Development (USAID), nous avons pu lancer ce projet en collaboration avec l’University of York et le ministère égyptien des Antiquités », explique Mark LEHNER, direceur de l’association. Il souligne que l’équipe de travail a mis en place un nouveau circuit qui comprend huit sites dont la chapelle de Ramsès II et le temple d’Hathor. Celui-ci se termine par un musée en plein air. « De nouveaux panneaux et pancartes explicatifs ont été placés tout au long du circuit. L’association a également construit des lieux de repos et des toilettes sur place », indique LEHNER. Cette nouvelle signalisation est plus détaillée et permettra aux visiteurs d’apprendre davantage sur l’ancien site de Memphis. Les systèmes d’éclairage et de surveillance ont été renouvelés, et un site Web appelé Memphis Egypt a été lancé en anglais et en arabe, pour donner des informations détaillées sur la nécropole. Des brochures ainsi que des livrets explicatifs ont été imprimés pour assurer la promotion touristique de la région. « 89 jeunes archéologues égyptiens ont assisté, pendant deux ans, à quatre stages de gestion sur le patrimoine culturel de Mît Rahîna », affirme Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, chef du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère des Antiquités. Selon le direceur de l’association, « ces jeunes inspeceurs nouvellement formés transmettront leurs connaissances et leurs expériences. Nous sommes très heureux de travailler sur ce projet important pour conserver la ville ancienne de Memphis », dit-il. En fait, l’AERA et ses partenaires ne se sont pas contentés de mettre en place un circuit de visite, mais ils ont également réaménagé les sites antiques les plus importants de Memphis. En fait, nombreux sont les visiteurs qui s’arrêtent brièvement pour voir le musée de plein air et son jardin à Mît Rahîna, mais très peu d’entre eux ne sont pas au courant de l’existence des autres vestiges qui s’y trouvent. « Ce circuit va rendre tous les vestiges de la région accessibles à la visite comme le temple d’Hathor et la chapelle de Séti 1er », souligne al-‘Ashmâwî, qui assure que « ce projet est le fruit d’une coopération entre l’Égypte et les États-Unis dans le domaine archéologique. Les Américains ont travaillé aussi dans différentes régions d’Égypte, comme Louqsor, Suhâg, la mer Rouge », reprend-il. Pour sa part, le ministre des Antiquités, Khâlid al-‘Inânî, a assuré lors de l’inauguration du projet que l’Égypte encourage toute coopération pour préserver le patrimoine unique du pays. Avis partagé par le chargé d’affaires de l’ambassade américaine, Tomas GOLDBERGER. Celui-ci a déclaré que ce projet était un bon investissement. « Les États-Unis s’engagent à poursuivre le partenariat avec le ministère des Antiquités pour préserver le patrimoine culturel de l’Égypte et pour encourager le tourisme », affirme-t-il. Memphis accueillera ses visiteurs de 8h à 16h. Le billet d’entrée coûtera 40 L. E. Une autre bonne nouvelle annoncée par le ministre des Antiquités est que « les fouilles archéologiques dans cette importante région, suspendues depuis 2004, reprendront prochainement ». (Nasma Réda, « Memphis, retour sur les splendeurs d’antan », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 4 ocobre 2017).

Te Menasce Synagogue is located in al-Manshiyya Square in central Alexandria, its simple architecural style and façade being complemented by decorated arcaded widows. Tis week, more than 100 years after it was built, the synagogue has been added to Egypt’s Heritage List of Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Monuments. Te synagogue was built in 1860 by Baron Yacoub DE MENASCE, a philanthropist and the frst of four members of the DE MENASCE to head Alexandria’s Jewish community. Te decision to list the building was taken early this week by the Supreme Council of Antiquities after inspecion of the synagogue’s architecural condition. Last month, a committee from the Ministry of Antiquities inspeced the site and submitted its report to the Permanent Committee of Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities, noting the building’s good architecural condition. “Te decision came within the framework of the Ministry of Antiquities’ desire to add all Egypt’s monuments to the country’s Heritage List, regardless of era or religious affiliation,” Muhammad ‘Abd al- Latîf, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Department at the ministry, told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that “all monuments, whether ancient Egyptian, Jewish, Coptic or Islamic in Egypt are the property of the country and make up its unique heritage. ” ‘Abd al-Latîf explained that the registration of the synagogue would render it an official historical site under Antiquities Protecion Law 117/1983, and its amendments in Law 3/2010, which guarantee the ministry’s responsibility for and protecion of the site. Te synagogue is a recangular-shaped edifce surrounded by a stonewall with decorative elements. Its main façade has two rows of windows, and the interior is divided into two secions. Te foors are paved with ceramic tiles, while the ceilings are domed.

Two months ago, the Ministry of Antiquities allocated LE100 million for the restoration of the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in al-Nabî Daniel Street in Alexandria. Tis is the oldest and largest synagogue in the Middle East and was built in 1354, but was later destroyed by the French Expedition to Egypt in 1798 in order to build a wall from the Kom al-Dikka area of Alexandria to the Mediterranean. In 1850, the synagogue was rebuilt with contributions from the then ruling Muhammad ‘Alî family. Te building has an exquisite interior featuring Italian marble columns supporting the soaring ceiling. It can host 700 worshippers and has rows of wooden seats decorated with the brass nameplates of the donors or worshippers who reserved them. Te women’s prayer hall is on the upper level reached by marble stairs. Elegant silver lamps are suspended above the ark of the synagogue, and there is also a small water fountain for ritual hand-washing.

(Nevine El-Aref, “Menasce Synagogue on Heritage List”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 5, 2017. Voir également Samar Zarée, « La synagogue de Menasca déclarée patrimoine », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 25 ocobre).

A British-Egyptian archaeological mission from Cambridge University in the UK has unearthed the gypsum head from a statue of the Pharaoh Akhenaten dating to around 1300 BC during excavation work at the Tell al-Amarna archaeological site in the Upper Egyptian governorate of Minyâ. Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Wazîrî said the head probably belonged to a small statue, as it is 9cm tall, 13. 5cm long and 8cm wide. It was unearthed during excavation work in the frst hall of the Great Temple of Aten in Tell al-Amarna. Wazîrî described the discovery as “important” because it sheds more light on the city that was Egypt’s capital during the reign of the monotheistic Pharaoh Akhenaten, the 10th of the 18th Dynasty, whose reign was among the most controversial in ancient Egyptian history. Te Cambridge University mission is led by archaeologist Barry KEMP, who started excavations in Tell al- Amarna in 1977 at sites including the Great Temple, the al-Ahgâr village, the northern palace, and the Re and Banehsi houses. Te mission has also carried out restoration work at the Small Aten Temple and the northern palace. (Nevine El-Aref, “Akhenaten head uncovered ”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 5, 2017. Voir également “Gypsum head of King Akhenaten statue unearthed in Minyâ: statement”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 1). Te distinguished Egyptian archaeologist and Egyptologist Ahmad al-Sâwî passed away on the morning of 30 September after a long journey with illness. al-Sâwî was born in Imbâba in Gîza, the son of a mayor of the villages of the Imbâba area where he imbibed the ethics of the Egyptian villages and countryside. He graduated from the Department of Egyptology at the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University and then started his long and distinguished career in the Antiquities Service. As a result of his hard work and dedication to Egypt’s antiquities, he later became head of the Egyptian and Graeco-Roman Secor of the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation. Moreover, he was a dynamic and acive member of the Egyptian and Graeco-Roman Permanent Committee of the Organisation over a long and fruitful period. He received his PhD in Egyptology from the Charles University in Prague in the former Czechoslovakia in 1978. In his feldwork, he was one of the best and most brilliant excavators of Egyptian antiquities. He participated in many excavations all over Egypt. His excavations at the well-known site of Tell Bâsta (Bubastis) in the Eastern Delta are among the most appreciated and best. documented ever done in Egypt, and he published many scholarly works about them. al-Sâwî trained many Egyptian archaeologists in excavation and feldwork. Zâhî Hawwâs worked with him in excavating Kom Abû Billû (ancient Terenuthis / modern Tarrâna, 70km north of Cairo), a famous site in the Western Delta. He also worked at the Sety I Temple at Abydos and made new discoveries revealing its secrets.

When he reached the pinnacle of his career at the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation, al-Sâwî left it and took another path to become a distinguished professor of Egyptology at the Faculty of Arts at Asyût University and founded the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Arts at Suhâg University. He was promoted to be professor of Egyptology and chair of the department. He later became dean of the Faculty of Arts at Suhâg University, where he founded his own school of Egyptology. Many great Egyptian archaeologists and Egyptologists have graduated from this school of Egyptian archaeology. al-Sâwî taught Egyptology at the undergraduate and graduate levels at many other Egyptian universities, among them the University of Tantâ, and he supervised many MA and PhD students. He founded an Egyptian school of Egyptology based on frst. hand feldwork experience and his own theoretical approach. Hawwâs, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the time, paid homage to his beloved teacher Ahmad al-Sâwî at one of the annual festivals of Egyptian archaeologists. Te Supreme Council of Antiquities also dedicated a volume of its Annales du Service des Antiquités de l’Égypte in honour of al- Sâwî. On the personal level, al-Sâwî had a strong personality and was a talented administrator. He was unfailingly elegant, eloquent, and helpful to his students. I met him many times when he would come to visit us at the Gîza Pyramids and the headquarters of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Zamâlik. He was a very kind man, always smiling, and he treated everybody as if they were close friends. al-Sâwî will be sorely missed. However, his legacy through his great achievements for Egypt’s antiquities and his students everywhere will remain. We will all miss him enormously. (Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, “Dean of Egyptian archaeologists ”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 5, 2017. Voir également Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr, « Adieu le doyen des archéologues Dr Ahmad al-Sâwî ! », al-Masrî al-Yawm, ocobre ; Zâhî Hawwâs, « Adieu Ahmad al-Sâwî », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 16 ocobre).

Te second chariot of King Tutankhamun has joined the collecion of the golden pharaoh at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in preparation for its soft opening in mid 2018. Gem supervisor-general Târiq Tawfîq told Ahram online that the transportation of the chariot from the Egyptian Museum is part of the ministry’s celebration of the anniversary of the 6 Ocober War, as the chariot is decorated with war scenes. Tawfîq said that the transportation was carried out according to a plan drawn in collaboration with the administration of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr, where the gold and gilded artefacs of the boy king are to be transported a few days before the soft opening of the GEM. Te chariot is the second of four Tutankhamun chariots to be transported, according to ‘Isa Zaydân, head of the frst aid restoration department at the GEM. Zaydân says the chariot was transported in four wooden boxes after being packed with special materials that protec against acidity. He explains that the chariot includes 12 pieces including a gilded falcon of the god Horus wearing the sun disk and a unique scene depicing the god Bess. Te chariot is the ninth objec to be transported from Tutankhamun’s collecion as part of the Japanese- Egyptian projec to transport 73 items from the boy king’s collecion with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

(Nevine El-Aref, “In photos: Chariot of King Tutankhamun transported to Grand Egyptian Museum”, Ahram Online, Ocober 5, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie achève l’emballage du deuxième char de Toutankhamon en vue de son transfert vers le GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Transfert du char de Toutankhamon vers le GEM », Sada al-Balad, 5 ocobre ; « Le char de Toutankhamon arrive au GEM », al-Fagr, 5 ocobre).

Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî, a pris la décision n° 6137/2017 portant nomination de Mustafa Ahmad Mahmûd au poste de direceur général des zones archéologiques de Haute-Égypte. Il entrera en foncion le 16 ocobre prochain, afn de remplacer Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rasûl parti à la retraite. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Wazîrî nomme un nouveau direceur général des antiquités de Haute-Égypte », Sada al-Balad, 6 ocobre 2017).

Trois individus ont péri sous les décombres au cours de fouilles archéologiques clandestines qu’ils effecuaient sous une maison située dans le village al-Mahâmîd à Idfû dans le gouvernorat d’Aswân. Une quatrième personne a été blessée et transportée à l’hôpital pour y recevoir les soins. (Mahmûd Mullâ, « 3 personnes trouvent la mort lors de fouilles illicites à Aswân », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 7 ocobre 2017).

Zakî ‘Alî Idrîs, enseignant âgé de 44 ans, a été écroué pour trafc archéologique. La perquisition de son domicile situé dans l’oasis d’al-Dâkhla a permis aux policiers de saisir 5 monnaies en bronze ainsi que quelques pièces d’époques grecque et romaine. (Fâtima al-Dusûqî, « Arrestation d’un enseignant en possession de pièces antiques dans la Nouvelle Vallée », al-Ahrâm, 8 ocobre 2017).

Te Egyptian-German Archaeological Mission uncovered most of the remaining parts of the recently discovered colossus of 26th Dynasty King Psamtik I (664-610 BC) while excavating at the temple of Heliopolis in the Sûq al-Khamîs area of Matariyya distric in east Cairo. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department and leader of the Egyptian excavation team, told Ahram Online that the joint mission has unearthed around 1,920 separate quartzite blocks comprising the lower part of King Psamtik I colossus. Te mission is composed of archaeologists from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, the Georg STEINDORFF Egyptian Museum at the University of Leipzig and the University for Applied Sciences, Mainz. “Early studies carried out on the newly found blocks of the colossus reveal that most comprise parts of the pharaoh’s kilt, legs and three toes,” al-‘Ashmâwî pointed out. Te studies also suggest that the buried colossus was construced in a standing position, not a seated one, he stated. Te excavations were focused around the location in which the upper body of Psamtik’s colossus had been found back in March 2017, according to Dietrich RAUE, the head of the German archaeological team, which participated in the mission.

Te statue’s frst part was found just to the north of its more recently uncovered lower part. Evidence suggests the sculpture had been destroyed at an uncertain date and its fragments scattered around a 20- meter diameter area. Te team also uncovered numerous granite blocks that belong to other statues, including one of King Ramses II, the god Rahurakhti, and others yet unidentifed. al-‘Ashmâwî noted that the mission will continue to uncover more of the colossus’ lower part during the next archaeological season. Te coming fnd could reveal a total of 2,000 fragments and blocks. Among the most prominent parts of the uncovered secion, he said, is the back pillar engraved with the sacred Horus-name of Psamtik I, “a fac that confrm that the discovered colossus is that of King Psamtik I, and not King Ramses II as some suggested. ” Upon initial discovery, some archaeologists had believed that it may have belonged to King Ramses II, but the engravings on its back pillar dispelled that hypothesis.

Back pillar of king Psamtek I Te mission also found a gigantic fragment of the Eye of Horus, which was likely a part of a larger statue of deity Rahurakhti. al. ‘Ashmâwî asserted that studies on the newly discovered eye fragment show that this statue could have been up to six meters tall, making it the tallest statue of the deity known from ancient Egypt.

Back pillar of the 30th dynasty Among the pieces of king Psamtek I’s statue, RAUE explained, the mission found a collecion of red granite fragments of a King Ramses II statue engraved with his Horus name. Also found in the debris were fragments of a Late Period statue decorated with depicions of gods and demons in the style of the Horus- the-saviour stelae and statues. Tis kind of statue was commonly used in ancient Egyptian temples and believed to hold healing powers for ill individuals. At the northern edge of the area, RAUE said, a poorly preserved eight-ton fragment was also extraced. Due to its deteriorated state, Egyptologists were not able to determine its exac dating or to whom it belongs. ‘Isa Zaydân, head of the restoration department at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), told Ahram Online that the newly discovered fragments of king Psamtik I’s colossus were transported to the museum for cleaning, restoration and archaeological documentation. After a full study of the artefacs, Zaydân noted, a plan will be devised to reconstruc the parts of the colossus and put it on display at the GEM.

Te upper part of the colossus, which includes of the torso and a large part of the head and crown, is currently on display at the museological garden of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr. Until its discovery last spring, it had sat under the water table in Sûq al-Khamîs neighbourhood, an area heavily congested with housing.

Statue base of king Ramses II Matariyya was once Egypt’s capital city, in which most Egyptian kings ereced their monuments within its temples for about 2400 years. Because of the area’s proximity to continued human settlement, the site was heavily destroyed in subsequent millennia, from Late Roman times onward to the Mameluk era and until today. Blocks of the area’s ancient temples were re-used to build various monuments in Old Cairo, such as Bâb al-Nasr and others. (Nevine El-Aref, “Te lower part of 26th Dynasty king Psamtik I colossus uncovered in Cairo’s Matariyya”, Ahram Online, Ocober 9, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte de nouveaux fragments du colosse de Psammétique 1er à Matariyya », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de nouveaux fragments du colosse de Psammétique 1er à Matariyya », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 9 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la mise au jour de fragments inférieurs du colosse de 1er Psammétique », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 9 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Découverte de fragments des statues de Psammétique 1er et de Rê-Horakhty à Matariyya », Sada al-Balad, 9 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Mise au jour de fragments inférieurs du colosse de 1er Psammétique à Matariyya », al-Wafd, 9 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Mise au jour de nouveaux fragments du colosse de Matariyya », al-Ahrâm, 10 ocobre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Découverte de fragments inférieurs du colosse de Psammétique 1er », Watanî, 10 ocobre ; “Large number of granites of King Psamtik I, statue of god Ra-Hor-Akhti, uncovered in Matariyya”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 13). Le musée archéologique de la Nouvelle Vallée organise aujourd’hui une exposition sur l’histoire de l’armée égyptienne depuis l’époque pharaonique jusqu’à nos jours. Destinée aux élèves, cette exposition s’inscrit dans le cadre des festivités commémorant la vicoire de la guerre du Kippour, en ocobre 1973. Le direceur du musée, Târiq Mahmûd, précise que cette exposition vise à présenter l’histoire de l’armée égyptienne ainsi que les différentes armes antiques utilisées autrefois. (Mansûr Abû al-‘Alamayn, « Exposition sur l’histoire de l’armée égyptienne au musée de la Nouvelle Vallée », Sada al-Balad, 9 ocobre 2017).

Te bed of King Tut carried by experts ahead of its escort to the GEM in Gîza Te second ceremonial bed of King Tutankhamun was escorted on Monday from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in Gîza, in preparation for its soft opening in mid-2018. Te bed was moved using a specially made hydraulic vehicle to prevent any vibrations that might cause damage, with a team of 20 archaeologists supervising the process, said Târiq Tawfîq, the GEM’s general supervisor.

Te frst gilded bed and a funeral chariot from Tutankhamun’s tomb were transferred last May as part of a plan to move 1,000 artifacs to the GEM. Te Grand Egyptian Museum had been scheduled to open in 2015, but its construcion has been delayed due to the expense involved, amounting to more than $1 billion. (Nevine El-Aref, “Tutankhamun’s second bed transferred to new Grand Egyptian Museum in Gîza”, Ahram Online, Ocober 10, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Transfert vers le GEM du lit de Toutankhamon et de 9 fragments de textiles royaux », Sada al-Balad, 9 ocobre ; Umniya Fawzî, « Transfert du lit de Toutankhamon vers le GEM », al- Fagr, 20 ocobre). Dans un courrier adressé au ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al-‘Inânî, la National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS) a proposé ses services en vue de la mise en place d’un programme de relevés radar de la zone du Sphinx de Gîza. Ces relevés englobent l’établissement de cartes 3D. Selon la TASS Russian News Agency, la NARSS possède une panoplie de radars russes, capables d’explorer minutieusement le sous-sol jusqu’à 400 m de profondeur. (Mu’min Mukhtâr, « Une compagnie russe propose un projet de relevés radar de l’environnement du Sphinx », Sada al-Balad, 10 ocobre 2017).

Te Ministry of Antiquities is offering visitors to King Seti I tomb in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank a free visit to the neighbouring King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the free visit would be only for one day, Wednesday, 17 Ocober, for King Seti I visitors. He explains that the free visit to the Tutankhamun tomb comes within the framework of the ministry’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the King Seti I tomb. (Nevine El-Aref, “Free visit to Tutankhamun’s tomb, 17 Ocober”, Ahram Online, Ocober 11, 2017. Voir également Muhammad al- Samkûrî, « Accès gratuit mardi à la tombe de Toutankhamon pour les détenteurs de billets de la tombe de Séthi Ier à Louqsor », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 10 ocobre ; Radwa Hâshim, « 1 000 L. E. pour visiter la tombe de Séthi Ier et accès gratuit à cette de Toutankhamon », al-Watan, 18 ocobre). Sulaymân M. , agriculteur âgé de 18 ans, et Nûr Sh. , mère de famille de 19 ans, ont péri étouffés au fond d’un puits qu’ils creusaient à la recherche d’antiquités. L’accident s’est produit dans le village Sa‘da Abû Khalîfa, à Fâqûs dans le gouvernorat d’al-Sharqiyya. Une enquête judiciaire est ouverte. (Walîd Sâlih, « Décès d’un agriculteur et d’une mère de famille lors de fouilles archéologiques illicites à al-Sharqiyya », al- Masrî al-Yawm, 11 ocobre 2017. Voir également Islâm ‘Alî, « Un ouvrier et une mère de famille trouvent la mort lors de fouilles clandestines à al-Sharqiyya », al-Fagr, 11 ocobre).

A Swiss-French archaeological mission direced by Professor Philippe COLLOMBERT from the University of Geneva has unearthed a large granite pyramidion, or pyramid peak, probably belonging Queen Ankhnespepy II, in the Saqqâra necropolis.

Tis is the second discovery in a week by the Swiss-French mission, according to the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Wazîrî. Te team previously unearthed the largest obelisk fragment ever discovered from the Old Kingdom, measuring 2. 5 meters tall. Tis week’s discovery measures 1. 3 metres high and 1. 1 metres wide on its sides. Its upper part is partly destroyed, but shows that it had been covered by metal foil, either gold or copper. “Te surface of the pyramidion’s lower part is not clean, as if it had been reused, or better, as if it had been left unfnished,” COLLOMBERT pointed out, adding that the area under the pyramidion is clearly smooth, and also shows the usual carved recesses that permit its fxation of top of the pyramid. “We think that it is the pyramidion of the satellite pyramid of Queen Ankhnespepy II, as it was found near the place where we should expec the satellite pyramid to have been located,” COLLOMBERT told Ahram Online. He asserted that this fragment comprised the only part of this secondary pyramid yet to be found. Te queen’s main burial pyramid was discovered in Saqqâra in 1998. Te Head of the Ancient Egyptian Secor at Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities, Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî, said that the mission is progressing well this archaeological season, and that the new discovery suggests the team will soon locate the queen’s complete funerary complex. (Nevine El-Aref, “Old Kingdom pyramid peak discovered in Saqqâra”, Ahram Online, Ocober 12, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Découverte de la partie supérieure d’un obélisque appartenant à la mère de Pépi II », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 4 ocobre ; « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte à Saqqâra de la partie supérieure de l’obélisque de Ânkhésenpépi II », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 4 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte d’un fragment de l’obélisque de Ânkhésenpépi II », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 4 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Mise au jour à Saqqâra de l’obélisque de la mère de Pépi II », Sada al-Balad, 4 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Découverte de l’obélisque de Ânkhésenpépi II à Saqqâra », al-Wafd, 4 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Mise au jour de l’obélisque de la reine Ânkhésenpépi II », al-Ahrâm, 5 ocobre ; “French-Swiss archaeological mission unearth mini-pyramid in Saqqâra”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 12). Lors d’un checkpoint au Vieux-Caire, la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités a arrêté 3 individus en possession de 66 pièces archéologiques cachées dans le coffre d’une voiture. Il s’agit entre autres de 50 ouchebtis en calcaire, de 5 autres ouchebtis et d’une statuette en granite noir, de 3 pièces en bois… (Nâgî al-Girgâwî, « Saisie de 66 pièces antiques », al-Ahrâm, 12 ocobre 2017).

View of the temple looking south. Courtesy of the Czech Institute of Egyptology Parts of a temple to King Ramses II (1213. 1279 BC), along with reliefs of solar deities, have been uncovered by an Egyptian-Czech mission during excavation work in Abûsîr necropolis in the governorate of Gîza Muhammad Migâhid, deputy to the mission direcor, told Ahram Online that the temple is located in an area that forms a natural transition between a terrace of the Nile and the foodplain in Abûsîr. He added that the temple is 32 by 52 metres and behind it was a large forecourt along with two identical and considerably long storage buildings to the right and left side of the complex.

Studies carried out so far, Migâhid explained, show that it can be assumed that stone columns lined the sidewalls of the court, which was enclosed by mud brick walls that were in at least some places painted blue.

View of the entrance pylon of the temple with Abûsîr pyramids on the horizon. Courtesy of the Czech Institute of Egyptology Te rear end of the court, a ramp or staircase leads to an elevated stone sancuary whose back part was divided into three parallel chambers. “Te remains of this building, which constitutes the very core of the complex, were covered with huge deposits of sand and chips of stone of which many bore fragments of polychrome reliefs,” Professor Miroslav BÁRTA, direcor of the Czech mission, told Ahram Online. He pointed out that the fragments not only show the decorative scheme of the sancuary, but also funcion to help date the entire complex.

Cartouche of Ramses II. Courtesy of the Czech Institute of Egyptology A relief on which is engraved the different titles of King Ramses II was also found, as well as another conneced to the cult of solar deities such as Re, Amun and Nekhbet. “Te discovery of the Ramses II temple provides unique evidence on building and religious acivities of the king in Memphis area and at the same time shows the permanent status of the cult of sun god Re who was venerated in Abûsîr since the 5th Dynasty and onwards to the New Kingdom,” BÁRTA asserted. (Nevine El-Aref, “Parts of a Ramses II temple uncovered in Gîza’s Abûsîr”, Ahram Online, Ocober 15, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Nouvelle découverte archéologique à Abûsîr », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 15 ocobre ; “Czech excavation uncovers temple of King Ramses II in Abûsîr”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 15 ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Découverte de vestiges du temple de Ramsès II à Abûsîr », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 15 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de vestiges du temple de Ramsès II à Gîza », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 15 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Mise au jour de vestiges du temple de Ramsès II à Abûsîr », al-Ahrâm, 16 ocobre ; Dalia Farouq, « Abûsîr désormais reliée à Memphis », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 25 ocobre). Le tribunal militaire d’Asyût a ordonné aujourd’hui le renvoi du procès des 21 accusés d’avoir saccagé le musée archéologique de Mallawî à l’audience du 22 ocobre prochain. Selon une source judiciaire, les accusés ont déjà été condamnés à perpétuité par contumace. Ils sont aujourd’hui rejugés suite à leur arrestation. (« Le procès des 21 accusés de saccage du musée de Mallawî est renvoyé au 22 ocobre », al- Fagr, 15 ocobre 2017).

Construit en 1807 sous le règne de Muhammad ‘Alî, le moulin du quartier d’al-Mandara, à Alexandrie, est connu de peu de gens. « Muhammad ‘Alî pacha avait ordonné la construcion d’un certain nombre de moulins pour faciliter l’opération de mouture des céréales et les transformer en farine », explique Muhammad Mitwallî, direceur des monuments islamiques, coptes et juifs d’Alexandrie et de la Côte- Nord. Ce site antique témoignant d’une époque de gloire et de prospérité, le ministère des Antiquités veut en maintenir l’attracivité.

Pour cette raison, il vient de publier des recommandations pour toutes les nouvelles construcions autour du moulin, comme une hauteur maximale de 9 m et le fait qu’elles ne doivent pas comporter d’ouvertures sur le moulin. (« Conserver l’attracivité du moulin d’al-Mandara », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 18 ocobre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Les empiètements sur le moulin d’al-Mandara combattus pour la troisième fois », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 12 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Retrait des empiètements sur le moulin d’al- Mandara », Sada al-Balad, 12 ocobre).

Te discovered head of the queen A French-Swiss archaeological team have unearthed the head of a wooden statute of Queen Ankhnespepy II (6th Dynasty, Old Kingdom, around 2350 BC), near her pyramid in the Saqqâra area in Gîza. Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the head is of almost-human proportions, and is around 30cm high. Te ears are decorated with wooden earrings. Professor Philippe COLLOMBERT, the head of the Geneva University mission, said that the head was found in a disturbed layer to the east of the queen’s pyramid near the area where the pyramidion was uncovered early this week. Over the last two weeks, he said, the mission has uncovered the upper part of a granite obelisk that may belong to the queen’s funerary temple, as well as the pyramidion of what may be an undiscovered satellite pyramid. COLLOMBERT said that the head is not in good condition and will be subjeced to restoration and documentation. “It is a promising area that could reveal more of its secrets soon,” Wazîrî told Ahram Online, adding that the mission is to continue its excavations in an attempt to discover the satellite pyramid and the rest of her funerary complex and collecion. (Nevine El-Aref, “Head of Queen Ankhnespepy II statue discovered in Gîza’s Saqqâra”, Ahram Online, Ocober 18, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’une tête de statue de la VIe dynastie à Saqqâra », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 18 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Découverte d’une tête en bois de la mère de Pépi II à Saqqâra », Sada al- Balad, 18 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte au Sud de Saqqâra d’une tête de statue de Ânkhésenpépi II », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 18 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Mise au jour à Saqqâra d’une statuette de la reine Ânkhésenpépi II », al-Ahrâm, 19 ocobre ; “Head of Queen Ankhnespepy II statue unearthed in Saqqâra”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 19). Le ministère des Antiquités vient de rouvrir le musée dédié au maréchal allemand ROMMEL, situé dans une grotte sur une île à 2 km et demi de Marsa Matrûh. Après près de dix ans de fermeture et moyennant un budget de 2,5 millions de L. E. versé par le gouvernorat de Marsa Matrûh, le ministère a ainsi pu achever le grand projet de restauration, d’aménagement et de réhabilitation du musée.

« Les travaux, suspendus depuis 2010 à cause d’un défcit budgétaire, n’ont repris qu’au début de cette année, par une restauration de la grotte et la conservation de ses pièces », explique Ilhâm Salâh, direcrice du seceur des musées au ministère des Antiquités. Elle explique que l’équipe de restaurateurs a complètement refait la muséologie du site et installé de nouveaux systèmes d’éclairage, de drainage ainsi que des caméras de surveillance.

La grotte où se trouvent les affaires de ROMMEL Erwin ROMMEL avait choisi cette grotte, que les Romains avaient utilisée pour stocker des céréales, pour en faire sa cachette lors de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, notamment pendant la bataille décisive d’al- ‘Alamayn. En 1977, le ministère de la Culture a transformé la grotte en un musée militaire au nom du commandant.

Quelques fusils utilisés par le « Renard du désert ». La grotte ROMMEL se compose d’une simple petite porte conduisant à un couloir, puis d’une grande salle. Elle renferme quelques armes utilisées pendant la guerre. Le buste du maréchal accueille les visiteurs. Le musée comprend également une collecion d’objets personnels du maréchal, offerts par son fls au gouvernorat de Matrûh, quelques années après le suicide du maréchal en Allemagne : son uniforme militaire, son célèbre manteau, son bureau et quelques photos prises avec ses soldats, en plus des cartes de la bataille d’al-‘Alamayn entre les Allemands et les Alliés, en particulier les Britanniques. « Les vitrines renfermant les objets ont été rendues plus résistibles, afn de les sécuriser », indique Salâh. En effet, en 1994, le musée avait été menacé de clôture après avoir été complètement vidé par des voleurs. Quelques jours après la publication de la nouvelle, tous les objets ont été retrouvés, emballés et abandonnés à l’entrée du bureau du journal al-Ahrâm à Marsa Matrûh. Les responsables du bureau les avaient remis au Conseil Suprême des Antiquités de l’époque et la grotte avait été rouverte. « Depuis, les responsables des antiquités tentent de sécuriser nos trésors de la meilleure manière possible », assure la direcrice du seceur des musées. Salâh ajoute que l’idée d’ouvrir le musée pendant la nuit sera mise en œuvre dans quelques jours pour offrir aux visiteurs la possibilité d’une visite nocurne après une journée à la plage. (Nasma Réda, « Le musée ROMMEL restauré », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 18 ocobre 2017).

Archaeologists and their teams working through the autumn excavation season from September through November have made important discoveries at sites around the Abûsîr necropolis, Saqqâra and the Matariyya archaeological site. At the Abûsîr necropolis, 30km south of the Gîza Plateau, a mission from the Czech Institute of Egyptology at the Charles University in Prague has stumbled upon what is believed to be the remains of a Ramses II temple including the foundations of its sancuary, pillar hall, a pylon as well as relief fragments engraved with scenes conneced to the cult of the solar deities. Te temple was uncovered at the eastern edge of the north side of Abûsîr in an area that forms a natural transition between a terrace of the Nile and the foodplain.

“It is a unique discovery,” direcor of the Czech mission Miroslav BÁRTA told Al-Ahram Weekly. He added that uncovering a temple of Ramses II in an Old Kingdom necropolis provided unique evidence of the building and religious acivities of the Pharaoh in the Memphis area and the permanent status of the cult of the sun god Ra. Te latter was venerated in Abûsîr from the Fifth Dynasty to the New Kingdom when Ramses II reigned. “Tis could easily change the history of such a necropolis, as it sheds more light on the importance of Abûsîr for religion and ideology during the New Kingdom,” BÁRTA said. Deputy to the mission direcor Muhammad Migâhid said that the temple remains measured 32. 51m in ground plan and could be entered through a large mud-brick pylon. Behind this was a large forecourt that leads direcly into the stone court and into two identical long storage buildings that originally enclosed the right and left sides of the temple. Early examinations had revealed that parts of the walls were originally painted blue. At the rear end of the court, Migâhid said, there was a ramp or staircase giving access to an elevated stone sancuary whose back was divided into three parallel rooms. Te remains of this building, the core of the complex, were covered with deposits of sand and stone, among them fragments of polychrome reliefs. “Tese fnds are a priceless source not only for the reconstrucion of the sancuary decoration style, but also for the funcion and dating of the entire complex,” Migâhid said. Ramses II and his royal titles are attested among the relief fragments as well as the names of solar deities such as Ra, Amun and Nekhbet. Te temple itself fts both the state ideology of Ramses II and local traditions stressing the cult of the sun. Te Czech mission has worked in Abûsîr since 2012, and earlier discoveries led them to the discovery of this temple. Abûsîr is the Arabic name for the Greek Busiris, which in turn is a rendering of the ancient Egyptian name Per-Usir, which means “the House of Osiris”, the god of the dead and resurrecion. Te royal interest in Abûsîr began with the reign of Userkaf, the founder of the Fifth Dynasty, who chose the site to build a remarkable solar temple. Some of his successors also built their own burial and solar temples there, the last solar temple being built by Menkauhor at the end of the dynasty. An important necropolis for the Memphite aristocracy has also been found, as well as tombs dating from the 26th and 27th dynasties, showing that Abûsîr remained an important funerary site until the end of the Pharaonic era.

Pyramidion of Queen Ankhnespepy II At the Saqqâra necropolis, a French-Swiss mission from the University of Geneva has discovered two important Old Kingdom remains that may be the frst evidence of a long-lost satellite pyramid and a funerary temple of the Sixth Dynasty queen Ankhnespepy II. Te mission uncovered the pyramidion, the uppermost part of a pyramid, and the upper part of an obelisk, both belonging to Ankhnespepy II, the infuential wife of Pepy I. She was also the mother of Pepy II and ruled as regent until he came of age. “She is probably the frst queen to have pyramid texts inscribed into her pyramid, explaining her infuence during that time,” Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Wazîrî told the Weekly. “Before her, such inscriptions were only carved on the pyramids of kings. After Ankhnespepy II, some wives of Pepy II did the same. ”

He said that her burial chamber had been discovered in 1963 and her pyramid uncovered in 1998, but archaeologists were still searching for evidence of the smaller satellite pyramids normally built nearby. “Te discovery of the pyramidion confrms the existence of the satellite pyramid,” Wazîrî said. Philippe COLLOMBERT, head of the archaeological mission, said the pyramidion was found at the northern side of Pepy I’s pyramid and measured 1. 3m high and 1. 1m wide on its sides. Its upper part has been partly destroyed, but it was originally covered by metal foil, either gold or copper, a technique used to make the top of the strucure glint in the sun. Of the obelisk, COLLOMBERT said that it was carved of red granite and was the largest obelisk fragment from the Old Kingdom ever discovered at 2. 5m tall. “We can estimate the original full size of the obelisk at around 5m high,” he said. He added that the top of the obelisk had a small defecion indicating that it could have been covered with metal slabs, probably of copper or golden foil, to make the obelisk glint in the sun. Wazîrî said the obelisk was unearthed at the eastern side of the queen’s pyramid and funerary complex, confrming that it was removed from its original location at the entrance of her funerary temple. “Queens of the Sixth Dynasty usually had two small obelisks at the entrance to their funerary temple, but this obelisk was found further away from the entrance of the complex of Ankhnespepy II,” Wazîrî said, suggesting that it may have been dragged away.

Te mission started its excavations in 1963 when French Egyptologist Jean-Philippe LAUER started the frst archaeological concession there, followed by Jean LECLANT in his attempts to study the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts. Starting in 1987, the mission excavated the queen’s necropolis in the area around the Pepy I pyramid complex. (Nevine El-Aref, “Finding buried treasure”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 19, 2017. Voir également Nevine El-Aref, “Archaeologists unearth largest-ever discovered obelisk fragment from Egypt’s Old Kingdom”, Ahram Online, Ocober 4 ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Découverte d’un pyramidion à Saqqâra », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 12 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la mise au jour d’un nouveau pyramidion à Saqqâra », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 12 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Découverte d’un pyramidion au Sud de Saqqâra », Sada al-Balad, 12 ocobre ; Nasma Réda, « Merveilles d’Égypte », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 18 ocobre). L’inspecorat de Louqsor a annoncé une hausse de 30 % à 100 % des tarifs d’accès aux différents sites archéologiques du gouvernorat. Cette majoration, qui a été ajournée plusieurs fois, vise à fnancer les projets de fouilles et de restauration archéologiques. Malgré cette dernière augmentation des prix, les tarifs d’accès restent les plus bas au monde. À titre d’exemple, le ticket de visite de la tombe de Toutankhamon passe de 100 à 200 L. E. ; ceux du temple d’Hatchepsout et de la Vallée des Reines passent de 40 à 80 L. E. ; ceux du temple de Karnak et du musée de Louqsor passent de 80 à 120 L. E. ; celui du temple de Louqsor passe de 60 à 100 L. E. (Amânî Khayrî, « Hausse de 30 à 100 % des tarifs d’accès aux temples et aux tombes de Louqsor », Watanî, 19 ocobre 2017). Recent claims made about the Sphinx and Pyramids at Gîza are little more than

hallucinations, writes Zâhî Hawwâs. I can answer the recent claims that have been made about a “second Sphinx” with only Toes of King Psamtik

one word: hallucinations. Many people who do not have knowledge of Egyptology continue to come up with theories that have no truth to them. Others have only studied Egyptology as undergraduates, but are still tempted to come up with new theories as part of their search for fame. Te frst time the theory of the existence of a second Sphinx was published was a long time ago by an Italian author. It was then adopted by a tour guide, and then again by an Egyptian archaeologist. Tese men are now fghting amongst themselves because each of them claims that it was his theory frst.

Te theory states that there was once a second Sphinx located to the south of the causeway on the Gîza Plateau. It was of the same size as the existing one, and it was placed in parallel to it. Te theory is based on a text inscribed on what is known as the “Inventory Stele”, or the “Stele of Cheops’s Daughter”. Te 19th-century French Egyptologist Auguste MARIETTE, head of the Antiquities Department at the time, found this stela during his excavations at the Temple of Isis located to the east of the Pyramid of Queen Henutsen, the wife of the Pharaoh Khufu. Further evidence supposed to prove the existence of the second Sphinx is found in the “Dream Stele” located between the two paws of the Sphinx. Tis shows the Sphinx twice, with the Pharaoh Tutmose IV shown giving offerings to each of the two depicions of the Sphinx. It is also claimed that in ancient Egyptian art and architecure a statue was always placed on each side of an entrance or doorway. Tis can be seen in Pyramid complexes or temples, as well as in religious strucures. Tose who support the idea of a second Sphinx also say that the stele that represents night and day is inscribed with the shape of a hill or horizon on the right and another one on the left. In front of the two hills stand two lions. One is called “the day” and is shown sending a small ball from his mouth to the lion standing on the other hill called “tomorrow”. It is argued that this explains the presence of a lion or sphinx in front of the Pyramid of Khufu representing the right hill in the stele, and the presence of another lion in front of the Pyramid of Khafre to represent the left hill. Te latter is the supposed second Sphinx. It has also been argued that in 1994 a satellite took photographs proving the existence of a huge stone statue parallel to the Sphinx in front of the Valley Temple and lying some 15 feet deep. All these theories are false and are based on a misreading of the evidence. Tey will be refuted here.

Research at the Sphinx First, regarding the “Inventory Stele” or the “Stele of Cheops’ Daughter”, this is dated to the Late Period of ancient Egyptian history and perhaps to the 26th Dynasty. Te French Egyptologist Gaston MASPERO wrote that this stele probably bears a copy of an older text dating to the Fourth Dynasty, but he did not give evidence to support this opinion. believe that the priests of Isis produced this stele in the Late Period to add value to their institution by claiming that the temple of Isis dated to a more ancient time. Tey added the second Sphinx because the inscription on the stele says that Khufu founded both the Temple of Isis and built the Sphinx. Tey thus claimed that their temple and the Sphinx to which it was associated were built at Gîza before Khufu’s reign.

As for the claim that entrances to Pyramid complexes and temples always had two statues guarding them, this cannot be stated as a fac. Te Gîza Sphinx, for example, is a unique case. Te Sphinx is not located in front of a temple, and the temple is located in front of the Sphinx. Regarding the claim that the thunder mentioned in the “Stele of Cheops’ Daughter” destroyed the second Sphinx, both archaeologists and geologists agree that thunder and lightning can destroy trees, like the ones once located in the Valley of the Gazelles between Gîza and Saqqâra. But they cannot destroy a statue of a Sphinx, especially if it is cut into the solid rock. Even if we agree that the second Sphinx was destroyed in this way, why was the frst Sphinx left unharmed? If the second Sphinx had been destroyed, we would also have seen the remains of it. Written texts cannot always be taken as evidence of historical events. Tey have to be carefully reviewed, as sometimes the ancient Egyptians wrote texts for propaganda or political purposes. As for the stele that represents the sequence of night and day, indicating right. hand and left-hand hills, from the very beginning of their history the ancient Egyptians believed in the existence of “Akhet” or the horizon. Te symbol for “Akhet” was two lions presented back to back to represent the east and the west with the sun rising and setting from them. Tat symbol could easily be mistaken as evidence for the presence of a second Sphinx. In Spell 27 in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, the appearance of two lions, one to the east and another to the west, is mentioned, with between them the sign of “Akhet” or the horizon direcly under the sun. Te ancient Egyptians drew on religious myths, and they produced depicions of two arms raising the sun, meaning the rising of the sun. All of these are images of religious ideas, and they have nothing to do with the acual existence of a second Sphinx. It is suggested that there was once a second Sphinx to the south of the existing one where the Pyramid City of Khentkawes is located. But archaeologist Silîm Hasan has excavated in that area, along with others, and no one who has excavated there or at the Valley Temple of Menkaure has ever found any evidence of a Sphinx. A glance at a map of the Gîza Plateau will show that there is no room to accommodate a second Sphinx.

Void tunnel uncovered beneath the Sphinx Te existing Sphinx is conneced to the Pharaoh Khafre and his cult. Te name of the Sphinx is “Hor-m- akhet”, meaning “the Horus of the horizon”. After the name of the Sphinx comes the hieroglyphic determinative of the two horizons with the sun disk between them. Te ancient Egyptian architec placed the Sphinx, which represents the sun god, between the Pyramid of Khufu and that of Khafre, suggesting that the sun rises and sets between the two Pyramids like the two horizons. Te architec of the Sphinx placed it in this location so that the sun sets twice a year over the Sphinx’s shoulder. It also aligns exacly with the sancuary of the Sphinx’s temple. Tis shows that the ancient Egyptians knew the principles of solar alignment some 4,500 years ago, and not 2,500 as claimed by some astronomers. Te ancient Egyptians intended to place the Sphinx in its present location. It was intended to represent the Pharaoh Khafre as the god Horus that rises and sets in the temple in front of the Sphinx. Tere was no need to carve another sphinx.

Te Gîza Plateau is part of the Muqattam formation, and the bedrock from which the Sphinx was made was already in bad condition when it was carved. Te frst and the second levels of the rock formation were used for the animal’s chest and the third level as its head. Te ancient Egyptians covered the body with stone blocks to model the statue’s body. NO SECRET CITY: Te UK newspaper the Sunday Express has recently published another theory that claims there is a hole in the back of the Sphinx’s head leading to a “secret city” under the Sphinx. Te newspaper also says that two scholars, otherwise unknown, discovered this information. I am confdent that no respeced scholar could state nonsense like this. For in fac the hole in the back of the Sphinx’s head was frst opened by English explorer Howard VYSE, who opened up tunnels in the Sphinx using dynamite in 1837. Te frst he opened behind the “Dream Stela”, and the second he opened in the back of the head of the Sphinx and reaching down 15 metres inside the animal’s body. Te third was located on the north side and was opened by French Egyptologist Émile BARAIZE, who also carried out major restoration work on the Sphinx. Te last is located behind the head of the Sphinx, going down through its body. In 1987, Egyptologist Mark LEHNER and I started a projec to clean these four tunnels. Te one opened by BARAIZE in 1922 was reopened during the restoration of the Sphinx begun in 1999. We mapped the tunnels and found that people who believed there were secrets hidden under the Sphinx had cut them during the 26th Dynasty, but nothing has ever been found inside them. A description of the tunnels can be found in our new book published by Tames and Hudson in London this month. During my investigations, I also found that the water table had begun to rise in front of the Sphinx, making it necessary to lower it to protec the statue. Te Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University conduced drilling work around the Sphinx, carrying out fve test-drills through the Sphinx and down through the bedrock to a depth of 20 metres. We have photographs showing the substrucure of the Sphinx. It is made of solid rock and there is nothing hidden underneath it. People who put forward such false theories do so because they want to prove that the Pyramids and Sphinx were not built in the Fourth Dynasty, but by a “lost civilisation” dating back 15,000 years. To prove such people wrong, I have only to mention one great discovery made recently by the French archaeologist Pierre TALLET who has found at Wâdî al-Garf in Suez a papyrus that in my opinion can be considered to be the most important discovery in Egyptology of the 21st century. Te papyrus has been translated by TALLET, and it talks about a man called “Merer” who had the title of “inspecor” and was in charge of a team of 40 workmen working on the construcion of the Great Pyramid at Gîza. Merer says that he went with his workmen to Tura, where white limestone was quarried to be used for the casing of the Pyramid. He mentions the transportation of stone blocks on ships that sail on the Nile and go through canals to the Pyramid site. We know that the ancient Egyptians cut a wide canal parallel to the Nile and that this was conneced with smaller canals running to the Gîza Plateau and conneced to harbours. Merer says that he left Tura for Wâdî al-Garf, where there was a port. He might have gone there to bring mined copper from Sinai. He lists the date as year 27 of Khufu’s reign, a date also mentioned in a fnd made in a quarry in the Western Desert where “Mafet” was quarried. (Mafet is a kind of red dye used for writing on pyramid blocks). Merer also says that Ankh-kaf was the overseer of a place called “r-she”, meaning the “mouth of the lake. ” It is thought that “r-she” could have been the area where the delivery of food and stones took place for the building of the Pyramid. Te remains of huge walls have been found at Nazlat al-Sîsî, suggesting that this area could have been “r-she”. During the construcion of the Pyramids, the Gîza Plateau would have been very busy.

Granite blocks would have come from Aswân to Gîza, being counted at the gate of “r-she”, in addition to blocks of fne limestone and basalt. Food came to the Gîza Plateau from wealthy households all over Egypt. Merer says that it took a day to reach the place where the Pyramid was being built, possibly because of the crowd at the entrance and the huge stones at the construcion site. According to TALLET, the area in front of the Sphinx was called Ankh-Khufu, which means “life of Khufu”. In the past, I have argued that the Pharaoh did not live at Memphis because it was too far away. Had he decided to visit the site of the Pyramids, it would have taken him a day because there were no horses at that time. But in the tomb of Sennedjemininty at Gîza, there is an inscription that says that the Pharaoh Djed-ka-re Isesi of the Fifth Dynasty lived in a palace at Gîza. Te Wâdî al-Garf papyrus also indicates the Pharaoh’s palace was located at Gîza, indicating that the king ruled Egypt from the Pyramids site. NO LAKE OF WATER: Some people have thought that under the Great Pyramid there is a lake of water. But there is no such lake, and the evidence for it is taken from a garbled account by the ancient Greek historian HERODOTUS. However, there is a shaft to the south of the causeway of Khafre’s Pyramid and water about 20 metres below the opening. Tis shaft was unstudied, and our knowledge of it came from HERODOTUS. When I excavated the shaft, I found that it was a symbolic burial of the god Osiris. I found four pillars in it, and within them a sarcophagus surrounded by water. We also found small tunnels in the last room that made people believe they had reached under the Great Pyramid and Sphinx. But people always think there are tunnels everywhere in Gîza. For the past 40 years, there have been many expeditions using radar and other sophisticated equipment. Many of them have described the hollows found inside the Pyramid of Khufu, seeing these as secret rooms. However, some of expeditions have been more interested in publicity for their equipment than true information. Te base of the Pyramids was cut some eight m into the solid bedrock. Large stone blocks were placed above this. It is therefore not surprising that there should be hollows everywhere inside the Pyramids. (Zâhî Hawwâs, “No second Sphinx”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 19, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Réponse de Zâhî Hawwâs à ceux qui prétendent l’existence d’un deuxième Sphinx : Mensonges et divagations », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 ocobre ; ‘Abd al-Hamîd Gum‘a, « Toute la vérité sur le deuxième Sphinx », al-Watan, 14 ocobre).

Rosy plates of the teas set Te Badr City Antiquities Unit of Egypt’s Customs Authority foiled an attempt Wednesday night to smuggle a collecion of six 19th century porcelain pots and two metal jardinière to Lebanon. Ahmad al-Râwî, head of the Seized Antiquities Unit at the Ministry of Antiquities, explained that the items were seized at Badr City’s dry land port, confscated, and sent to the ministry because they fall under the legal category of Egyptian antiquities, which are proteced by the Antiquities Law 117/1983 and its later amendment in law 3/2010. Ahmad Fattûh, Direcor of the Antiquities Units in Dry Land Ports, said that the collecion includes a vase decorated with fora and fauna as well as a rose-coloured tea set of fve cups, complete with plates and a sugar container, which depic a European woman surrounded by plants.

Direcor of the Badr Antiquities Unit, Mamdûh Abû ‘Ammâr, said that also among the confscated lot were two metal jardinière bearing the monogram of Egypt’s King Fârûq.

Jardinière with king Fârûq monogram Illegally transported antiquities and heritage items are a common fnd at Egyptian ports. al-Râwî told Ahram Online that authorities at Cairo International Airport recently seized original scripts for a well. known Egyptian radio program, "Tasâlî," which aired in the 1970s and 1980s and was presented by famous Egyptian anchor Inâs Guhar. (Nevine El-Aref, “Attempt to smuggle 19th century antiques to Lebanon foiled by Egyptian authorities”, Ahram Online, Ocober 19, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Tentative déjouée d’exportation illicite vers le Liban de pièces du XIXe siècle », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 19 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Saisie d’une collecion d’ustensiles archéologiques », Sada al-Balad, 19 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Échec d’une tentative d’exportation illicite d’une grande quantité d’antiquités vers le Liban », al-Wafd, 19 ocobre).

Te Egyptian Antiquities Ministry is currently intensifying its efforts to complete the transfer of antiquities from the Egyptian Museum located inside Tahrîr square and other archaeological locations to the Egyptian Grand Museum (GEM), which is still under construcion. Te Egyptian Antiquities Ministry is seeking turning the GEM into the biggest museum in the world and also to rightly value the antiquities pieces being displayed there that are affiliated to the Pharaonic, Greek and Roman civilizations. According to the state-run newspaper al-Ahrâm, the GEM will comprise 100,000 artifacs; only 42,000 pieces have been arrived to the museum so far. Te Egyptian Antiquities Minister Khâlid al. ‘Inânî stated previously that the GEM will be opened by mid-2018 and also noted that the total cost of the construcion process of the establishment will be EGP 20 billion. Moreover, the Egyptian Minister of International Co-operation Sahar Nasr has also asserted that the museum will be one of the biggest museums in the world. It is expeced to contribute to the development of Egypt’s tourism secor, providing an international museum for the 21st century that shows the development of Egyptian civilization throughout the ages. (“Egypt races against time to build biggest artefac museum in the world”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 20, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le GEM achève la restauration de 90 % des pièces de sa collecion », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 4 ocobre). Le superviseur général du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM), Dr Târiq Tawfîq, a révélé que le coût de ce projet s’élève à environ 1 milliard de dollars. Cette somme reste malgré tout raisonnable comparée à d’autres projets pharaoniques. Elle aurait dû quintupler en cas de retard du projet. Le Japon a ocroyé à l’Égypte deux prêts de 750 millions de dollars à des conditions très intéressantes, et qui ont permis de concrétiser ce rêve. Bien que l’achèvement du projet du GEM soit prévu en 2022, les services d’ingénierie des Forces armées déploient acuellement d’énormes efforts, afn d’avancer cette date. Par ailleurs, Dr Tawfîq a annoncé que le club de Tir appartenant à l’armée sera rasé, afn de faciliter les travaux de construcion du GEM. Un autre club sera construit ailleurs. Quant à l’emplacement de l’acuel club, il sera transformé en zone touristique avec un parcours reliant le GEM au plateau de Gîza. (Dâlyâ al- Husayn, « Le projet du GEM coûte 1 milliard de dollars », al-Fagr, 20 ocobre 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie dévoile le coût de construcion du GEM et le montant de la participation japonaise », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 30 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Le GEM est l’un des projets culturels les plus importants au Proche Orient », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 30 ocobre ; MENA, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Le Japon a assumé 75 % des frais du projet du GEM », Sada al- Balad, 30 ocobre).

Egyptian officials joined hundreds of tourists on Sunday to watch the bi-annual phenomenon of the solar illumination of the statue of King Ramses II at Abû Simbil in Aswân governorate. “Te sun illuminated the face of the king for 20 minutes starting at 5:53am,” announced Husâm ‘Abbûd, the direcor of Abû Simbil Temple, where the event took place. Twice each year, the morning sun shines briefy through the temple’s entrance into the dark inner chamber, lighting up three of the four 22-metre-high statues within. On Saturday, the governor of Aswân cancelled wider festivities in mourning of the 16 police officers that were killed in a shootout with terrorists in the Western Desert earlier that day. However, a smaller event at the Abû Simbil Temple site took place, with Tourism Minister Yahya Râshid, Culture Minister Hilmî al- Namnam and Aswân Governor Magdî Higâzî in attendance. “Te solar illumination of Ramses is a 33. centuries-old phenomenon that refecs the huge scientifc achievements of ancient Egyptians,” Minister of Antiques Khâlid al. ‘Inânî told Al-Ahram. “Te unique phenomenon occurs twice a year: on 22 February in celebration of the start of the harvest season; and on 22 Ocober, the beginning of the season of agriculture and foods,” he added. One of Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs, Ramses II had the temple carved into a sandstone mountain on the banks of the Nile to align with the sun twice a year — in February and Ocober — to celebrate his birthday and ascension to the throne. In the 1960s, the temple was relocated to make way for Lake Nâsir, the man-made reservoir of the Aswân High Dam. Te solar alignment has since occurred on the 22nd of February and Ocober every year – one day later than the original date. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian officials join hundreds of tourists to watch bi-annual solar illumination of King Ramses statue”, Ahram Online, Ocober 22, 2017. Voir également Amânî Khayrî, « Les ministres de la Culture et de l’Archéologie assistent au solstice d’hiver », Watanî, 22 ocobre).

Egyptian archaeologists in Luxor have stumbled upon a decorative Coptic tombstone buried on the eastern side of the Sphinxes Avenue, under al-Mathan Bridge. Te tombstone is carved of limestone and decorated with a cross and Coptic texts, Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online.

Te exac date of the objec has not yet been ascertained, nor the identity of the deceased. However, Mustafa al-Saghîr, direcor of the Sphinxes Avenue, said experts are now studying the tombstone fnd out.

Te newly discovered tombstone Te excavations in the Sphinxes Avenue are part of a Ministry of Antiquities programme to restore the area and transform it into an open-air museum. (Nevine El-Aref, “Coptic tombstone unearthed at Sphinxes Avenue in Luxor”, Ahram Online, Ocober 23, 2017. Voir également Muhammad, « Découverte d’une pièce copte sous un pont à Louqsor », al-Tahrîr, 22 ocobre ; « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte au Dromos d’une stèle tombale d’époque copte », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 23 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Une mission égyptienne découvre une stèle tombale d’époque copte », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 23 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Mise au jour d’une pièce copte au Dromos », Sada al-Balad, 23 ocobre ; Islâm ‘Abd al-Ma‘bûd, « Découverte à l’Ouest du Dromos d’une stèle tombale d’époque copte », al- Shurûq, 23 ocobre ; Amânî Khayrî, « Découverte au Dromos d’une stèle tombale copte », Watanî, 23 ocobre ; Asmâ’ Hammûda, « Mise au jour au Dromos d’une pièce d’époque copte », al-Wafd, 23 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Découverte archéologique au Dromos », al-Ahrâm, 24 ocobre). Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has released a statement denying reports on social media that Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue has been placed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger. Yasmîn al-Shâzlî, the General Supervisor of the Department of International Organisations for Cultural and the International Cooperation, said in the statement that the site was declared endangered by the World Monuments Fund, a non-proft NGO that is not part of UNESCO. al-Shâzlî said that according to the rules and regulations of this fund, any person or entity can nominate any archaeological building to be placed on the list of this fund without a scientifc study proving that the building is in danger. “Te Egyptian government gives equal importance to all its monuments and heritage sites, whether Ancient Egyptian, Jewish, Coptic or Islamic,” al-Shâzlî asserted. al-Shâzlî said that the Egyptian government has allocated EGP 100 million to fnance the restoration of the synagogue, which started in August and will last for eight months. al-Shâzlî added that this affirms the Egyptian government’s keenness to protec and preserve the synagogue as part of Egypt’s heritage and identity.

Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ, the head of the Projecs Department at the antiquities ministry, said that the work on the synagogue aims to restore its architecure and fne decorative elements, as well as the lighting and security systems. Te Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue is located in Nabî Daniel Street in downtown Alexandria and is the oldest synagogue in the city. It was originally built in 1354 but was partially destroyed by the Napoleon expedition in 1798 in order to build a defensive wall from the Kom al-Dikka area to the Mediterranean.

In 1850, the synagogue was reconstruced with contributions from the royal family. (Nevine El-Aref, “Alexandria’s Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue not on UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger: Ministry”, Ahram Online, Ocober 23, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Démenti officiel de l’Égypte : La synagogue Eliyahu Hanavi est en bon état », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 18 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : La synagogue d’Alexandrie n’est pas en danger », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 23 ocobre ; « Le gouvernement nie l’inscription de la synagogue d’Alexandrie sur la liste du patrimoine en danger », al- Masrî al-Yawm, 25 ocobre ; Ruz Husnî, « Le Conseil des ministres : La synagogue d’Alexandrie n’est pas sur la liste du patrimoine en danger », Watanî, 25 ocobre).

A bird view to Bâb al-‘Azab area Te Permanent Committee for Islamic and Coptic Antiquities has approved a projec for the restoration of Bâb al-‘Azab, part of a Ministry of Antiquities plan to restore and develop a series of monuments in Historic Cairo. Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor-general of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec, said that the Bâb al-‘Azab restoration projec is to be executed in three phases over a 10. month period, with a grant from the American Research Centre in Cairo (ARCE). He explained that the frst phase aims to consolidate the monumental strucures of Bâb al-‘Azab, as well as removing the debris and garbage that has accumulated in the vicinity. Te projec will include minor restoration work on the two doors of the Bâb al-‘Azab, along with its woodwork and windows. Te blocks of the walls will be maintained and consolidated in an attempt to prevent erosion prior to the start of comprehensive restoration work. Te second phase, ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said, includes the full scientifc documentation of every strucure of the Bâb al-‘Azab, as well as preparing a plan for its restoration. Studies to rehabilitate the site and bring it back into use will also be provided. Te third and fnal phase consists of workshops and seminars to prepare a plan for the preservation of the buildings. Tis will involve the establishment of a group of young archaeologists and architecs, especially from the local community, to ensure the preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the area and its historic strucures. Bâb al-‘Azab is the gate that once proteced the original entrance to the Citadel. It was rebuilt in 1754 by ‘Abd al-Rahmân Katkhuda, from which the brassbound wooden doors date. Te gate witnessed the massacre of the Mameluks conduced by Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha in 1811. (Nevine El-Aref, “Historic Bâb al-‘Azab site to get facelift from ARCE-funded restoration projec”, Ahram Online, Ocober 24, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Lancement du projet de restauration et de développement de la zone de Bâb al-‘Azab », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 24 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve le projet de sauvetage de la zone de Bâb al-‘Azab », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 24 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Lancement du projet de restauration et de développement de la zone de Bâb al-‘Azab », al- Wafd, 24 ocobre ; “Antiquities Ministry to renovate ancient Bâb al-‘Azab distric”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 29). Le secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî, a pris la décision n° 6628/2017 portant nomination de Suhayr al-Sayyid Qunsuwwa au poste de direcrice générale des antiquités du Vieux-Caire et de Fustât. Par ailleurs, ‘Âtif Muhammad al-Sa‘îd a été nommé direceur des entrepôts muséologiques islamiques et coptes à Fustât. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Qunsuwwa nommée direcrice générale des antiquités du Vieux-Caire et de Fustât », Sada al-Balad, 24 ocobre 2017).

During Egyptian President ‘Abd al-Fattâh al-Sîsî’s visit to France, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs announced that France is set to return to Egypt eight ancient Egyptian artefacs that were illegally excavated and smuggled from the country. Te artefacs were seized in 2010 after they were found in the possession of a French citizen at a train station in France, a source from Egypt’s antiquities ministry told Ahram Online.

S. E. M. Stéphane ROMATET, ambassadeur de France au Caire Te artefacs were seized after the citizen failed to produce a deed proving ownership, and were sent to the Louvre museum for authentication. Te artefacs are to be handed to the Egyptian ambassador to France at a gala ceremony on Tursday. Further details on the nature of the artefacs are expeced to be announced after their arrival to Egypt, the source said. (Nevine El-Aref, “France to return 8 stolen ancient Egyptian artefacs on Tursday”, Ahram Online, Ocober 25, 2017. Voir également « L’Égypte récupère 8 pièces archéologiques volées en France », al-Wafd, 25 ocobre ; Gum‘a Hamd Allâh, « L’ambassade d’Égypte à Paris récupère 8 pièces pharaoniques », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 28 ocobre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « L’ambassadeur de France remet 8 pièces archéologiques à l’Égypte », Watanî, 1er novembre).

Le ministère des Antiquités vient de terminer les travaux de restauration à la mosquée Ingî Hânim dans le quartier de Muharram Bey à Alexandrie. « Après avoir observé, au cours de notre inspecion régulière, l’état dégradé du minaret, des façades et du toit, nous avons lancé une initiative de sauvetage », explique Muhammad Mitwallî, direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie. Vu l’état déplorable du minaret, c’est là que les travaux ont commencé. « La restauration du minaret a été achevée et le toit a été renforcé par des piliers pour le soutenir et le protéger des pluies, surtout pendant les mois d’hiver », a indiqué Mitwallî. Ingî Hânim était la première épouse du khédive Sa‘îd, qui a régné sur l’Égypte de 1854 à 1863. Elle a été enterrée à Alexandrie en 1890. (Nasma Réda, « La mosquée Ingî Hânim retrouve sa splendeur », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 25 ocobre 2017).

A preliminary study carried out on the Coptic tombstone recently discovered in Luxor reveals that it belonged to a little girl named “Taklâ,” who died at the age of ten sometime between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. Te study also found that the Coptic inscription found above the carved cross is an abbreviation for the name of “Jesus,” Mustafa Wazîrî, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online. Below the cross are fve further lines of Coptic text, parts of which are broken off, rendering it more difficult to decipher. A special team of researchers, Wazîrî noted, will conduc further study on the lower text in an attempt to reveal its meaning. On Sunday, Egyptian archaeologists in Luxor uncovered the decorated limestone tombstone, which had been buried on the eastern side of the Avenue of the Sphinxes under al-Mathan Bridge. (Nevine El-Aref, “Newly discovered Coptic tombstone in Luxor belonged to a child: Study”, Ahram Online, Ocober 25, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « La stèle tombale du Dromos appartient à Taklâ », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 24 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « La stèle tombale récemment découverte au Dromos appartient à une enfant nommée Taklâ », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 24 ocobre).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu l’ambassadeur de Russie au Caire, S. E. M. Sergei V. KIRPICHENKOV. Ont assisté à cet entretien : le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî ; et la direcrice générale du Musée Égyptien, Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq. L’entretien a porté sur le renforcement de la coopération bilatérale dans les domaines archéologique et muséologique, ainsi que l’organisation d’expositions archéologiques égyptiennes temporaires dans les musées russes. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur russe », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 25 ocobre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur russe au Caire afn d’examiner le renforcement de la coopération bilatérale », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 25 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « al-‘Inânî examine avec l’ambassadeur de Russie au Caire la coopération archéologique », Sada al-Balad, 25 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur russe au Caire », al-Wafd, 25 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Les antiquités égyptiennes en Russie », al-Ahrâm, 26 ocobre).

Le direceur général de l’enregistrement au sein du département des antiquités islamiques et coptes, Dr Diyâ’ Zahrân, a annoncé que le Comité permanent a prouvé l’enregistrement sur le liste du patrimoine de la mosquée et du mausolée ‘Abd al-‘Azîz al-Darînî, situés à Darîn dans le gouvernorat d’al-Daqahliyya. Cette décision a été prise à l’unanimité vu l’importance de cette mosquée qui date du règne du khédive ‘Abbâs Hilmî II. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Classement de la mosquée et du mausolée ‘Abd al-‘Azîz al-Darînî », Sada al-Balad, 25 ocobre 2017. Voir également Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Bâqî, « Le Comité permanent approuve l’enregistrement d’une mosquée et de deux palais sur la liste du patrimoine islamique », Veto, 27 ocobre).

Early on Sunday, the usually sedate Upper Egyptian town of Abû Simbil was abuzz with Ramses II fever as around 3,500 visitors waited for the sun’s rays to penetrate through the Abû Simbil Temples’ inner sancuary to illuminate the face of the Pharaoh Ramses II and the statues of the god Amun-Re-Hur-Akhty, leaving the god of darkness Ptah in the shade because of his connecion to the underworld. Tis phenomenon takes place twice a year on 22 February and 22 Ocober, and it coincides with the birthday and coronation of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II who built the temples. Some believe it also marks the time of cultivation and harvest. Tis year, the event coincides with the 200th anniversary of the temples’ discovery in 1817 by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig BURCKHARDT and Italian circus giant and explorer Giovanni Battista BELZONI. Te Swiss celebrated the anniversary in August to mark BURCKHARDT’s uncovering of the smaller temple at Abû Simbil and partial unveiling of the larger one. Tis week, the Italians staged their own celebration to mark 200 years since BELZONI entered the temples. In the year of the temples’ discovery, BURCKHARDT passed away and BELZONI continued his journey to reach the larger temple, eventually freeing it of the surrounding sand and being the frst modern visitor to enter it. Two exhibitions were officially opened to mark the event at the Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo and the Abû Simbil Visitors Centre in Abû Simbil. On the second foor of the Cairo Institute, visitors are welcomed by a model of the Abû Simbil Temples partly covered with sand, a scene that BELZONI faced 200 years ago. At the entrance of the exhibition hall, a large panel contains photographs and details of people who played a role in the temples’ salvage operation in the 1960s, including then minister of culture Tarwat ‘Ukâsha, Egyptologist Gamâl Mukhtâr, and Vittorino VERONESE, the former UNESCO direcor-general who launched the world appeal to save the Nubian Temples. “An Italian was not only the frst to enter the Abû Simbil Temples, but also the frst to call for their salvage from inundation in the aftermath of the Aswân High Dam’s construcion,” Giuseppina Capriotti VITTOZZI, direcor of the Italian Archaeological Institute in Cairo, told Al-Ahram Weekly. She said that VERONESE had launched a worldwide appeal to save the Nubian Temples in 1960. It involved the Italian company Salini Impregilo of Milan and a specialised workforce from the city of Carrara in Italy that cut the blocks of the temples so they could be moved to their new location. “Tis very tricky work was entrusted to specialists from the marble quarries in Carrara, who are the heirs of an ancient and prestigious tradition,” VITTOZZI said.

She added that throughout the rescue work Angelo PERICOLI, a topographer at the Italian Military Geographic Institute (IGM), had participated in the reconstrucion of the temples on the basis of photogrammetric information provided by the French National Geographic Institute. “Tanks to this expertise, the exac placement of the blocks was guaranteed,” VITTOZZI said.

Phases of the Abû Simbil Temple salvage operation Researcher Francis Amîn who organised the exhibition at the Italian Institute told the Weekly that it does not celebrate only the rediscovery of the Abû Simbil Temples by BELZONI, but also 50 years since the salvage operation in the 1960s and the important work of Egyptian and foreign archaeologists who helped in the rescue, such as French Egyptologist Christian NOBLECOURT, Egyptian Egyptologist Silîm Hasan, and Italian Egyptologist Sergio DONADONI. Te exhibition shows a collecion of rare books on Abû Simbil written by BURCKHARDT and BELZONI, as well as a collecion of postcards, coins and other items bearing the image of the temples and stamps and journals commemorating the Temples’ discovery and salvage. Amîn said the exhibition also related the history and story of Abû Simbil over the past 200 years through drawings and photographs by BELZONI himself, Prussian Egyptologist Carl Richard LEPSIUS, and Egyptian flm direcor Shâdî ‘Abd al-Salâm. Te latter’s work is represented by flm posters of Ramses II, a flm that ‘Abd al-Salâm planned to direc but was prevented from doing so by his early death. Te exhibition ends with an Arab tent in which a tall man in traditional Arab clothes is sitting — an acor representing BELZONI who was more than two metres tall. Te exhibition will run for 30 days in Cairo and is then scheduled to transfer to Alexandria, Aswân and Luxor. “Photographs of the collecion on show in this exhibition are now on show at the Abû Simbil Culture Centre to mark the solar alignment and the 200th anniversary of the discovery,” Amîn said. Italy is also celebrating at home this year to mark the event under the title of “BELZONI’s Year”, and his hometown of Padua is participating. “Explorers and scholars and travellers who came to Egypt during the 19th century such as BELZONI, [the French Egyptologist] CHAMPOLLION or LEPSIUS took items from Egypt to their countries at a time when Egypt did not have laws or regulations to protec its heritage,” Amîn said, adding that Muhammad ‘Alî, the country’s then ruler, allowed them to transport antiquities and to trade in them. “However, these men were not robbers, as some have said, because they did not take the antiquities illegally or smuggle them out of the country. On the contrary, they took them legally under the protecion of Muhammad ‘Alî who issued official decrees to this effec,” Amîn added.

Phases of the Abû Simbil Temple salvage operation WHO DISCOVERED ABSIMBIL? One question that is often asked is whether it was BURCKHARDT or BELZONI who discovered Abû Simbil. Tis question has long perplexed Egyptologists, but for Marco ZATTERIN, deputy direcor of the La Stampa newspaper in Turin, both BELZONI and BURCKHARDT should take the credit.

“Without both discoverers we would not know about Abû Simbil and what it meant,” ZATTERIN told the Weekly, describing them as two faces of the same coin. He said that after BURCKHARDT had failed to enter the larger Temple, Italian antiquities collecor, diplomat, and politician Bernardino DROVETTI, a former soldier in Napoleon BONAPARTE’s expedition to Egypt in 1798/99, searched for the entrance but failed to fnd it. It took BELZONI almost 40 days to remove the sand from around the temple, fnally succeeding in making a hole in it in order to enter the temple. He stayed at the temple for two days, only leaving for Tebes when he did not fnd any treasure. Te Frenchman Jean-Francois CHAMPOLLION then arrived and continued the excavation of the temple. “BELZONI was a very lucky man, and throughout his four years or so in Egypt he was able to discover very important monuments that nobody else had found previously,” ZATTERIN said. He added that BELZONI had discovered the exquisite tomb of Seti I, which this month is celebrating the 200th anniversary of its discovery. BELZONI was also the frst to enter Khafre’s Pyramid at Gîza. BELZONI spent most of his time in Egypt in Seti I’s tomb, where he copied every single drawing. Upon his arrival in London some years later, he recreated a replica of the tomb in Piccadilly. BELZONI was born in 1778 in Padua. As a young man, he felt dissatisfed in a world with narrow horizons and left his hometown for Rome. He subsequently travelled to Paris and then to Holland, where he began hydraulic studies. In 1803, he landed in England and married a young woman from Bristol, Sarah BANNE, and entered a theatre company. His extraordinary physical sturdiness led him to perfec a performance known as the “human pyramid”, in which he managed to keep 11 people on his shoulders. In this role, he became a popular characer called the “Patagonian Samson”. In June 1815, BELZONI arrived in Egypt, responding to an invitation from Muhammad ‘Alî who was looking for a European able to work on irrigation. However, BELZONI soon turned his extraordinary capabilities to archaeological discoveries. During three trips along the Nile between 1815 and 1819, he achieved great success in discovering sites in the country. In 1817, he went to Nubia, where he freed the Abû Simbil Temples of sand, entering them in August that year. In Tebes, he discovered the tomb of Ay, Tutankhamun’s successor, and the beautiful tomb of Seti I. In February 1818, he managed to locate the entrance to Khafre’s Pyramid in Gîza. “Tese are just some of the ventures of the Paduan giant, to which we must add a journey to the east to reach the remains of the city of Berenice on the Red Sea,” ZATTERIN said. He described BELZONI as a tireless explorer, who adapted to live in extreme conditions in search of his goals. His wit, intelligence and physical strength merged with an extraordinary capacity for dialogue with the local populations, from whom he was able to obtain the necessary help to engage in challenges at the limit of the possible. “It is not by chance that his life inspired US flm direcor George LUCAS in his flm Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” ZATTERIN concluded. (Nevine El-Aref, “Celebrating BELZONI”, Al- Ahram Weekly, Ocober 26, 2017. Voir également Muna ‘Abdu, « Célébration du bicentenaire de la découverte du temple d’Abû Simbil et de la tombe de Séthi 1er », al-Wafd, 19 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et l’ambassadeur d’Italie inaugurent une exposition qui retrace la découverte d’Abû Simbil », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 20 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure une exposition sur le découvreur d’Abû Simbil en présence de l’ambassadeur d’Italie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 20 ocobre ; “Abû Simbil temple to be illuminated Sunday by twice-

yearly solar alignment”, Ahram Online, Ocober 20). - -

One of the most perplexing questions in ancient Egyptian history is the identifcation of the Pharaoh during the time of Moses in ancient Egypt. Biblical scholars have engaged in intense debates on the subjec, ignoring at times certain historical details in order to reach their conclusions. Tese scholars have been divided into two groups: one group says that the Bible should be the only source of information on the subjec, while the other looks to ancient archaeology in order to date the Exodus. One of the points argued about is that the Bible mentions that Moses saw the rule of two Pharaohs, while the Quran mentions the presence of only one, the one who died during the pursuit of the Children of Israel out of Egypt. Until 3150 BCE, i. e. during the First Dynasty, the title of Pharaoh was not used. Te word refers to a monarch and derives from the ancient Egyptian words meaning “great house”. It was not until the rule of Tutmosis III in 1425 BCE during the New Kingdom, after the reign of the Hyksos, that the word Pharaoh became the form of address for a king. However, the word was originally pronounced barao, changed in Hebrew to pharao, before adding the “n” sound in Arabic to become pharaon in Arabic or pharaoh in English. Te main problem in identifying the Pharaoh during the time of Moses, however, is the result of different chronologies. Scholars use different points of reference that place the Exodus two centuries apart. Most archaeologists believe that the Exodus took place during the reign of Ramses II, basing their opinion on the name of the city called Ramses, built by the Israelites and given the name of its then ruler or Pharaoh, according to the Bible, and later changed before the rule of Pharaoh Mereneptah. Te archaeologists deduce that the Exodus had to have happened during the rule of Ramses II. Te problem with this account is that it contradics the Biblical verse that states that the Exodus took place 480 years prior to the building of Jerusalem’s frst temple during the rule of king Solomon. Te latter’s son, Pharaoh Sheshonk, invaded Jerusalem, placing the time of the Exodus during the rule of Tutmosis III. In Egypt, the debate has resurfaced because of statements made by Sa‘d al-Dîn al-Hilâlî, a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at al-Azhar University in Cairo. al-Hilâlî is not an expert on historical or archaeological subjecs, but he has said that he has identifed the name of the Pharaoh who ruled during the time of Moses. He has done so, he claims, through reading three old books: Basâ’ir Dhawî al-Tamyiz fî Latâ’if al-Kitâb al-‘Azîz by Magd al-Dîn al-Fayrûz al-‘Abbâdî; Lisân al. ‘Arab by Ibn Mandhûr al-Ansârî; and al-Misbâh al-Munîr by Ahmad al-Fayyûmî. al-Hilâlî concludes that the Pharaoh who ruled at that time was not Egyptian. Instead, he came from Khurasan, a region located between Iran and Afghanistan. In ancient times the area extended from the Oxus River to the Caspian Sea in the west, the borders of the central Iranian deserts in the south, and the mountains of central Afghanistan in the east. Located in the region called the Land of the Sunrise, Khurasan was the most eastern city in the ancient Persian Empire. Te al-Azhar professor thinks that the name of the Biblical Pharaoh was either Mus‘ab bin al-Walîd or Walîd bin Rayyân. However, many Egyptologists have argued against al-Hilâlî’s claim. Prior to his making it, an Islamic scholar at Dâr al-Iftâ’, the Islamic Law institute in Cairo, told the media that it was Ramses II who had ruled during the time of Moses. Much like al-Hilâlî, this scholar was not an expert on history or archaeology, and he failed to present scientifc evidence supporting his claim.

Earlier this year, Sudanese Minister of Information Ahmad Bilâl said that the Pharaoh mentioned in the Quran was Sudanese. He recalled the part of Moses’ story which recounts “rivers fowing from underneath”, saying that Sudan has many rivers, while Egypt has only one. In 2015, Bilâl said that “the point where the two seas meet”, mentioned in the Quran, is the city of Mogran, today’s Khartoum. Tis was the place where Moses learned wisdom and met the “good man” on Tuti Island, Bilâl said. Elders in Tuti say there is a rock on the island, which they visit to receive blessings. It is worth mentioning that Bilâl has decried on a number of occasions the media’s neglec and underestimates of the importance of Sudan’s pyramids and monuments. Others who claim that Moses was Sudanese include ‘Abd al-Qâdir Abû Qârûn, who has written that north Sudan was the homeland of Moses. Another writer, Mukhtâr ‘Abd al-Salâm, says that Sudan was the land of the prophets, including Moses. Last year, head of the Luxor Monuments Authority Mustafa Wazîrî told the media that the Pharaoh came from the city of Aseer lying to the west of the Arabian Peninsula. However, all these opinions contradic the holy books, which say that the Pharaoh was Egyptian. Te Old and New Testaments of the Bible can be regarded as historical references in this regard. Te Bible relates the history of Jews giving specifc dates and lists family trees and numbers of soldiers. Te Bible is also a history book, unlike the Quran, which adopts a preaching style. Te Quran mostly does not list dates or places. Te Quran preaches, and the Bible records history. Te Jewish Torah and the Quran describe the Pharaoh who ruled during the time of Moses as being arrogant, tyrannical and wanting to claim divinity. Tese features are only mentioned when the holy books describe the Pharaoh of the Exodus. It thus appears that because no documents or artefacs have been released in Egypt identifying the Pharaoh of the Exodus, the issue has been left in the hands of speculators who have made such claims as the Pharaoh was from Sudan, today’s Saudi Arabia or Khurasan. Nevertheless, scholars and experts who try to deduce the identity of the Pharaoh of the Exodus limit their results to a choice between Tutmosis III, Ramses II and Merenptah. It is important to note, however, that archaeological discoveries have not supported any of these theories. Identifying the Pharaoh of the Exodus is not the only difficulty. Many questions surround the Exodus, including how it happened and what exacly took place when the Pharaoh of the Exodus and his army drowned while chasing Moses and his people out of Egypt. Due to the lack of archaeological evidence on the Exodus, some scientists have attempted to establish a link between the ancient eruption of the volcano on the Greek island of Santorini and ecological changes in the Mediterranean Sea. Tese changes have become known as the “frst tsunami” and branded an ancient environmental catastrophe in the Mediterranean. Te Egyptian Delta was immensely affeced, to the point that its eastern part was completely fooded. Te strong tide also affeced not only the Delta, but North Sinai and Port Said, negatively affecing the archaeological sites in the area and drowning entire sites. Scientists have concluded that volcanic remnants found in the Delta have been there since the rule of Tutmosis III and the end of the Hyksos Era in Egypt around the beginning of the New Kingdom’s 18th Dynasty. Tese events have led them to relate the date when the volcano erupted and Moses’ Exodus from Egypt and the drowning of the Pharaoh and his army on the shores of the Delta.

However, this scenario contradics the accounts given in the holy books. Overall, relying on the latter without strong archaeological evidence about the Pharaoh, Moses and the Exodus is not enough. More research and feldwork are needed to unravel what really happened. (Muhammad ‘Abd al-Maqsûd, “Te Pharaoh conundrum”, Al-Ahram Weekly, Ocober 26, 2017).

Te crown pillar of King Ptolemy I is set to arrive within hours to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) in al-Rimâya Square from the Delta town of Samannûd, Târiq Tawfîq, Supervisor General of the museum, told Ahram Online. According to Tawfîq, the crown is headed to the museum’s laboratory for restoration and maintenance procedures before being placed on display within the GEM exhibition. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor at the Ministry of Antiquities, explained that the crown pillar was uncovered while ministry representatives monitored the digging for the Samannûd City public hospital in 2009. Te piece was subsequently kept in situ until this week, when the hospital embarked upon the construcion of an building extension. Te ministry thus decided to relocate the crown to the GEM. al-‘Ashmâwî told Ahram Online that the crown is probably the top of a pillar from the Ptolemaic gate in Samannûd. Te surviving pillar and crown together are 9 meters tall. Te crown alone weighs 10 tonnes. According to ‘Isa Zaydân, Direcor-General of the GEM’s frst-aid restoration department, a plan was devised in consultation with other experts to remove the crown from the pillar. Te decision, intended to ensure the artefac’s secure transportation, was made in accordance with the Samannûd antiquities authority, the Ministry of Antiquities’ engineering department, and the restoration department at the GEM.

Zaydân asserted that the team implemented the latest technological and scientifc techniques while the lifting, packing, and transporting the crown. (Nevine El-Aref, “Ptolemaic crown pillar to be transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum”, Ahram Online, Ocober 26, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Transfert de Samannûd vers le GEM du chapiteau de Ptolémée II », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 26 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Transfert de la colonne antique de l’hôpital de Samannûd vers le GEM », al-Yawm al- Sâbi‘, 26 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Transfert d’un chapiteau de colonne de Samannûd vers le GEM », al- Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 26 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Transfert d’un chapiteau de colonne de Samannûd vers le GEM », al-Wafd, 26 ocobre ; Ayman Yahya, « Transfert d’une statue d’al-Gharbiyya vers le GEM », al- Fagr, 26 ocobre).

dévoile la transformation du palais al-Salâmlik en hôtel », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 15 ocobre).

Muhammad Mitwallî, Direcor General of Alexandria and North Coast Antiquities, announced the fnal approval by the Standing Committee for Antiquities to restore and develop al-Salâmlik Palace in Muntazah gardens, east of Alexandria, and to turn it into a historic hotel. Mitwallî told al-Masrî al-Yawm that the committee issued three approvals for the projec submitted by al- Muntazah Investment and Tourism Company, affiliated to the Ministry of Tourism. Te committee issued approval of the projec in principle in late 2015. Accordingly, a committee was established to examine the buildings surrounding the palace including a swimming pool, a casino, and a multipurpose building with a banquet hall and other halls. Tis committee approved the projec as well. Tis was followed by the fnal approval of the projec on August 27 after reviewing the maps and drawings of the projec and the company was notifed of the fnal approval so that the restoration can begin, according to Mitwallî. Te Antiquities Ministry stipulated that the company should not do any harm to the historical decoration and important architecural items of the palace, Mitwallî added. Te company is scheduled to embark on the projec on November 1. It should be concluded on November 1, 2018, an informed source said. (“Antiquities Ministry to develop al-Salâmlik Palace”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 26, 2017. Voir également Ragab Ramadân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie Major General ‘Alâ’ Abû Zayd, governor of Matrûh governorate, and head of the Antiquities Ministry’s Museums Secor Ilhâm Salâh al-Dîn, inspeced Tursday the frst regional archaeological museum in Matrûh that will be inaugurated in November at a cost of LE3. 5 million. Te museum is affiliated to Matrûh Public Library. Te governor stressed the need to take precautionary measures to secure the museum, through the instalment of the latest surveillance cameras, and providing fxed police checkpoints supported by the latest bomb detecion devices. Abû Zayd expeced a high turnout of visitors to the museum after its inauguration, especially in the summer season. Abû Zayd said that the establishment of the frst regional museum of antiquities in the governorate is an important step that would spread awareness among young people about the value of monuments and would greatly shed light on the archaeological sites in Matrûh, contributing to the promotion of tourism. Salâh meanwhile said that fnal touches were being added to the museum’s halls and display windows in preparation for its inauguration in November. Te museum contains about 600 artifacs that have been mainly excavated in Matrûh governorate. Te most important pieces are the upper part of the statue of King Ramses II, a collecion of paintings for King Tutmose IV and King Tut, sculptures dating back to the Greco-Roman era, and seleced pieces of Coptic and Islamic art, Salah mentioned.

She expressed her appreciation to the Matrûh governor for allocating part of Matrûh Public Library’s building to establish the museum and providing the budget of the projec. (“First regional museum in Matrûh almost ready for inauguration”, Egypt Independent, Ocober 26, 2017. Voir également Samar al- Naggâr, « Le musée archéologique de Matrûh sera inauguré prochainement », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 16 ocobre ; « Le ministère de l’Archéologie commence la mise en place du scénario muséologique à Matrûh », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 16 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le musée de Matrûh s’apprête à ouvrir ses portes », al- Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 16 ocobre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, 1er « Inauguration du musée de Matrûh le novembre prochain », Sada al-Balad, 24 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Derniers coups de pinceau avant l’inauguration du musée de Matrûh », al-Wafd, 24 ocobre).

Architec and conservationist May al-Ibrâshî Next month, in the heart of Islamic Cairo, May al-Ibrâshî, chair of the Built Environment Collecive (BEC), a foundation for the preservation and awareness of the layered history of Cairo, will be oversee the launch of this year’s “history awareness” walk. Te programme starts at the Islamic Museum, where a group of keen individuals, mostly young people, will be given an escorted and informative walk around the corridors of the recently renovated museum. Te aim will be to discuss not just the history of the pieces on display, but also what they meant with the societies in which they were made. Tis is the fourth year that BEC has been holding these walks. Te collecive was founded in 2011 and one year later al-Ibrâshî took its office to the place “where it really belongs; at the heart of historic Cairo, on al-Ashraf Street near the Mosque of Sayyida Nafîsa. ” BEC has organised other similar walks, such as a tour through al-Dâhir neighbourhood where the history of cinema was explored through the cinema buildings in the area, and religious history was examined through the stories of the schools there that are affiliated with different churches. Another walk in the al-Khalîfa distric explored the history of Islamic period, including the Mamluk rulers and the Islamic religious fgures of that period, and looked at how mythology. Te city walks are part of a cultural programme that BEC is implementing to help residents of the capital, especially those living in the historic quarters, to “better appreciate the city. ” “I think we need to learn more about our capital,” said al-Ibrâshî. “Tis is something that requires an awareness that goes beyond the basic information on the history of the buildings to the history of life in the city,” she said. To serve that purpose, BEC also organises lecures, which target a younger audience. Te organisation also works on the ground on urban development issues, for example operating an initiative to promote a sense of public ownership of the monuments of the historic city. “I guess it is important for people to relate to the historic quarters in a way that goes beyond the assumption that these are just old buildings that they have to live around; this gives them a reason to want to have these buildings looked after,” al-Ibrâshî said. She added that it is about linking heritage to socio-economic development. To promote these ideas, BEC has worked with the residents of the neighbourhoods of historic Cairo and the concerned government bodies to clear open spaces that have become flled with refuse, or to treat excessive underground water so it can be reused for the irrigation of small gardens around the neighbourhoods. “And it has worked fne, to the pleasure of the local communities,” al-Ibrâshî said.

According to this architec-conservationist, many more similar initiatives need to be pursued for the residents of the capital “all across to be able not just to better appreciate what the city has but also to better enjoy their lives around the city. ” al-Ibrâshî is of the opinion that the growing and endless complaints about “the dilapidation of Cairo” are misplaced. “I don’t think Cairo has become dilapidated; I think that the services of the city needs proper overhauling with a strategic thinking about where the city is today and where it could be in a few decades,” she said. She argued that it is also wrong to suggest that the city needs desperately to be expanded into much vaster horizons due to an “assumed problem of overpopulation. ” “I would argue that in terms of density Cairo has not at all reached its maximum capacity; I think it is essentially a matter of the capacity of the services of the city to live up to its population,” she said. According to al-Ibrâshî, for example, the crowded traffic should not be immediately translated into an assumption that the city has too many residents for its own good. “Acually, this is not the case; the city has an acute problem of poor public transport service that is forcing so many people to count on individual commutes and many more others to depend on the limited resources of the ailing transport network,” al-Ibrâshî said. Tis, she added, is the case of historic Cairo neighbourhoods as in the “younger” parts of the city like Zamâlik and Heliopolis. al-Ibrâshî said that she is worried about a growing tendency to drop the older parts of the city and to focus instead on new quarters. “It does not work this way; neither in terms of urban development nor in terms of ecological conservation of natural resources,” she said. Obviously, she accepted, “the city has to develop and ultimately it would expand; this is a process of evolution, but the question is how to do this or rather are we acually doing this or are we mistakenly trying to abandon what we have in favour for something that some of us think would be better than what is already there. ” “It is true that the capital started at one point upon the arrival of Muslims to Egypt and has grown to be bigger, but it is also true that today we have a city with so much history like Cairo and we cannot just abandon this under the call of modernisation,” she argued. In this context, al-Ibrâshî draws the line between the creation of satellite cities like New Cairo “that could prove to be fnancially purposeful, given the real-estate business it brought about, but are not really purposeful for the improvement of the quality of life of the city as a whole, nor for that matter for the connecivity of society in the capital because today we have the people who are born and brought up in the heart of city, including the suburbs, and those whose life start and move on in the satellite cities, including the gated communities. ” “I think what we need to do today is to give our capital a new lease of life; this requires a clear strategic vision and a new set of laws that would have to accept that Cairo is a very diverse capital, in terms of its social and urban fabric, and that what is good for one part is not good for another. ” Te starting point for this vision, al-Ibrâshî argued, is not to build “a new capital” but to decide how to fx and expand the existing capital. Ten, she argued, there needs to be made-to-measure plans for the different neighbourhoods depending on their architecural and social-make up. Short of this, al-Ibrâshî fears that Cairo’s beauty will continue to dwindle while the new projecs will inevitably fail to have a much better fate than the many other attempts that have been made over the past four decades to bypass and change the historic metropolis. (Nevine El-Aref, “INTERVIEW: Conservationist May al-Ibrâshî wants to help Cairenes ‘better appreciate’ their complex city”, Ahram Online, Ocober 27, 2017).

Le superviseur général du musée national de la Civilisation égyptienne (NMEC), Mahrûs Sa‘îd, a annoncé l’organisation d’un stage de formation sur le traitement et la préservation des momies et des restes humains du 29 ocobre au 2 novembre 2017. Cette formation, placée sous les auspices du ministère de l’Archéologie, en coopération avec l’Unesco, attirera des conférenciers du ministère de l’Archéologie, du GEM, du Centre national pour la recherche, de l’Institut de médecine de Zurich, ainsi que des experts locaux et internationaux. Des stagiaires libyens participeront également à cette formation. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le NMEC organise un stage de formation sur les momies en coopération avec l’Unesco », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 28 ocobre 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le NMEC organise un stage de formation sur le traitement et la préservation des momies et des restes humains », Sada al-Balad, 28 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Traitement et préservation des momies et des restes humains : stage de formation organisé par le NMEC », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 29 ocobre).

Antiquities officials at Hurghada International Airport foiled an attempt on Monday to smuggle an antique Coptic icon out of Egypt. According to Naglâ’ al-Kubruslî, direcor of the Antiquities Units in Egyptian Airport, a passenger was attempting to smuggle the 18th century religious objec to Germany. al-Kubruslî said the icon was confscated because it is an antique objec proteced by Antiquities Law 117/1983 and its amendment in Law 3/2010. She said that the passenger tried to smuggle the icon inside some luggage. Te copper icon is comprised of three secions decorated with religious scenes depicing the Virgin Mary and Jesus. It was made in the Byzantine style associated with the Greek Orthodox tradition. (Nevine El-Aref, “Hurghada airport officials foil attempt to smuggle 18th-century Coptic icon”, Ahram Online, Ocober 29, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Saisie d’un triptyque du XVIIIe siècle à l’aéroport d’Hurghada », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 28 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie saisit une icône en cuivre du XVIIIe siècle avant son exportation vers l’Allemagne », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 28 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Saisie d’une icône en cuivre du XVIIIe siècle avant son exportation vers l’Allemagne », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 28 ocobre ; « Saisie à l’aéroport d’Hurghada d’un triptyque de style byzantin », al- Wafd, 28 ocobre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Saisie d’une icône antique avant son exportation illicite vers l’Allemagne », al-Ahrâm, 29 ocobre). Paintings by top Egyptian artists shared wall space with hieroglyphs and Pharaonic relics at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum this week in an exhibition highlighting ancient infuences on contemporary art. Artists, intellecuals and ambassadors from around the world attended the Saturday night opening of "A night with Art at the Egyptian Museum", organised by the private Art D’Égypte organisation. Te exhibition, at the museum on Cairo’s iconic Tahrîr Square, will be open to the public until Tuesday.

“We wanted to highlight the link between contemporary art and ancient Egyptian Pharaonic art,” Art D’Égypte founder Nadine ‘Abd al-Ghaffâr told AFP.

A picure taken on Ocober 28, 2017, shows the Egyptian Museum during the "Night of Art" exhibit in the capital Cairo (AFP) Te modern paintings included abstrac portraits and other works by prominent contemporary Egyptian artists such as ‘Âdil al-Sîwî, Muhammad ‘Abla, Ghâda ‘Âmir, Fârûq Husnî and Huda Lutfî. “Tis initiative shows that artistic creativity spans millennia reaching today,” said ‘Abla, who showed fve paintings at the exhibition, refecing ancient Egyptian infuences. “Contemporary art is an extension of art by the Pharaonic ancestors,” he said. Te show also includes interacive seminars on ancient Egyptian art and its infuences on contemporary artists. Several prominent archaeologists and Egyptologists are to speak, including former antiquities minister Zâhî Hawwâs. Antiquities Minister Khâlid al-‘Inânî said it was important to preserve Egyptian heritage “because the antiquities belong to the entire world. ” (AFP, “Pharaonic infuences on display at Egypt art show”, Ahram Online, Ocober 29, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Inauguration d’une nouvelle exposition au Musée Égyptien », Sada al-Balad, 28 ocobre). Le ministère de l’Archéologie a remis les catacombes de Kom al-Shuqâfa à la compagnie chargée de la mise en place des deuxième et troisième phases du projet de pompage des eaux souterraines qui inondent le site. Ce projet s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un programme d’investissement durable dans les seceurs du tourisme et des antiquités. Il est fnancé par l’United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pour le président du département des projets, Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ, la hausse du niveau de la nappe phréatique est due à une panne technique des six pompes installées sur le site. 4 pompes ont déjà été réparées. Les 2 autres sont en cours de réparation. Abû al-‘Ilâ a promis l’assèchement total des eaux au cours des deux semaines prochaines. Sachant que le pompage s’effecue à un rythme lent, afn de ne pas déstabiliser le monument.

De son côté, l’adjoint au ministre de l’Archéologie pour le développement des sites archéologiques, Dr Shirîf ‘Abd al-Mun‘im, a précisé que la prochaine phase du projet nécessitera 10 mois. 6 pompes seront installées dans les catacombes à une profondeur de 45 m et non de 26 m, ainsi qu’un centre de contrôle et de surveillance. Les eaux ainsi pompées seront rejetées dans le canal al-Mahmûdiyya. Dr ‘Abd al-Mun‘im a rappelé que les 3 années qu’a duré la première phase du projet furent consacrées à l’élaboration des études des catacombes, la réalisation de sondages, le calcul du nombre de pompes nécessaires, ainsi que la destination fnale des eaux drainées. (Samar al-Naggâr, « Lancement de la dernière phase du projet de pompage des eaux souterraines des catacombes de Kom al-Shuqâfa », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 29 ocobre 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Les catacombes d’Alexandrie submergées par les eaux souterraines », Sada al-Balad, 28 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie achève le projet de pompage des eaux souterraines des catacombes de Kom al-Shuqâfa en Alexandrie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 29 ocobre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Début du pompage des eaux souterraines des catacombes de Kom al-Shuqâfa », al-Wafd, 29 ocobre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Lancement de la dernière phase de pompage des eaux souterraines des catacombes », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 29 ocobre).

Le direceur des antiquités d’Aswân, Shâzlî ‘Alî, a annoncé le transfert de l’obélisque de Séthi 1er vers la zone archéologique située à l’Ouest d’Aswân, afn de le protéger contre le vol et d’en préserver les inscriptions. Cet obélisque inachevé a été découvert à Djebel Ghallâb, une zone de carrière utilisée jadis pour sculpter les statues et tailler les obélisques servant à orner les différents temples pharaoniques. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Transfert de l’obélisque de Séthi 1er afn de le sécuriser », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 30 ocobre 2017). Under the title “150 years of Belgian Royal Visits to Egypt,” Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al- ‘Inânî and Belgian Ambassador to Egypt Sibille DE CARTIER will inaugurate on Tuesday evening a photo exhibition highlighting the strong friendship between Egypt and Belgium. Ilhâm Salâh, the head of the Museums Department at the antiquities ministry, told Ahram Online that the exhibition has on display a collecion of 60 black-and-white as well as colour photos and manuscripts showing the history of Belgian royal visits to Egypt over the past 150 years.

King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth with King Fu’âd “Spanning a period of more than a century. and-a-half, [the photos] offer a unique glimpse into the history of these royal visits and allow us to revisit the Egypt of yesteryear. Tey are an illustration of the longstanding and durable relations between the two countries,” DE CARTIER told Ahram Online. Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, direcor of the Egyptian Museum, said that numerous photographs and rare manuscripts will be on display, most of them coming from the archives of the Belgian Royal Palace and shown for the frst time in Egypt. DE CARTIER said that Belgian royals have been travelling to Egypt since as early as 1855, whether for official visits or to marvel at the timeless and captivating beauty of the country’s ancient treasures.

Queen Elisabeth

Te year 1855 was when King Leopold II, then Duke of Brabant, visited the country for the frst time. King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth also visited Egypt on several occasions between 1911 and 1930. During these visits, the royal family toured Egypt and its treasures extensively. From 1977 to 2012, Prince Albert, the future King Albert II, and Prince Philippe, Belgium’s current sovereign, travelled to the country several times when they headed commercial missions. (Nevine El-Aref, “Photo exhibition on Belgian-Egyptian relations to be inaugurated Tuesday evening”, Ahram Online, Ocober 31, 2017. Voir également Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahmân, « L’ambassadrice de Belgique : Nous sommes disposés à coopérer avec l’Égypte pour la conservation de son patrimoine », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 28 novembre). - -

V – NOVEMBRE 2017

Scientists have found a hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Gîza, the frst such discovery in the strucure since the 19th century and one likely to spark a new surge of interest in the pharaohs. In an article published in the journal Nature on Tursday, an international team said the 30-meter (yard) void deep within the pyramid is situated above the strucure’s Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross- secion. Te purpose of the chamber is unclear, and it’s not yet known whether it was built with a funcion in mind. Te scientists made the discovery using cosmic-ray imaging, recording the behaviour of subatomic particles called muons that penetrate the rock similar to X-rays, only much deeper. Teir paper was peer-reviewed before appearing in Nature, an international, interdisciplinary journal of science. Te pyramid is also known as Khufu’s Pyramid for its builder, a 4th Dynasty pharaoh who reigned from 2509 to 2483 B. C. Visitors to the pyramid, on the outskirts of Cairo, can walk, hunched over, up a long tunnel to reach the Grand Gallery. Te newly discovered chamber does not appear to be conneced to any known internal passages. Scientists involved in the scanning called the fnd a "breakthrough" that highlighted the usefulness of modern particle physics in archaeology. “Tis is a premier,” said Mehdi TAYOUBI, a co-founder of the ScanPyramids projec and president of the Heritage Innovation Preservation Institute. “It could be composed of one or several strucures. maybe it could be another Grand Gallery. It could be a chamber, it could be a lot of things. ” “It was hidden, I think, since the construcion of the pyramid,” he added. Te pyramids at Gîza, the last surviving wonder of the ancient world, have captivated visitors since they were built as royal burial chambers 2,500 years ago. Experts are still divided over how they were construced, so even relatively minor discoveries generate great interest. Late last year, for example, thermal scanning identifed a major anomaly in the Great Pyramid — three adjacent stones at its base, which registered higher temperatures than others, stoking imaginations worldwide. Speculation that King Tutankhamun’s tomb contains additional antechambers stoked interest in recent years, before scans by ground-penetrating radar and other tools came up empty, raising doubts about the claim. Te muon scan is accomplished by planting special plates inside and around the pyramid to collec data on the particles, which rain down from the earth’s atmosphere. Tey pass through empty spaces but can be absorbed or defeced by harder surfaces, allowing scientists to study their trajecories and discern what is stone and what is not. Several plates were used to triangulate the void discovered in the Great Pyramid. TAYOUBI said the team plans to work with others to come up with hypotheses about the area. “Te good news is that the void is there, and it’s very big,” he said. (AP, “Scientists announce discovery of hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid: Nature Journal”, Ahram Online, November 2, 2017. Voir également Maysir Yâsîn, « Un archéologue révèle le secret du "grand vide" dans la pyramide de Chéops », al-Watan, novembre ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Hânî Hilâl : Nous avons identifé un "grand vide" à l’intérieur de Chéops », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 2 novembre ; AFP, « Mise au jour d’une énorme cavité vide de la taille d’un avion à l’intérieur de Chéops », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 2 novembre ; MENA, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie révèle la découverte d’une énorme cavité à l’intérieur de Chéops », al-Shurûq, 2 novembre ; Associated Press, “Scientists discover hidden chamber in Egypt’s Great Pyramid”, Egypt Independent, November 2).

When Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha rose to power and ruled Egypt in 1805, he saw that the Mameluke facions were the biggest obstacle to his authority and could undermine his plan as they were still controlling much of the country and resisting much of his authority under their baronial rights. Terefore, he ruthlessly crushed them by inviting them to a banquet in the citadel in honour of his son Tûsûn as a step towards building a new relationship. In March 1811, 500 Mameluke chiefs under the leadership of Shâhîn Bey marched in a military procession in Muhammad ‘Alî’s celebration as a huge banquet was set up at the citadel’s southern enclosure. Te Bâb al. ‘Azab gate was frmly locked as the last guest walked in. Once seated, the unarmed Mameluke lords realised they were trapped and the high walls of the gate and citadel prevented them from feeing. Tey were suddenly faced with a battalion of Muhammad ‘Alî’s loyal Albanian soldiers who killed them all, ending the Mamelukes and their dominion in Egypt. Bâb al-‘Azab is the great lower gate of the Salâh al-Dîn al-Ayyûbî Citadel, which overlooks the Sultan Hasan madrasa (school) and al-Rifâ‘î Mosque. Commander of the al-‘Azab corps, Prince Radwân Katkhuda al-Galfî, had built the gate in 1754 to replace an older one built by a Mameluke predecessor. It has the same architecural style as the citadel’s other two gates, Bâb al-Futûh and Bâb Zuwayla, but is considered the largest and most beautiful. It has two recangular towers that contain the strucure from which hot oil was once poured on invaders. It was the main entrance to the southern enclosure of Bâb al-Futûh, Cairo’s gateway. When Khedive ‘Abbâs Hilmî I extended Rumayla Square, he restored and embellished the gate’s gothic elements and the external double stairs. Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor-general of the historic Cairo rehabilitation projec, told Al-Ahram Weekly that Bâb al-‘Azab was named so many years before its construcion. In 1517, when the Ottomans arrived in Egypt, they began referring to the citadel’s lower enclosure as al-‘Azab, after the stables built by Sultan al-Nâsir Muhammad Ibn Qalâwûn in 1311 to house the 4,800 horses in his possession. It started being used as a dormitory for an Ottoman regiment known as al-‘Azab (in Arabic it literally means the bachelors). Tey were not allowed to marry until they retired. Te French expedition to Egypt changed such rules and members of al-‘Azab were allowed to marry and even given permission to build houses within the fortress walls. By the mid-17th century the citadel had already been turned into a residential distric with shops, public baths and commercial enterprises. Te citadel then lost its military designation and a labyrinth of small streets was created. Today, ‘Abd al-‘Azîz continued, the gate is home to six major archaeological sites including the mosque and palace of Katkhuda, the tower of al-Ashraf Khalîl Ibn Qalâwûn and a string of warehouses, one-storey buildings once used as soldiers’ dormitories and stables.

In 1989, the Italian government offered to develop Bâb al-‘Azab but the plan came under fre when former culture minister Fârûq Husnî intended to lease the land to a private company to build a hotel and a shopping complex. Te land houses more than 100 monuments, dating from the Mameluke and Ottoman periods. Te plan won the approval of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Permanent Committee for Islamic and Coptic Monuments in 1993. But between opponents and supporters the projec was put on hold and Bâb al-‘Azab fell into disrepair. Early this week another restoration projec was approved by the Permanent Committee and will start soon. ‘Abd al-‘Azîz said the Bâb al-‘Azab restoration projec comes within the framework of the Ministry of Antiquities’ plan to restore and develop a series of monuments in historic Cairo. Te plan is to be executed in three phases over 10 months with a grant from the American Research Centre in Egypt (ARCE). Te frst phase aims to consolidate the monumental strucures of Bâb al-‘Azab as well as to remove the debris and garbage piling around it. Its foors would be isolated and minor restoration would take place on the two doors of the Bâb al-‘Azab, the wood works and windows. Te blocks of the walls would be consolidated in an attempt to prevent their erosion until restoration work begins. Te second phase, ‘Abd al-‘Azîz continued, includes full scientifc documentation of every strucure of Bâb al-‘Azab as well as preparing its restoration. Studies to rehabilitate the site and reuse it will also be conduced. Te third and fnal phase is to hold workshops and seminars in order to prepare a plan for the preservation of these buildings, which in turn will ensure its periodical maintenance through the forming of a group of young archaeologists and architecs, especially from the area’s inhabitants. Teir aim is to realise the projec’s goals and ensure the preservation, maintenance and rehabilitation of the area. (Nevine El-Aref, “Entrapping the Mamelukes”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 2, 2017). A void in the Great Pyramid of Gîza that a team of researchers said they have discovered is not a new discovery, said Zâhî Hawwâs, former antiquities minister. “Te void is the frst large inner strucure discovered within the 4,500-year-old pyramid since the 1800s — a fnd made possible by recent advances in high-energy particle physics,” according to an article published in the journal Nature on Tursday. Te article said the 30-metre void deep within the pyramid is situated above the strucure’s Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross-secion. Its purpose was not clear, researchers from the ScanPyramids projec said in the article. Te Grand Gallery is a 153-foot-long, 26. foot-tall corridor that leads to the burial chamber of Khufu, the pharaoh for whom the pyramid was built. “However, it remains unclear what lies within the space, what purpose it served, or if it is one or multiple spaces,” said Hawwâs, who is head of the Ministry of Antiquities’ scientifc mission supervising the ScanPyramids projec. Hawwâs told Ahram Online that the claim that the void is a new discovery is not correc. Dieter ARNOLD, who wrote a book called Building in Egypt: Pharaonic Stone Masonry, mentioned that the construcion gaps in the pyramid are present above the entrance to the descending corridor and by implication, the whole passage system, which would include the Grand Gallery. “I do believe that we have to be always very careful about the word ‘void’ because the Great Pyramid is full of voids,” Hawwâs said. He explained that Egyptologists know how the pyramid was built. Te base is a part of a solid rock formation (about 8 metres in height) onto which large stones were placed to form the pyramid’s core.

Te stones, from a nearby quarry, were different in size, with some smaller than others. Hawwâs said that the internal core strucure shows great irregularities, unlike the fne stone masonry of Tura limestone that comprises the outer casing and platform. None of the core stones of Khufu’s pyramid are modular in size or shape. Large gaps exist between stones. In addition, Hawwâs said, the builders may have left larger voids and spaces as intentional construcion gaps. A void does not necessarily mean a room, he commented. Many expeditions have used resistance surveys over the past 50 years. Tese expeditions came from Berkeley, Stanford, Japan, and France, Hawwâs said. Tey always show possible voids inside the pyramid, according to Hawwâs, because they like fame and promotion for their new equipment. Tis current expedition, at the beginning of their work, made an announcement at a big conference on the east side of the Great Pyramid, and showed that in one area on the east side, there was a stone that was fve degrees higher in heat emissions than the rest of the pyramid. “When I examined this area, I found that the stone at the east side was placed there in 1939 to support this area as restoration, and was supported by cement. Tis is why this area had a higher temperature than other blocks,” said Hawwâs. “Tis projec should be scientifc and not a search for hidden passages and chambers to attrac public attention and those who like to claim that the pyramids were built by aliens. I used to call some of them ‘pyramidiots,’” said Hawwâs. “We saw that the team of the ScanPyramids projec showed a video in Ocober of last year about their work inside Khufu’s Pyramid. Te video showed at the end a geometric reconstrucion of an unknown passage behind the chevrons above the descending passage. Tis reconstrucion of a passage is pure hypothesis to explain an anomaly. Te ScanPyramids projec cannot defne the shape, size, or exac position of that void. So, we have to be careful on how the results are presented to the public,” Hawwâs argued. He added that the ScanPyramids formed anomalies or voids but no unknown passages were discovered. “We think that [Antiquities Minister] Khâlid al-‘Inânî appointed us as a scientifc committee to review this work, because it is important to review the data by a team who spent their lives working inside and around pyramids. “We are not at all against any discovery but we as a scientifc committee are responsible for explaining to non-Egyptologists the purpose and method of construcion of the Great Pyramid,” he said. “We wrote in our report which we presented to al-‘Inânî that the ScanPyramids projec should continue their work but they have to use the scientifc approach, and we are happy that this paper is published. We, on the other hand, are going to publish a paper on our opinion on this work, as a scientifc committee,” Hawwâs said. (Nevine El-Aref, “Prominent Egyptologist Hawwâs says what researchers from ScanPyramids projec believe they discovered remains unclear”, Ahram Online, November 2, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie révèle la découverte d’une cavité énorme à l’intérieur de Chéops », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 2 novembre ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Le secrétaire général du CSA critique l’équipe du ScanPyramids Projec : Ils n’auraient pas dû annoncer la nouvelle », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « L’annonce faite par ScanPyramids Projec est précipitée », Sada al-Balad, 3 novembre ; “Khufu pyramid void draws world attention to Egypt: Minister”, Egypt Independent, November 4 ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : L’annonce faite par ScanPyramids Projec a troublé l’opinion publique », Sada al-Balad, 4 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Razzâq, « Zâhî Hawwâs à propos de la cavité de Chéops : Ce n’est point une découverte archéologique », al-Wafd, 4 novembre ; Nasma Réda, « Chéops divise les archéologues », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 8 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Hawwâs : La pyramide regorge de secrets, mais il faut être prudent dans l’annonce de toute nouvelle découverte », Sada al-Balad, 12 novembre).

At the garden of the Egyptian Museum in the heart of Cairo, Nevine El-Aref and a number of Egyptian and foreign artists, intellecuals, businessmen, ambassadors and Arab dignitaries gathered to spend a night of art. Under the name “Eternal Light. Something Old, Something New” the frst exhibition in a series of pop- up shows to be held at heritage sites across Egypt was inaugurated Saturday night at the Egyptian Museum. Curated by Nadine ‘Abd al-Ghaffâr, founder of Art d’Égypte, the exhibition put on a collecion of 16 artworks of Egypt’s renowned contemporary artists displayed against the timeless backdrop of Pharaonic artefacs within the halls of the gigantic Egyptian Museum. Te artworks were infuenced by ancient Egyptian art such as that of artist Muhammad ‘Abla who draws two different worlds that meet: modern Cairo representing life and the Pyramid of Gîza representing death. Both are engaged in an evocative discourse. Fârûq Husnî’s paintings depic a bold profle of a man mountain, evoking traditional ancient Egyptian depicions as seen on tombs and temple walls. ‘Âdil al-Sîwî made an embodiment of the ibis shaped god Toth while ‘Ismat Sawestashî’s artwork depics a mummy within its sarcophagus. Fârûq Wahba carved a clay fgure showing a small sphinx holding three pots of organic colour on its back. Huda Lotfî sculpted a small obelisk and Yûsuf Nabîl painted himself before a wall engraved with hieroglyphic text. “We wanted to highlight the link between contemporary art and ancient Egyptian Pharaonic art through displaying both together, creating a profound dialogue of art,” ‘Abd al-Ghaffâr told Al-Ahram Weekly. She said the exhibition brings together works by Egypt’s most prominent contemporary artists to show the world that Egypt continues to play a crucial role in contemporary artistic and cultural life. Te artworks on display draw upon various elements of the styles, movement, colour and themes of Ancient Egyptian art and transforms them into multi. faceted conversations that refec and reinterpret the complexity of Egyptian culture for the 21st century’s global audience. “In addition, the exhibition also aims to draw attention to rehabilitation initiatives at the Egyptian Museum. In conjuncion with the planned events, Art d’Égypte has succeeded in helping the Ministry of Antiquities secure sponsorships from private secor donors for several vital projecs in the museum,” ‘Abd al-Ghaffâr said. “Tis initiative shows that artistic creativity extended along the span of history until now and contemporary art is an extension of the art of our ancient Egyptian ancestors,” artist ‘Abla told the Weekly. Visitors to the exhibition will see how the backdrop of ancient Egyptian artefacs imbues the contemporary works with deeper resonance and enhances their ability to build the next layer of the Egyptian history. Simultaneously, the presence of contemporary Egyptian artwork in this setting will stimulate the audience to question long-held interpretations of ancient Egyptian culture.

Belgium Ambassador to Egypt Sibille DE CARTIER described the event as “beautiful, where a bit of old and a bit of new combined together, and this is the impressive talent of Egypt. ” Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî welcomed the guests to spend an exceptional and unforgettable night at the museum where contemporary art and ancient Egyptian treasures are engaged in a profound dialogue. Trough art, al-‘Inânî said, Egypt along the span of history has created an essential aspec of its civilisation from the prehistoric period along the Pharaonic, Jewish, Christian and Islamic eras until now. It is shown in drawings, jewelleries, reliefs, sculptures, paintings and architecure. al-‘Inânî said that although several of its treasured collecions are now being taken from their original display for the Grand Egyptian Museum overlooking the Gîza Plateau, “the Egyptian Museum will remain one of Egypt’s landmarks and will display ancient Egyptian schools of art through the ages. ” Te ministry has started a comprehensive refurbishing of Tahrîr Museum. Te indoor and outdoor lighting system has been upgraded, and the walls of the museum’s halls have been polished, showing their original colours. New metal shelves are to be installed in the basement replacing the old wooden ones, and artefacs that have been hidden in stores for years will be unearthed from the basement and put on display at the museum for the frst time. Other artefacs will be replaced such as the collecion of Yuya and Tuya, which will replace King Tutankhamun’s collecion after it heads for the Grand Egyptian Museum. (Nevine El-Aref, “Night at the museum”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 2, 2017). Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities said on Tursday that researchers in the ScanPyramids mission were mistaken in publicly announcing that they “discovered a new void space” inside the Great Pyramid of Giza before frst discussing their fndings with senior Egyptian and international Egyptologists, who have been commissioned by the ministry to study the issue. In an article published in the journal Nature on Tursday, an international team of researchers said they have found a hidden chamber in Khufu, the Great Pyramid of Gîza. Te team said, “Te 30-meter (yard) void deep [they identifed] within the pyramid is situated above the strucure’s Grand Gallery, and has a similar cross-secion. Te purpose of the chamber is unclear, and it’s not yet known whether it was built with a funcion in mind. ”

Tis handout 3D artistic view made by the ScanPyramids mission and released on November 2, 2017 by the Nature Publishing Group shows a hidden internal strucure in Khufu’s Pyramid, the largest pyramid in Gîza. (AFP) Te researchers explained that they “made the discovery using cosmic-ray imaging, recording the behaviour of subatomic particles called muons that penetrate the rock similar to X-rays, only much deeper. ” Mustafa Wazîrî, the secretary general of the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that publishing the fndings in an ongoing research by ScanPyramids projec in a scientifc journal such as Nature Journal before discussing these fndings with leading Egyptologists was a mistake. “Te fndings of the ScanPyramids research projec have to be frst discussed scientifcally among scientists and Egyptologists and then reviewed by the scientifc committee, which was tasked by Egypt’s ministry of antiquities to supervise research on the matter. Tis committee is led by renowned Egyptian Egyptologist Zâhî Hawwâs with the participation of the well-known American Egyptologist Mark LEHNER and Czech Egyptologist Miroslav BÁRTA,” Wazîrî added.

“Tese experts have previously said that the existence of void spaces inside the pyramids is not a new thing and this is a well known fac among Egyptologists," Wazîrî said. “It was too early at this stage in their study to publish that there was a new discovery,” Wazîrî added. An official Egyptian archaeologist, who requested anonymity, told Ahram Online that he believes the mission broke the Egyptian antiquities laws and regulations by announcing fndings to the media through video conference, and, therefore, might be barred by Egyptian authorities from continuing their research. (Nevine El-Aref, “ScanPyramids mission rushed in announcing ‘discovery of new void’ in Gîza’s Khufu’: Egypt antiquities ministry”, Ahram Online, November 2, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Hawwâs : Depuis 25 ans, nous connaissons l’existence des deux espaces vides dans Chéops », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 2 novembre).

A part of the gymnasium A German-Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered the frst Hellenistic gymnasium ever found in Egypt, located at Madînat Wâtfâ, in the northwest of Fayyûm Oasis. Te mission from the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), headed by Professor Cornelia RÖMER, made the discovery as part of its ongoing excavations at the Wâtfâ site. Wâtfâ is the location of the ancient village Philoteris, founded by king Ptolemy II in the 3rd century BCE and named after his second sister Philotera. Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities secor at the Ministry of Antiquities, said that the gymnasium included a large meeting hall, once adorned with statues, a dining hall and a courtyard in the main building. Tere is also a racetrack of nearly 200 metres in length, long enough for the typical stadium-length races of 180 metres. Generous gardens surrounded the building, completing the ideal layout for a centre of Greek learning. RÖMER explains that gymnasia were privately founded by rich people who wanted their villages to become even more Greek in aspec. Tere, she continued, the young men of the Greek speaking upper- class were trained in sports, learned to read and write, and to enjoy philosophical discussions. All big cities of the Hellenistic world, like Athens in Greece, Pergamon and Miletus in Asia Minor, and Pompeii in Italy, had such gymnasia. “Te gymnasia in the Egyptian countryside were built after their pattern. Although much smaller, the gymnasium of Wâtfâ clearly shows the impac of Greek life in Egypt, not only in Alexandria, but also in the countryside," RÖMER said. Alexander the Great, she pointed out, had made Egypt part of the Hellenistic world, and thousands of Greek-speaking settlers focked to the land by the Nile, attraced by the new Ptolemaic empire, which promised prosperity and peace. In the Delta and Fayyûm in particular, new villages were founded, in which the indigenous population lived together with the Greek newcomers. Such villages were equipped not only with Egyptian temples, but also with Greek sancuaries. Tere were also public baths, an institution very popular in the Greek world. Te baths soon became places of social encounter in the villages and meeting points for the Egyptian and Greek-speaking inhabitants.

Gymnasia as places of Greek culture and lifestyle were part of this Hellenistic cultural setting. Inscriptions and papyri had already witnessed the existence of gymnasia in the countryside of the Ptolemaic period. Tey tell of payments for parts of the main buildings being made by rich inhabitants of the villages, and of the men who governed the institutions. At Wâtfâ, the frst building of this kind in Egypt has now been discovered. Wâtfâ, ancient Philoteris, was one of the many villages founded under the frst Ptolemies in the middle of the 3rd century BC. In the beginning, it had around 1,200 inhabitants, two thirds of them Egyptians, and one third Greek-speaking settlers. Te German Archaeological Institute has been conducing surveys and excavations at Wâtfâ since 2010. One important aspec of the projec’s work is teaching Egyptian students, in cooperation with a teaching program at ‘Ayn Shams University, supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). (Nevine El-Aref, “First Hellenistic gymnasium in Egypt discovered at Wâtfâ village in Fayyûm”, Ahram Online, November 6, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte du premier gymnase en Égypte », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 6 novembre ; “Remains of Hellenistic era gymnasium found in Fayyûm”, Egypt Independent, November 6 ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Découverte dans le Fayyûm du premier gymnase égyptien », Sada al-Balad, 6 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie met au jour le premier gymnase dans le Fayyûm », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte dans le Fayyûm des vestiges du premier gymnase en Égypte », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 6 novembre ; « Mise au jour dans le Fayyûm d’une salle de culture physique », al-Fagr, 6 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Découverte de la première "salle de culture physique" datant de l’époque hellénistique », al-Ahrâm, 7 novembre ; Dalia Farouq, « Le Fayyûm révèle encore des secrets », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 29 novembre).

Le ministre de l’Archéologie, Dr Khâlid al. ‘Inânî, a reçu le nouvel ambassadeur d’Italie en Égypte, S. E. M. Giampaolo CANTINI, en présence de la direcrice dell’Istituto Italiano di Cultura per la R. A. E. (iiccairo), Dr Giuseppina CAPRIOTTI ; et du président dell’Ufficio di Cooperazione dell’Ambasciata d’Italia, Felice LONGOBARDI. L’entretien a porté sur le renforcement des liens bilatéraux en matière d’archéologie. Ils ont examiné la proposition de créer une Union des musées internationaux, composée de représentants du Rijksmuseum van Oudheden de Leiden, du Neues Museum de Berlin, du British Museum et du musée du Louvre. Placée sous la direcion du Museo Egizio di Torino, cette Union aura pour mission d’élaborer une nouvelle vision du Musée Égyptien de Tahrîr. À cela s’ajoute l’organisation de stages de formation pour rehausser les compétences des archéologues et des restaurateurs égyptiens. L’entretien a porté également sur l’aplanissement des difficultés rencontrées par les 22 missions archéologiques italiennes travaillant en Égypte. (Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur d’Italie en Égypte », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 novembre 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie reçoit l’ambassadeur d’Italie au Caire », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 7 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et l’ambassadeur d’Italie au Caire proposent la création d’une Union internationale pour le réaménagement du Musée Égyptien », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 7 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie examine avec l’ambassadeur d’Italie le renforcement de la coopération archéologique », Sada al-Balad, 7 novembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Coopération égypto- italienne pour développer le Musée Égyptien de Tahrîr », al-Wafd, 7 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al- Mu‘tî, « Modernisation du Musée Égyptien en collaboration avec l’Italie », al-Ahrâm, 9 novembre).

A team of scientists who last week announced the discovery of a large void inside the Great Pyramid of Gîza have created a virtual-reality tour that allows users to ‘teleport’ themselves inside the strucure and explore its architecure. Using 3D technology, the Scan Pyramids Projec allows visitors wearing headsets to take a guided tour inside the Grand Gallery, the Queen’s Chamber and other ancient rooms not normally accessible to the public, without leaving Paris. “Tanks to this technique, we make it possible to teleport ourselves to Egypt, inside the pyramid, as a group and with a guide,” said Mehdi TAYOUBI, co-direcor of Scan Pyramids, which on Nov. 2 announced the discovery of a mysterious space inside the depths of the Pyramid. Te void itself is visible on the tour, appearing like a dotted cloud. “What is new in the world of virtual reality is that from now on you are not isolated but there are several of us, you’re in a group, you can take a tour with your family. And you can access places which you usually can’t in the real pyramid. ” While partly designed as a fun experience, the “collaborative immersion” projec allows researchers to improve the technologies they used to detec the pyramid void and think about what purpose it may have served. Te pyramid, built in around 2,500 BC and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was a monumental tomb soaring to a height of 479 feet (146 metres). Until the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889, the Great Pyramid stood as the tallest manmade strucure for more than 4,000 years. While there are passageways into it and chambers in various parts, much of the internal strucure had remained a mystery until a team from France’s HIP Institute used an imaging method based on cosmic rays to gain a view inside. So-called muon particles, which originate from interacions with rays from space and atoms in Earth’s upper atmosphere, are able to penetrate hundreds of metres through stone before being absorbed. Tat allows for mapping inside stone strucures. “Muon tomography has really improved a lot due to its use on the pyramid and we think that muography will have other applications in other felds,” said TAYOUBI. “But we also wanted to innovate and imagine devices to allow the wider public to understand what this pyramid is, understand it from within. ” When looking through their 3D goggles, visitors can see the enormous stones of the pyramid as if they were real, and walk virtually along its corridors, chambers and hidden spaces. As they approach the pyramid from the outside, the tour even includes audio of Cairo’s deafening and ever-present traffic. (Reuters, “Exploring Egypt’s Great Pyramid from the inside, virtually”, Ahram Online, November 8, 2017).

When the Fourth-Dynasty Pharaoh Khufu decided to build the Great Pyramid as his gateway to eternity, he did not realise that the architecure of his burial place would perplex Egyptologists and scientists for centuries afterwards, placing them before a riddle wrapped in an enigma.

Great Pyramid (3D) Today after 45 centuries the mystery of the Pyramids lives on, and the architecure of the Great Pyramid of Khufu still conceals its secrets. Scholars have long carried out scientifc and archaeological research on the strucure, but nobody has managed to solve all its mysteries.

Khufu Great Pyramid void chamber room muon scan Two years ago, a team of French, Canadian, Japanese and Egyptian scientists initiated the ScanPyramids Projec in an attempt to solve such riddles and better understand the pyramid’s internal strucure with the help of modern non-invasive technology including muons and infrared scanning. But it seems that the curse of the Pharaohs continues to spread its spells. Earlier this week when the ScanPyramids team announced the discovery of “a giant void space” above the Great Pyramid’s internal Grand Gallery that they described “as being as big as an Airbus with 200 passengers on board”, the scientifc committee assigned by the Ministry of Antiquities to review the team’s fndings objeced to them. “It is a very big void space above the Grand Galley roughly 30 metres long,” ScanPyramids deputy coordinator Yâsir al-Shâyyib told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said that the team did not know whether the void was horizontal or inclined or made by one strucure or several successive ones.

“We don’t have any architecural interpretations for the space, and the role and purpose of its construcion are unknown. What we are pretty sure of is that it is a void space flled with air and not with small or big stones or funerary collecions as some have claimed,” al-Shâyyib said. He added that the space could not be a chamber because it is a long passage that runs in parallel with the Grand Gallery and the chamber should be of a recangular or square shape. It could also not be a crack in the pyramid’s inner masonry because it is four metres wide and a crack could not exceed 40cm. He told the Weekly that the void space was frst observed through nuclear emulsion flms installed in the queen’s chamber of the pyramid by Nagoya University physicist Kunihiro MORISHIMA from Japan, and then confrmed with a scintillator hodoscope set up in the same chamber by a team from the Japanese High Energy Accelerator Research Organisation (KEK) and reconfrmed with gas detecors outside the pyramid carried out by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). “Tis large void has therefore been deteced with a high degree of confdence by three different muon detecion technologies and three independent analyses. Tese results constitute a breakthrough for the understanding of Khufu’s Pyramid and its internal strucure,” al-Shâyyib said.

“We are working to scientifc purposes and not to archaeological ones, using new non-invasive technology to explore the pyramid and to be able to scan it to see beneath the rock to reach results in a purely scientifc way,” al-Shâyyib told the Weekly, adding that the fndings had been published in one of the world’s most important scientifc journals, Nature, as requested by the archaeological committee assigned by the Ministry of Antiquities led by Egyptian Egyptologist Zâhî Hawwâs, American Egyptologist Mark LEHNER and Czech Egyptologist Miroslav BÁRTA.

However, “the void space does not modify what we already know about the inner strucure of the pyramid. Previous research had shown that the ancient Egyptians most likely construced gaps in their Pyramids, which made the void the team found nothing special, or new,” LEHNER told the Weekly. He said that although he accepted the fndings and that the voids may look like solid strucures composed of perfecly ftted blocks, in reality because the ancient Egyptians built the Pyramids’ outer casing and passageways with strong stone, the core of the strucures had many gaps flled with mortar and small pieces of stones. Tese random gaps could be as big as four metres across. al-Shâyyib thinks the new “giant void” is not flled with stones, but is a large space flled with air and is mostly empty. LEHNER believes it could be a weight-relieving space between the roof of the Grand Gallery and the mass of the pyramid’s core. “Four similar weight-relieving voids are found on top of the king’s chamber to distribute the weight of the pyramid down, just like the tented roof on a house in America that distributes the rain to either side,” LEHNER told the Weekly. For his part, Hawwâs said the recent fnd was “not a new discovery”. He told the Weekly that Egyptologist Dieter ARNOLD had already written in his book Building in Egypt: Pharaonic Stone Masonry that construcion gaps in the Pyramid of Khufu are present above the entrance to the descending corridor and by implication, the whole passage system, which would include the Grand Gallery. Other expeditions from Berkeley and Stanford in the US, Japan and France had used resistivity surveys in the past, and these had always shown possible voids inside the pyramid, he said. “We have to be very careful about the word ‘void’ because the Great Pyramid is full of voids,” Hawwâs said. Te base of the pyramid is part of a solid rock formation about eight metres in height that was transported from a quarry in the form of large stones making up the pyramid’s core. Te stones are different in sizes, with some of them smaller than others. Hence, the internal core strucure shows great irregularities, unlike the fne stone masonry of the pyramid’s outer casing and platform, he said. None of the core stones of Khufu’s Pyramid are modular in size or shape. “Large gaps always exist between stones. Also the builders may have left larger voids and spaces as intentional construcion gaps. A void does not mean a room, far less a secret room,” Hawwâs said, adding that the ScanPyramids expedition was a scientifc mission and not one searching for hidden passages, chambers or treasures. In Ocober last year, ScanPyramids had presented a video of its work showing the location of a geometric reconstrucion of an unknown passage behind the “chevrons” above the descending passage. Tis reconstrucion of a passage was a pure hypothesis to explain an anomaly, however, Hawwâs said. Te ScanPyramids projec could not defne the shape, size, or exac position of the void, so there was a need to be careful about how the results were presented to the public.

“We are not against any new discovery, but we, as a scientifc committee, are responsible for explaining to non-Egyptologists the purpose and methods of construcion of the Great Pyramid. ScanPyramids should continue their work, but they have to use a proper scientifc approach. We are happy that their paper has been published because we asked them to do so as part of their scientifc research projec. We are now going to publish a paper on our opinion of this work,” Hawwâs concluded. “I wish every day that we could stumble upon a new discovery,” Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî said, commenting on the newly found void space. He described it as a “revelation” that had brought the world’s attention to Egypt. He thanked the team for their work and for turning the world’s attention to Egypt. “Since taking office, I have given special attention to the research team working on the ScanPyramids projec so that we can have a deeper understanding of the inner strucure of the pyramid,” al-‘Inânî said. He added that the team was a global one working under the umbrella of the Ministry of Antiquities and the supervision of Hânî Hilâl, former minister of higher education, and includes researchers from France, Japan and Canada. He said that the scientifc committee assigned by the ministry to review the fndings of the projec had asked the research team to publish their conclusions in a prestigious international journal to make clear the credibility of the research and open discussion among scientists and Egyptologists across the world. “Te mission will continue its work for another year, and we hope they will solve the long-lasting enigma of the pyramid’s strucure,” he said. “Tis is not the end of the projec. Tis is only one step among others to come,” al-Shâyyib told the Weekly, adding that the ministry committee had approved the work for another year for the team to continue a wider muons analysis in the Grand Gallery. (Nevine El-Aref, “A new discovery?”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 9, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Des détails sur la découverte controversée du ScanPyramids Projec », Sada al-Balad, 3 novembre ; Samar al-Naggâr, « La nouvelle découverte de Chéops soulève une polémique parmi les archéologues », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 novembre ; Associated Press, “Newly. discovered gap in Khufu Pyramid already known: Zâhî Hawwâs”, Egypt Independent, November 3 ; Huda ‘Abd al-Râziq, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie : la cavité de Chéops est une nécessité architecurale et non une découverte archéologique », al-Fagr, 3 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : ScanPyramids Projec cherche à explorer la strucure interne de Chéops et non à chercher des trésors », Sada al-Balad, 4 novembre).

Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qâsimî, the ruler of the Gulf state of Sharjah Upon his arrival earlier this week to attend the official opening of the World Youth Forum in Sharm al- Shaykh, Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qâsimî, the ruler of the Gulf state of Sharjah, one of the United Arab Emirates, handed back to Egypt a collecion of 400 artefacs. Te collecion was seized by the Sharjah police in the United Arab Emirates and sent back to Cairo upon the orders of al-Qâsimî. Te objecs are currently under examination and documentation at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square.

Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî said he appreciated the initiative of Sheikh al-Qâsimî and the UAE authorities, which highlighted their support for preserving Egypt’s heritage and the strong relationship between the two countries. He said that once the artefacs had been unpacked and documented, they would be put on display in a special exhibition at the museum.

Sha‘bân ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, direcor of the ministry’s Antiquities Repatriation Department, said that some of the artefacs were very valuable, with most of them dating back to the Pharaonic period and some belonging to the Islamic era. He said they included a collecion of painted false doors carved in stone, copper statuettes of ancient Egyptian deities such as Isis and Osiris, amulets made of faience and eyes made of copper and decorated with blue glass. Statues of the ancient Egyptian cat deity Bastet were also among the recovered collecion, as well as a collecion of pots and fragments of diorite statues in the shape of sphinxes. (Nevine El-Aref, “Artefacs returned”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 9, 2017. Voir également « L’émir de Sharjah offre aux Égyptiens 354 pièces archéologiques au cours de sa visite en Égypte », al-Watan, 4 novembre ; MENA, « Les 354 pièces archéologiques restituées par les Émirats arabes unis sont consignées au Musée Égyptien », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 4 novembre ; MENA, « L’Égypte récupère 354 pièces archéologiques des Émirats arabes unis », al-Shurûq, 4 novembre ; MENA, « Le Parlement remercie l’émir de Sharjah pour les 354 pièces antiques restituées », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 4 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Les Émirats arabes unis remettent 354 pièces archéologiques à l’Égypte », Sada al-Balad, 4 novembre ; “Ruler of Sharjah arrives Cairo and delivers Egypt 354 Pharaonic and Islamic artifacs”, Egypt Independent, November 5 ; « Le Musée Égyptien réceptionne 354 pièces archéologiques restituées par les Émirats », al-Wafd, 5 novembre ; Nevine El-Aref, “Sharjah hands back 400 ancient artefacs smuggled out of Egypt”, Ahram Online, November 5; Yâsmîn Mabrûk, « Cadeau de l’émir de Sharjah : 354 pièces archéologiques », al-Fagr, 6 novembre).

Le secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités, Dr Mustafa Amîn, a pris la décision n° 7096/2017 portant nomination de l’archéologue ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd Mahmûd au poste de direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân et de Nubie, en remplacement de l’archéologue Nasr Salâma, parti à la retraite. Rappelons que ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd est licencié de la faculté d’Archéologie du Caire en 1991. Il a occupé plusieurs postes successifs au sein du ministère de l’Archéologie : inspeceur à Kom Umbû, puis à Aswân, ensuite inspeceur en chef de Kom Umbû et, enfn, direceur général de Kom Umbû. (Hiba ‘Âdil, « ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd est nommé direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân et de Nubie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 13 novembre 2017. Voir également Fathallah Radwân, « ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd nommé direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân et de Nubie », al-Fagr, 14 novembre).

Mummy discovered at Fayyûm’s Dayr al-Banât During excavation work carried out at the Dayr al-Banât (al-Banât Monastery) archaeological site in Fayyûm, an Egyptian-Russian mission from the Russian Institute for Oriental Studies discovered a wooden Graeco-Roman sarcophagus with a mummy inside. Mustafa Wazîrî, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the sarcophagus is in poor condition, with cracks all over its lid and base. Te mummy, however, is well preserved. He explains that the mummy is wrapped in linen and has a blue and gold cartonage mask. Te mask is decorated with scenes depicing the sky deity Kheibir, while the mummy’s chest is decorated with the face of the goddess Isis. Te legs have an image of a white sabot. conservation work at the site before they were transferred to Fayyûm for restoration. ‘Abd al-Latîf said that Dayr al-Banât is known for its Islamic and Coptic antiquities, with its Graeco- Roman necropolis and early Coptic churches and cemeteries. (Nevine El-Aref, “Mummy discovered at Fayyûm’s Dayr al-Banât”, Ahram Online, November 14, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’un sarcophage en bois dans le Fayyûm », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 14 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte d’un sarcophage en bois contenant une momie d’époque romaine », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 14 novembre ; “Greco- Roman mummy discovered in Fayyûm”, Egypt Independent, November 14 ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte d’un sarcophage en bois contenant une momie d’époque gréco-romaine », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 14 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Mise au jour d’une momie d’époque gréco-romaine à Dayr al- Banât », al-Ahrâm, 15 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nouvelle découverte archéologique à Dayr al-Banât », Sada al-Balad, 14 novembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Mise au jour d’un sarcophage en bois contenant une momie d’époque gréco-romaine », Watanî, 14 novembre ; Sayyid al-Shûra, « Le Fayyûm dévoile ses trésors archéologiques à Dayr al-Banât », al-Wafd, 18 novembre ; Dalia Farouq, « Le Fayyûm révèle encore des secrets », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 29 novembre).

« 150 ans de visites royales belges en Égypte ». Tel est le nom de l’exposition organisée au Musée Égyptien et inaugurée le 1er novembre par le ministre égyptien des Antiquités, Khâlid al-‘Inânî, et l’ambassadrice de Belgique en Égypte, S. E. Mme Sibille DE CARTIER D’YVES. « Cette exposition renferme 60 photos et manuscrits présentés sur des panneaux accompagnés de textes bilingues, arabe et anglais, dont la plupart proviennent des archives du palais royal de Bruxelles et

présentés pour la première fois en Égypte », a déclaré Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, direcrice du Musée Égyptien. L’exposition occupe la salle 42, soit à l’entrée du musée, afn d’attirer l’attention de tous les visiteurs durant tout le mois de novembre. D’après les textes inscrits sur les panneaux, le visiteur peut constater que l’intérêt belge pour l’Égypte est bien ancien, il a commencé en 1855, lorsque le roi LÉOPOLD, premier roi belge, a emmené son épouse Marie Henriette, reine d’Autriche, à une excursion maritime dans le Proche-Orient. Cette navigation a pris fn sur les côtes égyptiennes et a été suivie de plusieurs autres quelques années plus tard (1862-1863). Ces visites sont marquées par de nombreuses tournées par le roi LÉOPOLD qui avait exploré la ville d’Alexandrie, la Cité des morts à Gîza, Louqsor, Aswân, et ce, sans oublier les aventures royales dans le désert du Sinaï et la visite du monastère de Sainte-Catherine. Dans cette exposition, le visiteur peut voir des photos de son successeur LÉOPOLD II, qui était encore prince, avec le khédive Ismâ‘îl, de même qu’une lettre du prince Léopold adressée à son assistant Adrian GOFFINET, où on lit: « C’était mon grand plaisir de rencontrer le successeur de Sa‘îd pacha hier. Mes meilleurs souhaits et sincères estimes ». À travers les photos de l’exposition, on peut aussi découvrir les tournées effecuées par le prince comme le chantier du creusement du Canal de Suez. L’exposition représente aussi la présence des projets belges en Égypte durant la fn du XIXe siècle et le début du XXe siècle à travers des photos explicatives des ponts installés comme celui d’Imbâba, les réseaux des rails du tram d’Héliopolis, le réaménagement de l’Entreprise du sucre égyptienne à Nag‘ Hammâdî en Haute- Égypte, qui a été effecué par le Belge Henri NAOUS. Sont également exposées une photo des belles maisons de la banlieue d’Héliopolis, et une de son créateur le célèbre industriel belge, le baron Edouard Louis Joseph EMPAIN. L’exposition comprend les menus des hôtels, soit en Haute-Égypte ou à Héliopolis servis au roi ALBERT et son épouse la reine Élisabeth, lors de leur visite en Égypte en 1911. Parmi les photos les plus attirantes sont celles des membres de la famille royale sur les différents sites archéologiques en 1922 et 1923 comme dans la vallée des Rois, Madînat Hâbû, les fameux colosses de Toutmosis III, connus par Memnonia, l’inauguration officielle de la pièce funéraire du roi Toutankhamon, l’ancienne nécropole d’Asyût, dans la Moyenne-Égypte. Ces tournées archéologiques étaient guidées par l’égyptologue belge Jean CAPART, qui avait annoncé en 1923 la fondation de l’Association égyptologique Reine Élisabeth. Dans cette série de photos fgure celle montrant la reine Élisabeth assise et tirée par une corde pour atteindre la tombe du roi Ramsès III. Un autre panneau retrace en détail, toujours à travers les photos, les relations égypto-belges au cours du XXe siècle. Une photo représentant le président Sâdât à l’accueil du prince ALBERT en 1977 au Caire, une autre mémorisant la visite royale effecuée par le prince Philippe en 2008 à la tête d’une délégation commerciale. Le prince y est représenté face à face avec la tête colossale du roi Psousennès Ier. Ce sont 150 ans de visites royales marquées par d’intimes relations mutuelles, perpétuelles et forissantes dans tous les domaines. (Doaa Elhami, « La Belgique s’invite au Musée égyptien », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 15 novembre 2017. Voir également Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rahmân, « Une exposition au Musée Égyptien consacrée aux 150 ans de visites royales belges en Égypte », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 1er novembre ; Fikriyya Ahmad, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure une exposition belge », al-Wafd, 1er novembre). À quelque 45 km au sud-ouest d’Alexandrie se situe le site archéologique de Marea, sur le lac Maryût. Là opère, depuis 16 ans, la mission archéologique polonaise dirigée par le professeur Krzysztof BABRAJ, de l’Université de Varsovie. « Ces dernières saisons, nous avons consacré nos travaux à l’église de Marea. Les fouilles y reprendront et continueront encore les deux prochaines

saisons. Dans l’Antiquité, l’église était importante pour les pèlerins du monastère d’Abû Mînâ al-’Agâ’ibî (saint Ména) », explique BABRAJ.

(Photo : T. SKRZYPIEC) Datant du Ve siècle, cette église est longue de 49 m pour 47 m de large. Elle était alors la plus vaste église du pays après celle d’Alexandrie. « Nous avons découvert, pendant les fouilles, 150 ostraca composant les archives administratives de la construcion de l’église », souligne Tomasz DERDA, chef du département de papyrologie à l’Institut d’archéologie de l’Université de Varsovie et membre de la mission polonaise opérant à Marea. C’est, en fait, la première fois qu’une mission trouve sur un même site les documents explicatifs des étapes de la construcion et l’édifce en question avec ses bases. D’où l’importance de la découverte.

Ostracon de Marea. (Photo : T. SKRZYPIEC) D’après le professeur DERDA, les archives sont composées de matériaux durs qui supportent l’humidité du climat. Autre particularité de la découverte : les experts ont remarqué sur les ostraca dégagés une couche de textes préliminaires peu clairs au-dessous des inscriptions principales. Ces documents comprennent les salaires quotidiens du personnel selon la position de l’employé. Par exemple, le plâtrier touchait 140 myr. den/jour, alors que son assistant touchait 70 myr. den, une monnaie locale de l’époque aux origines obscures. Le personnel était donc bien payé, selon les experts. Les documents démontrent de même que 300 dromadaires ont été utilisés sur le site pour transporter les blocs de pierre ciselés, des carrières au chantier. D’après DERDA, il apparaît que la carrière se situait près du site, et la construcion de l’église n’a pris que 150 jours. « La beauté de l’église est une autre évidence de l’importance du site et sa valeur pour le souverain d’Égypte, voire l’empereur lui-même », reprend BABRAJ, chef de la mission.

Chapiteau de calcaire. (Photo : T. SKRZYPIEC) En effet, le style architecural de l’église est celui d’une basilique, répartie en deux séries de colonnes latérales dont les chapiteaux sont fabriqués de marbre. « Les Arabes ont exploité ces colonnes ultérieurement », commente le professeur DERDA. Le plafond est dallé de pierres de plusieurs formes importées d’Italie. Cette richesse refète l’énorme budget réservé à la construcion de l’église. La question qui se pose jusqu’à aujourd’hui pour les experts de la mission est de savoir qui a fnancé les travaux. « Qui est cette personne ? Le pape d’Alexandrie de qui dépend l’église, son gouverneur ou l’empereur lui-même ? », se demande l’expert. Personne ne le sait. Mais sans aucun doute, l’église de Marea a été construite sous les ordres de l’empereur en personne.

Un four découvert dans l’abside de la basilique de Marea, datant des IIe et IIIe siècles. (Photo : T. SKRZYPIEC) À cette époque reculée, vers la fn du IVe siècle et les débuts du Ve siècle de notre ère, saint Ména occupait une importance majeure chez les chrétiens qui visitaient sa tombe, puis son église. Sa tombe accueillait les dévots d’Italie, de Grèce, de France, d’Espagne, voire de Constantinople, siège de l’Empire byzantin. Les pèlerins se reposaient à Marea avant de reprendre leur route pour le monastère de Saint Mena. Au fur et à mesure, le nombre des pèlerins a augmenté, et par conséquent, leurs besoins aussi.

Fragment d’une boucle d’oreille en or. (Photo : T. SKRZYPIEC) L’empereur a fait construire un quai sur le lac Maryût pour accueillir les bateaux fuviaux qui transportaient les pèlerins d’Alexandrie. À Marea, les dévots s’y reposaient quelques heures. « Près du quai ont été trouvés des toilettes, des bains publics et une grande maison byzantine », explique le professeur DERDA. Selon l’expert, durant les heures de repos, le pèlerin se purifait physiquement et aussi spirituellement en se rendant à l’église avant de reprendre sa route vers le monastère de Saint Mena. « Pendant l’époque byzantine, l’église de Saint Mena dépendait de l’empereur lui-même et de son culte. C’était plutôt des pèlerins chrétiens d’Europe qui se rendaient à l’église et pas ceux d’Égypte », souligne Louäy Mahmûd Sa‘îd, expert en égyptologie et coptologie à l’Université de Munûfyya et à la Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Ce pèlerinage est aussi marqué par la présence de bouteilles d’argile de saint Ména dans de nombreuses églises antiques européennes. Elles contenaient de l’eau sainte de l’église de Saint-Ména. Les prochaines saisons de fouilles donneront de nouvelles surprises. Les membres de la mission espèrent ensuite trouver les routes principales vers le site de Marea lorsque les excavations de l’église prendront fn. (Doaa Elhami, « Marea, une halte pour pèlerins », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 15 novembre 2017).

Des dizaines d’archéologues et de salariés ont organisé aujourd’hui une manifestation devant le siège du ministère de l’Archéologie, afn de réclamer leurs « droits spoliés ». La police antiémeute a été dépêchée sur place, notamment qu’un grand nombre de manifestants ont réussi à pénétrer dans le bâtiment et à accéder au bureau du ministre, Dr Khâlid al-‘Inânî, situé au premier étage. Face aux portes closes des responsables, les manifestants scandaient : « Nous exigeons nos droits ». (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le personnel du ministère de l’Archéologie manifeste pour réclamer ses droits », Sada al-Balad, 15 novembre 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le secrétaire général du CSA : Nous déployons tous nos efforts afn de résoudre les problèmes des salariés », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 22 novembre).

Bains romains de Mârînâ. (Photo : Mission polonaise) Les travaux de restauration et de préservation de la cité antique gréco-romaine de Mârînâ al-‘Alamayn ont en partie pris fn. Le centre de la cité est restauré par la mission polonaise depuis les années 1980. Mârînâ al. ‘Alamayn est connue pour ses bains publics. « Notre objecif premier est de protéger ce joyau architecural qui fait partie de notre patrimoine », explique Rafal CZERNER, chef de la mission polonaise de restauration et de conservation dépendant du Centre polonais d’archéologie de l’Université de Varsovie. Sur le site se trouvent deux bains : le bain hellénistique situé au nord du forum, là où se réunissaient les citoyens de la ville, et le bain romain situé, lui, plus au sud. Bien que les deux bains datent du Ier siècle de notre ère, leur architecure, leur composition et leurs systèmes thermiques sont différents. « La présence de ces deux types de bains montre comment la communauté de cette cité a cherché à moderniser son style de vie », explique CZERNER. En effet, la salle principale du bain hellénistique, le tholos, est cylindrique et voûté. Celui-ci comprend plusieurs petits bassins et deux avancées qui mènent au fourneau. « Puis l’infuence romaine a fait son apparition et a donné lieu à un bain dont l’architecure est plus riche et décorée et où le système de chauffage s’est modernisé », explique CZERNER. Le bain romain était équipé de l’hypocauste, un système de chauffage qui alimentait le tépidarium et le caldarium grâce à des conduites d’eau chaude. En outre, continue CZERNER, « nous venons de découvrir de nombreuses strates de marbre qui recouvraient les colonnes et le sol du frigidarium, la plus grande salle du bain romain ». D’après Maysara ‘Abdallah Husayn, expert en archéologie gréco-romaine à l’Université du Caire, une telle trouvaille souligne la richesse et l’aisance de la communauté qui y vivait. Le sol de la dernière pièce est surélevé à 30 cm au-dessus du sol, et se compose de différentes dalles de marbre aux dimensions variables qui donnent l’impression d’une gigantesque mosaïque. Une des caracéristiques de ce site archéologique est la présence d’une série de colonnes en calcaire situées en dehors des salles, appelées le péristyle. Pour protéger ces colonnes de l’humidité, les Romains les recouvraient d’enduit. « Cette couche d’enduit était et reste la meilleure méthode de protecion découverte jusqu’à nos jours », commente CZERNER, qui rappelle l’importance de restaurer ces bâtiments de façon régulière, car ils sont aujourd’hui plus que jamais confrontés au climat particulièrement humide de la région d’al-‘Alamayn. Les membres de la mission polonaise ont déjà nettoyé et consolidé les murs et reconstitué les colonnes qui s’étaient effondrées. Une étape importante dans la restauration de ce site exceptionnel. (Doaa Elhami, « Les bains d’al. ‘Alamayn restaurés », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 15 novembre 2017). Pour fêter les 15 ans de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina, le Musée des antiquités de la bibliothèque expose, du 16 ocobre au 31 décembre, ses pièces les plus remarquables, couvrant une période qui s’étend de l’époque pharaonique aux périodes copte et islamique, en passant par l’époque gréco-romaine. L’exposition comprend plusieurs dizaines de pièces qui retracent différents aspecs de la civilisation égyptienne. Dans la grande salle du musée se dresse la statue-cube du grand prêtre Djed-Khonsou. Louef-Ankh du Nouvel Empire, découverte au temple de Karnak à Louqsor. Elle représente Djed-Khonsou accroupi sur un socle, avec des inscriptions hiéroglyphiques racontant sa biographie. Il a les bras croisés posés sur ses genoux, qui sont serrés contre sa poitrine, et son corps est entièrement recouvert d’un manteau qui dissimule ses membres. « Ce type de statue était placé dans les cours des temples, à proximité de la divinité. Il est apparu au Moyen Empire, puis s’est largement diffusé au Nouvel Empire et aux époques tardives », explique Husayn ‘Abd al-Sabûr, direceur du musée.

Selon ‘Abd al-Sabûr, l’une des pièces les plus importantes exposées est la « stèle magique » en calcaire du dieu Horus. Ce dernier est représenté sous la forme d’un enfant nu se tenant debout sur des crocodiles et aux prises avec des scorpions, des serpents et un lion. Au-dessus de la scène se trouve le dieu proteceur Bès. « À l’époque tardive, on considérait que cette stèle possédait des vertus protecrices et on la plaçait dans les maisons pour guérir les malades », indique ‘Abd al-Sabûr. Parmi les pièces exposées fgure aussi une autre stèle, en marbre, datant de 217-204 av. J. -C. C’est une stèle votive avec le nom d’Archipolis, fls de Cosmos. Elle porte des inscriptions en grec ancien dédiées au dieu Sérapis et à la déesse Isis. Représenté par différentes sculptures en bois et en pierre, des textiles et des peintures murales, en plus d’un porte-Bible en bois datant du XVIe siècle et orné de lettres coptes, de croix et d’inscriptions en arabe, l’art copte occupe une place de choix dans l’exposition. Sans oublier les célèbres icônes qui le caracérisent. « Les icônes, qui ont pris naissance en Orient aux IVe et Ve siècles, sont des images religieuses sacrées sur bois, accrochées aux murs des monastères, des chapelles et parfois des maisons. Nous avons ici l’une des plus belles icônes de l’ère copte, peinte par l’Arménien Ibrahim Johanna en 1748 dans des couleurs très vives. Elle représente Jésus-Christ — entouré des quatre évangélistes apparaissant sous forme symbolique —, tenant dans sa main gauche un parchemin sur lequel est inscrit un verset de la Bible », indique ‘Abd al- Sabûr. Les moucharabiehs constituant un élément caracéristique de la période islamique, la secion de l’exposition consacrée à cette dernière comprend notamment un moucharabieh datant de l’époque mamelouke, avec de beaux motifs géométriques, de même qu’une lanterne en verre décorée provenant de la mosquée Sultan Hasan. Enfn, elle renferme un beau panneau en marbre remontant à l’époque ottomane. Les autorités égyptiennes ont décidé de créer un Musée des antiquités au sein du complexe culturel de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), afn d’exposer les objets datant des époques hellénistique, romaine et byzantine découverts sur le site de l’ancienne bibliothèque lors des travaux de construcion de la nouvelle. Ouvert fn 2002 avec plus de 1 100 pièces, il propose au public, en plus des objets cités plus haut, des pièces repêchées en 2000 à proximité du port est d’Alexandrie et de la baie d’Abûqîr. « Le Musée des antiquités de la BA est l’un des rares musées au monde à exposer des pièces archéologiques à l’endroit même où elles ont été découvertes. On peut notamment y voir des mosaïques ayant fait partie du sol de l’ancienne bibliothèque », explique ‘Abd al-Sabûr. Comportant une riche base de données, le site Internet du musée donne accès aux différentes secions et collecions en arabe, en anglais et en français. L’internaute y trouve une présentation détaillée, mais simple des plus importantes pièces exposées au musée et peut également faire une visite virtuelle des salles. Aménagé selon les techniques d’exposition et de décoration les plus sophistiquées, le Musée des antiquités organise en outre diverses acivités visant à approfondir les connaissances des visiteurs en matière de civilisation égyptienne. (Samar Zarée, « Merveilles d’Égypte à la Bibliotheca Alexandrina », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 15 novembre 2017).

Te ruins of an ancient Egyptian temple built for the Egyptian deity, Isis, were discovered on Tursday by workers on a residential projec in Banhâ City, capital of the Qalyûbiyya Governorate. Te workers notifed the Ministry of Antiquities who sent a team of archaeologists to the discovery site in Tell Atrîb to continue excavating the temple. Pharaonic inscriptions depicing the ancient Egyptian deities, Horus and Isis, were displayed on the temple’s walls and pillars. Te discovery has the potential to put the area on the map for tourists enthusiastic about Egyptology. Ahmad Kamâl, a professor of History at Banhâ University, said the area was rich in antiquities despite being negleced by the Antiquities Ministry. He accused the Ministry of “deliberate sabotage” for neglecing treasures of one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, dating back 4,500 years. (“Isis temple unearthed by builders in Banhâ”, Egypt Independent, November 17, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte d’un bloc inscrit d’hiéroglyphes à Tell Atrîb », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 16 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce une nouvelle découverte à al-Qalyûbiyya », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 16 novembre ; Ibrâhîm al-Hawwârî, « Mise au jour de 4 pièces antiques à al-Qalyûbiyya », Sada al-Balad, 17 novembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Découverte à Banhâ de quelques blocs décorés d’hiéroglyphes », Watanî, 17 novembre). Te Egyptian embassy in Cyprus is set to receive a collecion of 14 artefacs that have been stolen and illegally smuggled out of the country within a matter of days, an Egyptian antiquities official has said. Te objecs include an alabaster vase inscribed with King Ramses II’s cartouche, and 13 amulets of different shapes, sizes and materials. Te subjecs include the goddesses Sekhmet, Neith, Isis, and the Udjat and Djed symbols. Ushabti fgurines are also among the collecion.

Ushabti fgurine Sha‘bân ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, direcor-general of the Antiquities Repatriation Department, told Ahram Online that the retrieval of these objecs started last year when Interpol reported that it had seized a collecion of stolen ancient Egyptian artefacs in Nicosia.

Te Repatriation Department, he said, carried out its own investigations and discovered that the seized objecs were illegally smuggled out of the country after the passing of the Antiquities Law in 1983 and arrived in Cyprus in 1986, which means Egypt has a right of recovery.

Te vase inscribed with king Ramses II cartouch In collaboration with Egypt’s ministries of foreign affairs, justice and international cooperation, said ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, Cyprus has approved Egypt’s right to retrieve the artefacs and they will be returned shortly. (Nevine El-Aref, “14 ancient Egyptian artefacs including amulets, vase, to be returned from Cyprus: Ministry”, Ahram Online, November 20, 2017. Voir également MENA, « L’Égypte récupère 14 pièces archéologiques volées en Chypre », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 19 novembre ; MENA, « Chypre restitue 14 pièces antiques volées à l’Égypte », Sada al-Balad, 19 novembre ; MENA, “Egypt to retrieve 14 artifacs from Cyprus”, Egypt Independent, November 19 ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Tout sur les pièces archéologiques restituées par Chypre », al-Wafd, 20 novembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Une collecion récupérée de novembre). de pièces Chypre », archéologiques Watanî, 20 - -

In a question and answer session before parliament on Monday, Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî said he regrets that the ministry has not so far been able to recover all Egyptian antiquities smuggled abroad. “Te UNESCO agreement which Egypt signed in 1970 stipulates that an ownership document is a prerequisite in order to be officially able to recover smuggled antiquities,” said al-‘Inânî, adding that “for this reason, we have not been able to recover the Rosetta Stone which was smuggled into England in the 19th century. ” al-‘Inânî, however, said that “Egypt was able to recover as many 1,100 antiquities from 20 countries across the world in 2016 and 2017. ” “Some of these were recovered through bilateral negotiations and others through lawsuits,” he said. al-‘Inânî deplored that “the smuggling and sale of Egyptian antiquities on world markets will not stop as long as Egypt does not have ownership documents of them. ” “In England the sale of antiquities is a legalised pracice and this also makes it difficult to recover our pieces there,” said the minister, adding that “in 1983 Egypt decided to make sale of antiquities illegal, but this is just an Egyptian law. ” He said some Egyptian antiquities smuggled into England were are always on show in exhibition halls there, with ownership documents of some pieces indicating that they were bought at EGP 2 per piece in 1932. al-‘Inânî said there are two kinds of Egyptian antiquities in Israel. “While the frst ones are the ones which were discovered in Israel itself as in old times the pharaohs occupied this land, the second are the ones which were smuggled from Sinai into Israel,” said al-‘Inânî, adding that “Egypt was able to recover many of its smuggled antiquities from Israel. ” Te minister revealed that a national committee including the ministries of antiquities, foreign affairs, the Administrative Control Authority, the National Security Apparatus and the Intelligence Agency was formed in order to step up efforts aimed at recovering smuggled Egyptian antiquities from abroad.

MP and high-profle writer Yûsuf al-Qa‘îd said the theft and smuggling of Egyptian antiquities has become a daily headline in local and international newspapers. “Te smuggling and theft of Egyptian antiquities have increased since the 25 January Revolution in 2011, and I think that Egypt has lost as much as 70 precent of its antiquities,” said al-Qa‘îd. In response, al-‘Inânî said “it is too exaggerated to say that Egypt has lost 70 precent of its antiquities, but it is quite true that the ransacking of Egyptian antiquities has intensifed since 25 January 2011. ” (Gamal Essam El-Din, “International law prevents recovery of Rosetta Stone from UK, Egypt’s antiquities minister tells MPs”, Ahram Online, November 20, 2017).

Osiris votive bark Tree Roman shipwrecks and an ancient Egyptian votive bark to the god Osiris were discovered earlier this week on the Mediterranean seabed near the Egyptian city of Alexandria, along with a collecion of smaller artefacs. Te fnds were discovered during underwater excavations carried out by a joint mission from the Ministry of Antiquities’’ Underwater Archaeology Department and the European Institute of Underwater Archaeology in Abûqîr Bay and Alexandria’s eastern harbour.

Coin Mustafa Wazîrî, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the mission also uncovered a crystal Roman head probably depicing the Roman army commander Marc Antony and gold coins from the reign of Emperor Augustus. Usâma al-Nahhâs, head of the Underwater Archaeology Department at the ministry, explained that the eastern harbour still hides many treasures, and that evidence suggests a fourth shipwreck could yet be identifed during the mission’s next archaeological season in 2018. Te evidence, he told the Ahram Online, consists of large wooden beams and remains of pottery vessels, which may have been the cargo of a fourth ship.

Te map of the ancient eastern harbor where the shipwrecks uncovered In September the mission began its archaeological survey of the sunken city of Heracleion, which is located under Abûqîr Bay. Te mission has also continued the restoration of those objecs recovered from the seafoor during their previous archaeological seasons. (Nevine El-Aref, “Roman shipwrecks among latest seafoor discoveries near Alexandria”, Ahram Online, November 21, 2017. Voir également Samar al- Naggâr, « Vestiges de 3 bateaux d’époque romaine découverts en Alexandrie », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 21 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la mise au jour en Alexandrie des vestiges de 3 bateaux d’époque romaine », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 21 novembre ; “Sunken vessels dating back to Roman era discovered in Alexandria”, Egypt Independent, November 21 ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Découverte des vestiges de 3 bateaux d’époque romaine », al-Ahrâm, 22 novembre).

Egypt has requested from Cyrus the return of an archaeological ship belonging to King Ramses II, dating back to 1,200 BC. Te English-language daily newspaper, Cyprus Mail, wrote on Monday that the ship was stolen from Egypt but only recently found in Cyprus. Te incident resulted in a dispute between the Cypriot government and parliament, with Cypriot MPs last week demanding an investigation into how the ship reached Cyprus, before requesting its return to Egypt. Te Cypriot government responded that there was no need for an investigation due to lack of evidence. Te newspaper added that the Cypriot president intended on handing over the ship to Egyptian president, ‘Abd al-Fattâh al-Sîsî, during his visit to Cyprus, but this intention has since been suspended following the rift with parliament. Nevertheless, the president assured Cyprus would return the ship, along with a smaller artefac, once the disputed is resolved. Te newspaper also highlighted that Egyptian authorities didn’t generate a fuss in requesting the return of the ship and artifacs, and made requests through standard procedures. Te artifacs and ship will be delivered within the next few days to the Egyptian embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus. Sha‘bân ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, direcor of the General Department of Recovered Antiquities, said that the Ministry of Antiquities effecively succeeded using diplomatic and legal channels to prove the artifacs belonged to Egypt and had been smuggled illegally. According to ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, the case dated back to 2016, when Interpol, an international police organization, informed the Ministry of Antiquities about the artifacs in Cyprus. Te artifacs and ship are believed to have been smuggled into Cyprus in 1986. (“Egypt awaits return of stolen Ramses II ship from Cyprus”, Egypt Independent, November 21, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Chypre s’apprête à remettre à l’Égypte la barque de Ramsès II et d’autres pièces archéologiques », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 20 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Récupération des pièces archéologiques volées à Chypre », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 20 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Révélations sur les pièces antiques restituées par Chypre », Sada al-Balad, 20 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère des pièces antiques volées à Chypre depuis 1986 », al-Ahrâm, 21 novembre).

Te Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrîr Square was buzzing with visitors this week that had focked to the institution’s second foor to catch a glimpse of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s unseen treasures. Glittering against black backgrounds inside glass showcases, a collecion of gold appliqué sheets that once decorated the boy-king’s chariot had been put on display for the frst time 95 years after its discovery.

When British archaeologist Howard CARTER discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, he stumbled upon a collecion of decorative gold sheets scattered on the foor of the treasury room near the chariot. Due to its poor conservation, CARTER put the collecion in a wooden box that has remained in the depths of the museum’s storage rooms ever since. In 2014, a joint projec by the Egyptian Museum, the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo, the University of Tubingen and the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum in Mainz carried out an archaeological and iconographic analysis of this important but largely ignored collecion supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a research body, and the German foreign office. It is this collecion that has now been placed on display.

Te bow-case decorated with golden sheets photos: Khaled El-Fiqi Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî described the exhibition as “special and important” because it not only highlights a very signifcant subjec but also celebrates the 60th anniversary of the reopening of the German Archaeological Institute in Cairo after its closure in 1939 due to World War II. “Te exhibition is a good opportunity for the public to admire for the frst time one of the golden king’s unseen treasures,” al-‘Inânî said, adding that several artefacs from Tutankhamun’s treasured collecion were still hidden in the Egyptian Museum. “Tis will not last long,” al-‘Inânî promised, saying that all the boy-king’s unseen and non-exhibited artefacs would be transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) overlooking the Gîza Plateau after its soft opening at the end of 2018. Direcor of the German Archaeological Institute Stephan SEIDLMAYER said that studies carried out on the appliqués had revealed that they once adorned the horse-trapping, bow-cases and sheaths of weapons associated with Tutankhamun’s chariot. Tey exhibited unusual stately and playful designs, combining ancient Egyptian patterns with Levantine motifs, he said. “Tey attest to the large network of social and cultural interconnecions which has characerised the eastern Mediterranean from antiquity to the present time,” SEIDLMAYER said. He added that scientifc analyses using the latest technology had revealed the sophisticated composition of the artefacs, which rank among the highest producs of ancient craftsmanship. Tey refec the wide-ranging trade network, which incorporated the nearer and farther regions of the Near East and the Mediterranean that extended into parts of Middle and Western Europe. Raw materials, food producs, and luxury goods were traded along different routes by land and sea. Tese longstanding relations had a huge impac on ancient Egyptian culture, especially technology and art, a fac evidenced by Tutankhamun’s tomb furniture.

German restorer Christian ECKMANN, who restored the gold appliqués, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the gold-sheet appliqués were decorated with an extensive repertoire of fgural and ornamental motifs of three types. Te frst depics ancient Egyptian motifs showing a typical post-Amarna decorative style and scenes of the king smiting his enemies or in the shape of a sphinx or a lion. Others show the king driving over enemies in his chariot while shooting at a target in the shape of a copper ingot or kneeling Nubian and Asiatic representatives adoring the royal cartouches. al-‘Inânî and ECKMANN admiring one of the gold-sheet appliques Te second type of decoration bears patterns called the “international style” that was well-known in the eastern Mediterranean in the second half of the second millennium BCE. It includes images of animals, symmetrically arranged capsids nibbling on trees, plant and spiral bands, and diverse iconographic traits from the Near East, Egypt and the Aegean. Te third type combines elements from the frst two types of decoration. ECKMANN said that when the restoration projec started, the gold sheets had disintegrated into thousands of fragments. It was therefore essential to carry out extensive sorting and joining work. Te fragments had cracks, fssures, distortions and wrinkles, he said, forcing the team to concentrate on the legibility of the damaged depicions in order to make them accessible for further archaeological and scientifc study. “A research-orientated concept of restoration formed the basis for the work,” he said. Te frst step was to provide a detailed description of the objecs together with a comprehensive catalogue of the fragments and the photographic documentation of their condition. Te delicate gold foils were carefully unfolded using wooden tools and the fragmented pieces joined together. Cracks and fssures were supported in a time. consuming procedure using tiny strips of Japanese paper glued onto the reverse with acrylic resin. Te exhibition will last for 45 days, after which the gold foils will be transported to the GEM. Te present exhibition also celebrates the 115th anniversary of the opening of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square. “Of course I admire what I have seen of the collecions of Tutankhamun. I have read that these things were discovered more than 100 years ago,” Shi YUWEN, cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, said of his visit. “Te things presented here today have not been presented before, and this is a kind of passion for foreigners, especially those who have come to see the treasures of king Tutankhamun. ” “When they hear that there are things that have not been presented before and are being presented for the frst time, it’s very encouraging for tourists, ” Walîd Battûtî, advisor to the Ministry of Tourism, said. (Nevine El-Aref, “New gold of Tutankhamun”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 23, 2017. Voir également Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Les feuilles d’or de Toutankhamon exposées pour la première fois au Musée Égyptien », al-Ahrâm, 14 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « 60 feuilles d’or de Toutankhamon exposées au Musée Égyptien pour la première fois depuis 95 ans », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 15 novembre ; Nevine El-Aref, “Tutankhamun’s gold sheets on display for frst time ever at the Egyptian Museum”, Ahram Online, November 15 ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure une exposition sur les trésors cachés de Toutankhamon au Musée Égyptien », Sada al-Balad, 15 novembre ; “Tutankhamun’s unseen golden treasures go public at Egyptian Museum”, Egypt Independent, November 16).

Ptah-Shepsesu’s tomb At the southern edge of the Gîza Plateau lies the pyramids builders’ cemetery with its distinguished architecure announcing to the world that these men were not slaves, as the ancient Greek historian HERODOTUS claimed, but peasants conscripted on a part-time rotation basis working under the supervision of skilled artisans and craftsmen. Tese men, not only built the Pyramids for the Pharaohs, but also designed and construced their own more modest tombs beside the kings. Last week after the development of the site to make it more tourist-friendly, the cemetery was officially inaugurated to the public for the frst time, 30 years after its discovery by Egyptian Egyptologist Zâhî Hawwâs. In 1990, the frst pyramid builders’ tomb was uncovered when an American tourist was thrown from her horse when it stumbled on a previously unknown mud brick wall, which turned out to be a long vaulted tomb chamber with two false doors. Te excavated cemetery includes a collecion of around 30 large tombs for overseers and 60 graves of construcion workers and artisans. Te majority of the tombs are in mud brick and of varying shapes and sizes and supported by chunks of limestone, basalt and granite. Some have long vaulted chambers and false doors through which the deceased could communicate with the living and receive offerings. Others are pyramid-shaped strucures or have stepped domes, beehives and gabled roofs, while still others have open courtyards or small ramps. Te tombs were built using leftover materials from the construcion of the Pyramids. Te Ministry of Antiquities has restored the tombs and developed the site with a view to creating an open-air museum at the pyramid builders’ cemetery. Information boards have been ereced in both English and Arabic, and a visiting path created to guarantee secure circulation around the different tombs and burial sites. Head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department at the Ministry of Antiquities Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî told Al-Ahram Weekly that the tombs of Ptah-Shepsesu, Nefer-Teith and Petiti were the only ones that would be opened to visitors under the supervision of an archaeological inspecor from the Giza Plateau. Ptah-Shepsesu’s was the frst tomb in the cemetery to be uncovered. It is made of mud brick with a long vaulted chamber and two false doors. Crude hieroglyphs scrawled on the doors identify the name of the tomb. owner and his wife. At the back of the chamber are three burial shafts for the couple and their son. In front of the tomb there is a square courtyard with low walls of broken limestone. Te tomb and courtyard are grand in comparison to the others uncovered around it. Pieces of granite, basalt, and diorite, stones used in the pyramid temples, have been incorporated into the walls. Te second tomb belongs to Nefer-Teith, the ancient supervisor of the bakery in the Pyramids area. It is a simple tomb inscribed with beautiful hieroglyphic texts. It contains three limestone false doors and stelae inscribed with the name of the deceased, his two wives and his 18 children. “Te false doors of his tomb are unique for their scenes of grain-grinding, and bread and beer-making,” al- ‘Ashmâwî said. Inside the tomb there is a list of feast days and offerings for the deceased including bread, beer, birds and oxen. On the false door of his frst wife Nefer-hetepes there is a list that records offerings of natron used in mummifcation, sacred water, oil, incense, kohl, 14 types of bread, cakes, onions, beef, grain, fgs and other fruits, beer, and wine. On the third false door, two stelae represent Nefer-Teith standing while below him a man makes beer and another person pours it into jars.

Te third tomb is for a worker named Petety who was the supervisor of the junior workers on the Pyramids. Te tomb has a unique form with three open courts. Petety and his wife Nesy-Sokar are depiced separately because she was a priestess of the goddess Hathor. She is also described as beloved of the goddess Neith, shown standing on the doorjamb of the chapel in the traditional pose, one arm raised on her breast and the other behind her back. On either side of the entrance to the tomb Petety wrote hieroglyphic texts to protec himself and his tomb from tomb-raiders. Petety’s curse threatens anyone approaching his tomb that “the priest of Hathor will beat twice anyone who enters this tomb or does harm to it. ” “Anyone who does anything bad to this tomb… the crocodile, hippopotamus and the lion will eat him,” the curse says. (Nevine El-Aref, “Secrets of the pyramid builders’ tombs”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 23, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Pour la première fois depuis 27 ans, la nécropole des ouvriers de Gîza est accessible à la 1er visite », al-Masrî al-Yawm, novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie ouvre la nécropole des ouvriers 1er de Gîza », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie inaugure le site de la nécropole des ouvriers à Gîza », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 1er novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Inauguration de la nécropole des ouvriers à Gîza pour la première fois depuis sa découverte en 1990 », Sada al-Balad, 2 novembre).

A delegation of foreign diplomats visited the site of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on Sunday, inspecing the ongoing construcion work in an effort raise the projec’s profle ahead of its opening in 2018. Te 150 diplomats from the Egyptian Diplomatic Club were given a guided tour of the site overlooking the Gîza Plateau, including the conservation and research center and the main building, which is still being built. Târiq Tawfîq, supervisor general of the GEM, told Ahram Online that the delegation consisted of foreign ambassadors, cultural counsellors in Egypt and Egyptian diplomats. Tey began their visit with a minute’s silence to mourn the vicims of Friday’s terrorist attack at al-Rawda Mosque in North Sinai. Te delegation was provided with a presentation on the GEM’s construcion, which started in the early 2000s, as well as the Ministry of Antiquities’ plan to open the museum in 2018. Tawfîq said the world is awaiting the opening of the GEM, which will display the complete collecion of King Tutankhamun’s treasures for the frst time since his tomb was discovered in 1922. Te treasures are currently stored in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrîr Square. Te GEM projec is intended to provide a modern and spacious venue for the display of Egypt’s antiquities, many of which are stored at the museum in Tahrîr Square. (Nevine El-Aref, “Foreign diplomats tour Grand Egyptian Museum site ahead of 2018 opening”, Ahram Online, November 26, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Une délégation diplomatique visite le GEM », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 26 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Des dizaines de diplomates étrangers visitent le GEM », Sada al-Balad, 26 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « 150 diplomates en visite au GEM », al-Ahrâm, 27 novembre).

During a sewage digging operation in the Qimn al-‘Arûs village in northern Banî Swayf, a worker discovered a stone box and the face of a lion statue believed to be from Egypt’s Pharaonic era. Head of Security in Banî Swayf Garîr Mustafa received a notice from a police officer at the al-Wâsta police station informing him of the 58-year old worker’s fnd. After inspecing the area, police found a two-meter deep hole in the middle of the house, where the discovered artifacs lay. After the police searched the scene, Banî Swayf’s attorney general ‘Imâd ‘Alî ordered a team from the antiquities and criminal investigations departments to be dispatched to the site to further investigate the fndings. (Farah Tawfeek, “Pharaonic artifacs found under house in Banî Swayf”, Egypt Independent, November 26, 2017. Voir également ‘Umar al-Shaykh, « Découverte d’un coffre et d’une statue pharaonique à Banî Swayf », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 26 novembre).

collecion of ancient Middle Eastern artifacs, the Associated Press reported. HOWARD, the wife of a UN diplomat, used her travels to the region to join archaeology digs in the 1960s and 70s and was recently featured in Te West Australian newspaper, showcasing her extensive collecion, which has prompted outrage. Archaeologists have called for an investigation into her collecion and AP soon reported that Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs is now looking into the matter. Sha‘bân ‘Abd al-Gawwâd, the direcor. general of the Retrieved Antiquities Department at Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Egypt’s Foreign Ministry had requested the investigation. “We want to investigate how these pieces made it out of Egypt illegally,” he told the newspaper. Te artifacs are worth over EGP 13 million, including a funeral mask from an Egyptian mummy, Neolithic axe heads dating back 40,000 years, Roman weapons, and coins and jewellery from ancient Egypt. Despite the controversy, it is not clear if HOWARD broke any national or international laws as the UNESCO convention on the illicit trade of cultural property was only adopted in 1970. Te original profle piece, published in early November by Te West Australian, nicknamed HOWARD “Indiana Joan” after Harrison FORD’s fcional globetrotting archaeologist characer. It called her Australia’s “real life tomb raider” who had “a mischievous twinkle” in her eye when talking about her collecion – which it said is worth more than A$1m (£571,000). “Trough her husband’s UN connecions, over 11 years she was given carte blanche to travel between Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Israel,” the newspaper reported. “She used her diplomatic freedom to search for antiquities before laws changed and it became legally difficult to do so,” it added.

(“95-year-old Australian probed for allegedly looting Middle Eastern artifacs”, Egypt Independent, November 27, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Révélations sur l’infrmière australienne qui volait des antiquités égyptiennes depuis 1967 », Sada al-Balad, 22 novembre ; Hadîl Hâshim, « L’Australie ouvre une enquête sur l’une de ses ressortissantes accusées de pillage archéologique dans les années 1960 », al- Fagr, 26 novembre).

Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al. ‘Inânî announced on Sunday that 70 precent of the construcion of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been completed. Of a total of around 100,000 artifacs, 42,000 have already been transferred to the museum, the frst phase of which is expeced to be inaugurated before the end of 2018. Te museum is expeced to contain a number of artifacs from various periods in Egypt’s history, including the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman eras. Attracing particular attention is the very frst display of the unseen golden treasures of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, which were initially discovered in 1922, Târiq Tawfîq, General Supervisor of the Museum said. Te Grand Egyptian Museum is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s ongoing efforts to boost tourism to Egypt and according to Egyptian officials will be one of the largest in the world. (“70 precent of Grand Egyptian Museum completed, inauguration expeced in 2018”, Egypt Independent, November 27, 2017. Voir également Kassâb Ahmad, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Achèvement de 70 % des travaux du GEM », al-Fagr, 20 novembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : 42 000 pièces sur 100 000 ont été transférées vers le GEM », al-Ahrâm, 26 novembre ; Yahya Hilmî, « Khâlid al-‘Inânî : 42 000 pièces archéologiques ont été transférées vers le GEM », al-Fagr, 26 novembre).

Dr Zâhî Hawwâs entame une tournée dans les universités égyptiennes, afn d’y donner une série de conférences sur l’Égypte ancienne. Cette tournée débute aujourd’hui à l’université du Caire, ensuite le 9 décembre à l’université de Zaqâzîq, puis à l’université de ‘Ayn Shams, etc. Pour rehausser la conscience des étudiants, Dr Hawwâs leur parlera de différents sujets : comment l’Égypte a-t-elle affronté le terrorisme il y a 4 000 ans ; le rôle joué par l’armée égyptienne à travers les époques pour défendre et stabiliser l’État ; les secrets et la malédicion des pharaons ; Néfertiti et le pharaon de Moïse. (‘Alî Mahrûs, « Hawwâs en tournée dans les universités égyptiennes pour instruire les étudiants », al-Ahrâm, 28 novembre 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Zâhî Hawwâs parle d’événements sensationnels dans la vie des pharaons à l’université du Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 27 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Hawwâs dévoile les secrets des pharaons demain à l’université du Caire », Sada al-Balad, 27 novembre).

One of the wheels An Egyptian mission from the Ministry of Antiquities is set to start excavation inside Bîr Yûsuf (Youssef’s Well) in Cairo’s Citadel of Salâh al-Dîn to reveal any possible secrets it could hold, Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online. “After examining the well, I believe that excavation could reveal its mystery,” Wazîrî said, adding that the well will be restored and opened for the public for the frst time.

Te well Te well was construced in the citadel under the order of the frst sultan and Egypt and Syria Salâh al-Dîn al-Ayyûbî (1137 – 1174) to store water during military sieges. Te well is located at the southern side of Qalâwûn Mosque inside the citadel, and can be reached through a passage that leads to a domed hall with a spiral staircase engraved in rock. Te well consists of three levels and holds two water wheels and a spiral staircase. (Nevine El-Aref, “Salâh al-Dîn Citadel’s Bîr Yûsuf to be excavated: Supreme Council of Antiquities”, Ahram Online, November 29, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie lance bientôt des fouilles dans la zone du puits de Joseph à la Citadelle du Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 29 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie entreprend dans quelques jours des fouilles dans la zone du puits de Joseph à la Citadelle », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 29 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie planife des fouilles dans la zone du puits de Joseph à la Citadelle », Sada al-Balad, 29 novembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Début des fouilles archéologiques dans la zone du puits de Joseph à la Citadelle de Salâh al-Dîn », al-Wafd, 29 novembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Début des fouilles archéologiques dans la zone du puits de Joseph à la Citadelle de Salâh al- Dîn », Watanî, 30 novembre). 75 ans sont passés depuis l’inauguration officielle du lieu de détente du roi Fârûq, connue par Rukn Fârûq (coin de Fârûq) à Hilwân au sud du Caire. À cette occasion, la direcion de ce « coin », devenu musée en 1976, a organisé une exposition à travers laquelle est retracée la vie du roi Fârûq lui-même, voire l’histoire de la région de Hilwân. « L’exposition intitulée La Vie d’un roi — et qui se termine la première semaine du mois de décembre — se compose de trois pièces essentielles : un portrait du roi Fârûq, une calligraphie et un tableau », explique ‘Îmân Ahmad, direcrice du musée. Pour elle, chacune de ces pièces a une histoire distinguée. La première représente le roi Fârûq en tenue officielle. « Nous expliquons la vie du roi, depuis son enfance jusqu’à son décès », continue-t-elle. L’expo retrace donc la vie difficile de Fârûq. Ce dernier, né en février 1920, est devenu roi d’Égypte sous la tutelle de son cousin l’émir Muhammad ‘Alî, en 1936. En 1937, le jeune Fârûq est coiffé officiellement de la couronne égyptienne. Et ce, suite à une fatwa présentée par le cheikh d’al-Azhar à l’époque, al-Marâghî, qui avait indiqué qu’il avait 17 ans, selon le calendrier hégirien, afn d’éviter cette tutelle. Le portrait du roi est orné d’un cadre décoré de signes hiéroglyphes. « Donc, ce portrait regroupe à la fois l’histoire moderne d’Égypte représentée par le roi Fârûq et son uniforme officiel et l’histoire pharaonique grâce à l’encadrement hiéroglyphe », continue la direcrice.

L’exposition représente une deuxième pièce considérée comme étant le chef-d’œuvre de tout le musée. Il s’agit d’une calligraphie sur laquelle est écrit le verset coranique al-Kursî, un verset proteceur. Au-dessous, une dédicace, suivie de la date de l’inauguration du lieu de détente le 5 sep. tembre 1942. « C’est l’un des chefs-d’œuvre de tout le musée. Il symbolise aussi la banlieue, Hilwân, et son histoire, rappelant aussi les raisons pour lesquelles le roi a choisi cet endroit pour édifer son lieu de détente », commente la direcrice. Cette pièce a été offerte au roi lors de l’inauguration officielle de l’édifce, par Muhammad ‘Abd al- Rahmân, chef des calligraphes et habitant de Hilwân à cette époque. Ce dernier avait inscrit à la main ce chef-d’œuvre, redoublant en fait son importance. Grâce à cette pièce, le visiteur constate que l’histoire de Hilwân remonte à l’époque prédynastique jusqu’à nos jours en passant par l’époque islamique et la gouvernance de ‘Abd al-‘Azîz Ibn Marwân et les travaux urbains entamés par le khédive Ismâ‘îl. En 1877, ce dernier avait installé le premier train pour relier Le Caire à Hilwân, qui est connue pour ses sources d’eau sulfurique. Grâce à l’histoire glorieuse de Hilwân, son calme et son écart de la résidence royale, le roi Fârûq avait décidé d’y édifer cette installation. Quant à la troisième et dernière pièce, c’est un tableau de cuir de gazelle qui regroupe plusieurs photos représentatives de diverses époques. Ce cadeau est offert au roi par ‘Abbâs ‘Abd al-Rahmân, propriétaire d’une imprimerie, à l’occasion de la fête de son accession au trône égyptien le 6 mai 1947. « Cette date, 6 mai, est aussi celle du mariage royale du roi Fârûq avec la reine Nârîmân », reprend la direcrice. Recangulaire, le tableau commémore l’accès du roi au trône. Il comprend en gros 8 photos : les 4 de haut représentent des scènes pharaoniques dont deux sont colorées qui décrivent l’accès du pharaon au trône égyptien à cette époque lointaine. Au milieu du tableau, 3 photos du roi Fârûq. Les deux photos latérales, surmontées du drapeau royal, montrent le roi embrassant le drapeau égyptien et le posant sur le toit de Qasr al-Nîl. Et ce, suite à l’évacuation de ce palais des troupes anglaises, qui l’avaient transformé en caserne pendant le protecorat britannique. « Mettre le drapeau égyptien sur Qasr al-Nîl symbolise la libération de l’Égypte et l’autonomie de son territoire sauf de la région du Canal de Suez », précise la direcrice. Quant à la photo du centre, elle est encadrée d’une sorte de fausse porte dont le linteau est décoré du vautour, signe de protecion en Égypte ancienne. Au-dessous des photos royales, on remarque 4 autres photos qui décrivent le Nil et le roi guerrier sur le char militaire. Le cadre du tableau est orné de la feur de lotus, signe de la renaissance en Égypte ancienne. L’exposition est enrichie aussi de quelques produits de l’école muséologique dirigée par Sara al-Wardânî. Devant les pièces exposées, on trouve des paniers qui comprennent des enveloppes et des cartes qui renferment chacune une brève information, que ce soit sur le musée, son histoire, ou sur Hilwân ou encore sur le roi. Figure aussi une maquette du musée en forme de bateau, puisque le musée est riverain du Nil. (Doaa Elhami, « Un roi, un lieu, une époque », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 29 novembre 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « "La vie d’un roi" : une exposition pour fêter les 75 ans de la création de Rukn Fârûq », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 novembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Rukn Fârûq organise une exposition "La vie d’un roi" à l’occasion de son 75e anniversaire », Sada al-Balad, 5 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie inaugure mercredi prochain l’exposition "La vie d’un roi" à Rukn Fârûq », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 5 novembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « "La vie d’un roi" : une exposition organisée mercredi prochain à Rukn Fârûq », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 novembre ; “Temporary exhibition to be held at King Fârûq Museum Wednesday”, Egypt Independent, November 7 ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « 3 pièces archéologiques pour reféter la vie du roi Fârûq », al-Ahrâm, 7 novembre).

Researchers from Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago are using advanced technology to unwrap the mysteries of an 1,800-year-old mummy. Tey say the high-energy X-ray beams from a synchrotron will provide molecular information about what is inside the mummy of the little girl. Argonne says it’s the frst time the beams have been used in this way. Researchers say the technology allows them to study what’s inside the mummy while leaving the 5-year-old girl’s remains and wrappings intac. Scientists examined the rare fnd on Monday in the hopes of learning more about how the girl died. And they say studying the wrapping materials may shed new light on ancient Egyptian culture. (AP, “Researchers use advanced technology to study child mummy”, Egypt Independent, November 29, 2017).

Les dirigeants de la mission examinent l’une des pièces découvertes. (Photo : Ayman Barayez) À l’Est comme à l’Ouest, les ports alexandrins cachent des trésors antiques encore engloutis. Les archéologues égyptiens ainsi que ceux de l’Institut européen d’archéologie sous-marine (IEASM), présidé par le Franck GODDIO, ont mis au jour trois épaves de navire entier, des pièces en or, une tête en cristal, ainsi qu’un bateau votif remontant à l’époque romaine aux anciens ports d’Alexandrie. Dans la baie d’Abûqîr, et à une profondeur de 6 à 7 mètres, les experts subaquatiques ont trouvé ces épaves anciennes datant de l’époque ptolémaïque-romaine qui s’étend de 332 à 30 av. J. -C. « Lors de leur dernière semaine de fouilles il y a quelques jours, et après un survey géophysique détaillé en 3D par des outils très sophistiqués, les archéologues ont plongé à une profondeur plus grande. Ils ont pu prendre des photos plus claires », explique Usâma al-Nahhâs, chef du Département central des antiquités sous-marines, affirmant que c’était une saison fatigante pour la mission, qui a été enfn récompensée par cette découverte exceptionnelle. « C’est une zone fortement polluée à cause de l’eau des égouts », indique- t-il. Submergés et enterrés sous des couches de sable, de 1m70, deux grands bateaux antiques ont été trouvés complets, d’une longueur de 30 et de 35 m. Quant au troisième navire, il a été découvert avec ses équipements. « Cette découverte est très importante, car la mission a pu trouver, pour la première fois, une tête sculptée dans du verre (Cristal), d’un commandant romain qui peut être Marc-Antoine (80-30 av. J. -C. ), l’amoureux de Cléopâtre VII, dernière reine d’Égypte de l’époque ptolémaïque. Également, les experts ont dévoilé trois pièces en or qui remontent à l’époque d’Ocave ou l’empereur Auguste (27 av. J. -C. -14 av. J. -C. ) », déclare Mustafa Wazîrî, secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA).

Par ailleurs, la mission égypto-européenne a découvert un bateau votif dédié au dieu Osiris, à l’ancien port oriental, dans l’ancienne ville engloutie de Tônis-Héracléion. « Nous travaillons depuis plus de 20 ans sur ce site et on n’a jamais trouvé ce genre de bateau », affirme al-Nahhâs. Il est à noter qu’en 1998, sur le même chantier, cette mission avait trouvé la première épave découverte de ces trésors engloutis. « On a cru que c’est le dernier bateau jamais trouvé sur ce site », dit al-Nahhâs, mais cette découverte a orienté les archéologues sur un nouveau trajet. Les experts estiment qu’il reste encore un trésor d’objets anciens dans cette baie. « Les travaux d’excavation indiquent qu’une quatrième épave pourrait être découverte au cours de la prochaine saison en 2018, vu que la mission a mis au jour plusieurs grandes planches de bois, ainsi que des vestiges archéologiques qui pourraient représenter la cargaison du navire », ajoute-t-il en demandant à la marine égyptienne de leur permettre d’élargir la zone des fouilles. (Nasma Réda, « Nouvelle découverte exceptionnelle à Abûqîr », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 29 novembre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Découverte en Alexandrie des vestiges de 3 bateaux d’époque romaine », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 21 novembre ; « Découverte des épaves de bateaux submergés d’époque romaine », al-Wafd, 21 novembre ; Huda al- Sâ‘âtî, « Mise au jour des vestiges de 3 bateaux d’époque romaine en Alexandrie », al-Shurûq, 22 novembre). En 2010, un projet de création d’un centre qui regroupe les trésors antiques engloutis et mis au jour à Alexandrie a été lancé. Mais le projet s’est arrêté faute de fnancement. « Mais cette découverte importante ouvre de nouveau le dossier de la construcion de ce musée, afn de conserver ce patrimoine maritime incomparable », indique Usâma al-Nahhâs, chef du département central des antiquités sous-marines, au ministère des Antiquités. Et d’ajouter que ce projet ambitieux sera discuté dans quelques jours au sein du ministère. L’Égypte vient de ratifer, le 8 juillet dernier, la Convention de 2001 de l’Unesco sur la protecion du patrimoine culturel subaquatique, portant ainsi à 58 le nombre de pays signataires. « Le patrimoine culturel subaquatique est fortement menacé et nécessite une meilleure protecion. Dans ce cadre, l’Unesco continue à soutenir l’idée du projet de créer un centre d’excellence et un musée subaquatique proche de la citadelle de Qâytbây, édifée tout près du site de l’ancien phare d’Alexandrie sur l’île de Pharos », dit al- Nahhâs. Selon lui, ce centre sera un lieu d’études, un centre d’entraînement à la navigation et à la plongée, un atelier d’artisanat patrimonial maritime, un musée pour les ancres, un musée en plein air et fnalement un musée sous-marin, souligne al-Nahhâs. D’après lui, les gens qui ne veulent ou ne savent pas faire de plongée peuvent eux aussi vivre cette aventure sous-marine grâce aux nouvelles techniques de visualisation. « L’histoire d’amour entre Cléopâtre et Antoine ainsi que sa guerre contre Ocave sera un élément d’attracion », affirme-t-il. Quant au coût, il affirme que la première phase du projet ne coûtera qu’un million de L. E. pour le musée des ancres et l’atelier d’artisanat. Avec ce musée, l’Égypte entend préserver ses trésors engloutis inestimables, ainsi que booster le tourisme en montrant au monde un patrimoine unique dans un nouveau type de musée. (« Le projet de musée sous-marin à Alexandrie relancé», Al-Ahram Hebdo du 29 novembre 2017).

Te neo-classical Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrîr Square was buzzing with people on Tuesday, as the Ministry of Antiquities celebrated the downtown landmark’s 115th birthday. To the strains of classical music mixed with smooth ancient Egyptian beats, ministers, dignitaries, government officials, foreign ambassadors and cultural counsellors in Egypt, as well as MPs and media representatives, focked to the museum to attend the event. More than 100 years ago the khedive ‘Abbâs Hilmî II, watched by princes and high. ranking government officials, cut the ribbon at the museum’s opening. Tis was Egypt’s treasure house and a shrine to its past. Troughout that age and since emperors, empresses, kings and queens, presidents, scholars and thousands upon thousands of tourists have visited the Egyptian Museum and gazed in awe on the marvellous works of art, which fll every niche and corner. As the country pays homage to all who shared in its construcion, the Ministry of Antiquities in collaboration with civil society organisations and the parliament’s Tourism Committee held a grand celebration this week. Te highlight is a special exhibition in the museum’s foyer displaying a collecion of 86 artefacs that have never been put on show before. Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, direcor-general of the museum, said that the exhibition is divided into three secions. Te frst is a documentary exhibition showing the museum’s original blueprints designed by French architec Marcel DURVEIN as well as photographs featuring ‘Abbâs Hilmî II, Egypt’s khedive at the time, placing the building’s foundation stone in the presence of princes and high. ranking officials. Photographs showing the different stages of the building’s construcion, the pen used by ‘Abbâs Hilmî II to write a few words in the museum’s guest book, and a memorial stamp and coin from that time rounds off this part of the exhibition. Te tools and instruments that were used in laying the museum’s foundation stone in 1897 and those used in signing the khedival decree to construc the museum are also on show. Tey include the pickaxe, trowel, hammer and a wooden porringer embellished with silver decorative elements that were used for the opening, as well as the feather pen and inkwell used by the khedive. A collecion of maps, celebratory medallions and black-and-white photographs of the foundation and construcion of the museum are also among the objecs on display. Two copper desk clocks decorated with foliage ornaments and angels that once decorated the desk of French archaeologist Gaston MASPERO, the frst direcor of the museum, are also on show. Te second secion of the exhibition shows a newly discovered Roman mummy with a painted funerary mask of the deceased. Te mummy was uncovered in the al-Banât Monastery in Fayyûm during excavation work carried out by an Egyptian-Russian team. Te mummy is in a good conservation condition, and the mask is decorated with scenes depicing the sky deity Kheibir, while the mummy’s chest bears the face of the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis. Te legs have an image of a white sabot painted on them. Te third secion of the exhibition displays a collecion of newly recovered artefacs from the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month, ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qâsimî returned to Egypt a collecion of almost 400 artefacs that were stolen and illegally smuggled into Sharjah.

‘Abd al-Râziq told Al-Ahram Weekly that not all the objecs were on display in the exhibition. Tey include fve limestone stelae dedicated to ancient Egyptian deities, as well as a collecion of sandstone, limestone and granite human statues from the Old, Middle and New Kingdoms and the Late Period. Ushabti fgurines, amulets carved in faience, and bronze statuettes of deities are also on show. A part of a sphinx-shaped statue from the Late Period is also among the collecion. During the event, Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî launched the ministry’s “My Museum in your Classroom” initiative that aims at providing a virtual tour of the museum to school pupils while they are in their classrooms.

Statues recovered from Sharjah and Fayyûm mummy TO THE 21ST CENTURY: “Te Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square was the frst building in the early 20th century to be built as a museum and not a palace converted into a museum as was more common during that time,” al-‘Inânî told the Weekly. He described the museum as “one of the greatest in the world, and its anniversary is a clear indication that it is a living museum, moving from 1902 to 2017 and into the future. ” He said that a development plan for the museum had been launched to defne the future role of the museum within the local and international museum landscape, giving it the prominence it has long deserved. “Te museum is not only one of Egypt’s landmarks, but one of the country’s most distinguished monuments as well,” al-‘Inânî said. He said the museum would not be closed after the completion of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) on the Gîza Plateau, as some have claimed, but would be developed and some of its artefacs put on special display. Others would be taken out of storerooms to be shown for the frst time. Ilhâm Salâh, head of the Museums Secor at the ministry, told the Weekly that the Egyptian Museum housed a collecion of 170,000 artefacs, only 40,000 of which are on display. “After the transportation of artefacs to the GEM and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation (NMEC) in Fustât, the museum in Tahrîr Square has the opportunity to excavate its store galleries and uncover distinguished objecs to put on display,” Salâh said. She explained that the displays of the museum would be changed to suit the new collecion. A new lighting system would be installed and a complete renovation would be carried out to give the museum back its original appearance. Te walls will be repainted in their original colours and the ornaments renewed. Te frst phase of the revival projec of the museum started in 2014 and was implemented in four halls in the east wing of the Tutankhamun Gallery and on the second foor. New facilities were provided, modifying the layout and aspec of the museum gardens from the original plans. Physical changes were also made to the museum building, and work now focuses on the building’s frst foor. Salâh explained that among the collecions that would be put on better display in the museum were those of the Tanis jewellery treasure of the 20th and 21st dynasties and the funerary collecion of Tutankhamun’s great. grandparents Yuya and Tuya. Some artefacs from the basement would be put on show, she said, among the most important being the sarcophagi of the Bâb al-Goses cachette discovered in 1891. Tis includes a collecion of 150 sarcophagi with mummies of 21st-Dynasty priests with some of their funerary collecions. Te new displays would not only depend on putting artefacs in spacious areas within the building, since information boards would also be installed including details of where objecs were found and the restoration work carried out. Te order of the artefacs exhibited on the frst foor would be changed to follow a chronological order from prehistoric times through to the Graeco-Roman period. Te second foor will be dedicated to special subjecs such as pottery, daily life objecs and astrology.

Egyptian Museum in 1902 HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM: Before the establishment of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square there were no museums in Egypt to house the country’s treasured antiquities collecions. Most archaeology in Egypt was under French control, and Egyptians had little or no infuence over what became of ancient artefacs, which were freely exported all over the world. Decorated sarcophagi were favourite gifts in England and France, and some Egyptians contributed to the country’s loss of its historical records by digging for hidden treasures and selling what they found to foreign collecors. In an effort to stop the plundering of the antiquities, in 1835 the khedive Muhammad ‘Alî established the frst Antiquities Service of Egypt, the “Service des Antiquités”. He created a programme to exhibit and conserve ancient artefacs and asked Yûsuf Diyâ’ Effendi to propose a site for an Egyptian museum in the Azbakiyya distric of Cairo. Muhammad ‘Alî asked the then minister of education to make a full report, documenting the country’s archaeological sites and making sure that artefacs were sent to store rooms in Azbakiyya. His death stalled progress on the programme. In 1848, the khedive ‘Abbâs I moved the artefacs to a hall in the Citadel. Te Austrian duke MAXIMILLIAN visited the collecion and was so impressed by it that the khedive Sa‘îd gave part of it to him as a gesture of good will. In 1855, he also ordered the police to be more vigilant in monitoring Egyptian antiquities being sold or exported abroad and appointed Auguste MARIETTE to direc the newly establish Egyptian Antiquities Service. MARIETTE’s job was to preserve and protec Egypt’s cultural heritage, and he was given a modest house in Bûlâq, originally the premises of the River Navigation Company, as this was once one of Cairo’s ports. Tis house later became the nucleus of the frst museum of Egyptian antiquities in the country. MARIETTE stored the antiquities discovered during his own excavations in his house. It was not until 1863 that the khedive Ismâ‘îl approved the construcion of a museum of Egyptian antiquities in the city centre. But the projec was postponed due to fnancial constraints, and MARIETTE was merely granted more space in front of his house in Bûlâq to expand his “museum”. Te Bûlâq Museum officially opened to the public in 1878, but a high Nile food caused much damage in the area and many artefacs were destroyed. Te museum was closed for renovation and repair until 1881, after which it was reopened. MARIETTE then passed away and was succeeded by Gaston MASPERO, who was granted the jobs of direcor of the Bûlâq Museum and head of the Department of Antiquities. Te treasured collecion in the Bûlâq Museum had increased in size, and in 1890 it was transferred to the Ismâ‘îl Pasha Palace in Gîza, now the Gîza Zoo. Later, upon his appointment as direcor of the museum and the Department of Antiquities, the scholar Jacques DE MORGAN reorganised the collecions in the new institution, then known as the Gîza Museum. Several accidents at the Bûlâq and Gîza museums resulted in much damage and the loss of invaluable artefacs, meaning that the construcion of a new Egyptian Museum had become imperative. An announcement for a competition for the best architecural design was made, and in 1895 the prize went to the French architec Marcel DOURGNON. Te cornerstone of the new Egyptian Museum was laid on 1 April 1897. On 15 November 1902, the Egyptian Museum was officially opened.

Based on European architecural models, the museum is typical of large public and institutional buildings — libraries, theatres and city halls — built at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century all over Europe and North America. Such buildings were mostly isolated, monumental, and designed in a classical style known as Beaux Arts, which was popular during this period. Te Egyptian Museum was the frst museum in Egypt to be designed with massive internal space to house large numbers of monuments. Te development of the Egyptian Museum and its surroundings, according to the original plans, continued until the 1952 Revolution, when political instability, heavy bureaucracy, and a lack of systematic planning threatened the museum’s position as the world’s largest establishment dedicated to ancient Egyptian artefacs.

A memorial medallion for the inauguration of the museum LATER CHALLENGES: One of the challenges it has faced is the breakdown of the natural ventilation system and the high fucuations of humidity due to the absence of a system for air control. Because of this, windows are often left open, especially in the summer, to get fresh air inside the museum, but this has caused damage to many artefacs. Missing window panes in the skylights on the roof also contributed to the deterioration of objecs, in addition to the ease by which thieves could break into the museum, as shown during the 25 January Revolution. In other instances, inadequate protecive measures have been used. For example, following Egypt’s defeat in the 1976 Six-Day War with Israel, the government decided to build concrete covers on top of the skylights to protec the museum from potential air raids. Tis was done without taking into account the increased load on the roof. Another constant problem is construcion being carried out in the vicinity of the museum, which has affeced its strucure. Vibrations caused by tunnel-boring during the construcion of metro lines and from traffic passing nearby in Tahrîr Square and over the 6 Ocober Bridge have caused cracks in the museum’s walls, as well as in some of the artefacs. Te Egyptian Museum was managed by foreign direcors until 1950, when Mahmûd Hamza became the frst Egyptian direcor of the institution. By 1949, British military barracks to the southeast of the museum had been removed, creating a larger public space within the grounds. Five years later, in 1954 the Cairo Governorate took a large secion of land west and south of the museum to construc the headquarters of the Arab League, a hotel and a building for the Cairo Municipality where in the early 1960s Egypt’s then president Gamâl ‘Abd al-Nâsir established the headquarters of the Arab Socialist Union. Tis was converted to the National Democratic Party in 1978 by Nâsir’s successor, president Anwar al- Sâdât. In the late 1970s, a number of transport, infrastrucure and tourism development projecs were established on the northern side of the Museum. Te 6 Ocober Bridge and a five-star hotel in ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Riyâd Square were construced without taking into consideration the development of the museum and its general layout. Te old All Saints’ Cathedral was demolished to make way for these works. Te garden on the eastern side of the museum

was reduced to broaden the adjacent thoroughfare. To the south, the gardens were removed and replaced by a bus station, which itself was demolished in the 1980s during the construcion of the Tahrîr metro station. (Nevine El-Aref, “Celebrating its 115th birthday”, Al-Ahram Weekly, November 30, 2017. Voir également MENA, « 115e anniversaire du Musée Égyptien », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 12 novembre ; MENA, « Le Musée Égyptien fête son 115e anniversaire mercredi prochain », Sada al-Balad, 12 novembre ; Samar al- Naggâr, « 115e anniversaire du Musée Égyptien », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 28 novembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Commémoration du 115e anniversaire du Musée Égyptien », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 28 novembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le Musée Égyptien fête son 115e anniversaire », al-Wafd, 28 novembre ; “Antiquities Ministry celebrates 115th anniversary of Egyptian Museum”, Egypt Independent, November 29; Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr celebrates 115th anniversary”, Ahram Online, November 29). - -

VI – DÉCEMBRE 2017

Le Conseil d’administration du ministère de l’Archéologie a approuvé le classement sur la liste du patrimoine islamique du phare de Râs Ghârib, située en mer Rouge. Ce phare a été érigé en 1871 par l’ingénieur français Gustave EIFFEL. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve le classement du 1er phare de Râs Ghârib », Sada al-Balad, décembre 2017. Voir également Salâh ‘Abdallah, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie classe le phare de Râs Ghârib », al-Watan, 21 ocobre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Inscription du phare de Râs Ghârib sur la liste du patrimoine », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 1er décembre).

A collecion of 27 fragmented statues of the lioness goddess Sekhmet has been uncovered during excavation work at the King Amenhotep III funerary temple at the Kom al-Hîtân area on Luxor’s west bank. Te discovery was made by an Egyptian-European archaeological mission led by archaeologist Hourig SOUROUZIAN as part of the King Amenhotep III Temple Conservation Projec.

Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the black-granite statues have a maximum height of about two metres. Some statues depic Sekhmet sitting on a throne, holding the symbol of life in her left hand, while others show her standing and holding a papyrus sceptre before her chest. Te head of Sekhmet is crowned with a sun-disk, while a uraeus adorns her forehead.

Tose statues that were not buried so deep in the ground are in a good state of preservation, she said. Others that were found at deeper levels are in a bad condition due to subterranean water and salt, which damaged the surface. “Te sculptures are of a high artistic quality and of the greatest archaeological interest,” SOUROUZIAN said. She said the importance and quality of the statues explains why they survived a period of extensive quarrying of the temple remains in the Ramesside Period, after a heavy earthquake had toppled the walls and the columns of the temple in 1200 B. C. SOUROUZIAN pointed out that the statues are now in restoration. Tey will be cleaned and desalinated, as they were lying in a layer of mud and crushed sandstone. All statues of the goddess will be placed back in their original setting when the site protecion projec is completed. xxx Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Secor, pointed to the collaboration between the European mission and the ministry to ensure ongoing excavation work and the completion of the Amenhotep III Temple protec. Te mission began excavation work in 1998, and about 287 statues of Sekhmet have been unearthed since then. (Nevine El-Aref, “Statues of ancient Egyptian lioness deity Sekhmet uncovered in Luxor”, Ahram Online, December 3, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 27 statues entières sur la rive Ouest », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 3 décembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la mise au jour de 27 statues dans le temple d’Amenhotep III à Louqsor », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 3 décembre ; “27 statues of goddess Sekhmet unearthed in Luxor”, Egypt Independent, December 3 ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Découverte de 27 statues de Sekhmet à Kom al-Hîtân », Sada al-Balad, 3 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Mise au jour à Louqsor de 27 statues et fragments de la déesse Sekhmet », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 3 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Découverte de 27 statues entières et de fragments de Sekhmet dans le temple d’Amenhotep III », Watanî, 3 décembre ; Nasma Réda, « Sekhmet se révèle à Louqsor », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 décembre). - -

al-Imâm al-Shâf‘î dome Ongoing efforts to conserve the dome of the al-Imâm al-Shâf‘î mosque in Old Cairo have uncovered secions of an intac lower wall forming part of an earlier shrine this week. Te previous shrine consisted of an open courtyard with three prayer niches attached to a domed hall. Also uncovered were decorated carved stucco features, coloured marble, stone fooring and fragments of a masonry dome. Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al. ‘Inânî and the US Charge d’Affaires in Cairo Tomas H. GOLDBERGER, along with top officials from the Egyptian ministry, embarked on Monday on a tour to inspec the latest conservation work on the dome and the excavations of the earlier shrine.

“Tis building pre-dates the current shrine of al-Imâm al-Shâf‘î, which was built by the Ayyubid Sultan al-Kâmil in the year 1211 AD and was built after al-Imâm al-Shâf‘î was buried there in 820 AD,” Muhammad ‘Abd al. ‘Azîz, Direcor-General of Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec told Ahram Online. He added that the newly uncovered shrine is a signifcant addition to our understanding of the history of Islamic architecure and history in Egypt. May al-Ibrâshî, Head of Athâr Lînâ initiative, said that the excavations are part of a conservation projec funded by the US Department of State’s Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation under the supervision of the Ministry of Antiquities. Te excavations fall within the work of Athâr Lînâ, a national initiative to conserve Egypt’s heritage for the beneft of the community.

New discovery Te projec, she continued, began in March 2016 to resolve strucural problems in the mosque’s masonry walls and foors, as well as leaking roofs and the disintegration of decorative elements, most notably the decorated stucco exterior, carved and painted wood and coloured marble cladding. Te completed work so far has included extensive documentation, as well as physical crack repair in masonry walls, soil infll to correc subsidence (the sinking of soil under a strucure), repair and insulation of wooden roofs and ceilings, repair of marble cladding, and the cleaning and restoration of decorative stucco facets. al-Imâm Muhammad Ibn Idrîs al-Shâf‘î was the founder of the Shâf‘î madhab, one of the four major jurisprudential schools of Sunni Islam. A proponent of rational thought who is credited by some today as the originator of the scientifc method, al-Shâf‘î dedicated his life to developing a comprehensive theory of jurisprudence that earned him the title the "Sea of Knowledge. " He was also a great poet who wrote simply yet eloquently about the value of travel, learning and contemplation. Historic sources mention that when he died, he was buried in the mausoleum of Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam, an Arab tribe that came to Egypt with the Islamic conquest in the 7th century AD and settled there, becoming one of its most prominent families. (Nevine El-Aref, “Restoration of Cairo’s al-Imâm al-Shâf‘î Dome leads to new archaeological discovery”, Ahram Online, December 4, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le chargé d’affaires auprès de l’ambassade américaine inspecent le mausolée de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î », al-Ahrâm al. ‘Arabî, 4 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le chargé d’affaires auprès de l’ambassade américaine inspecent le projet de restauration du mausolée de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î», Sada al-Balad, 4 décembre ; « Don de 695 000 dollars pour la restauration du mausolée de l’imâm al. Shâf‘î », al-Fagr, 4 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inspece les travaux de restauration du mausolée de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î», al-Wafd, 4 décembre ; MENA, « L’ambassade des États-Unis : Nous soutenons le patrimoine égyptien à travers le mausolée de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 décembre).

Le Conseil des ministres a approuvé l’envoi de 166 pièces appartenant à la collecion de Toutankhamon pour la participation à une exposition archéologique en Californie consacrée aux « divinités dans l’Égypte ancienne ». Cette exposition, qui débutera en novembre 2018 pour d’une durée de 9 mois, rapportera 5 millions de dollars à l’Égypte, en plus de 4 dollars pour chaque ticket vendu après les 700 000 premiers tickets. Ces 166 pièces n’auront aucune infuence sur l’inauguration partielle du GEM prévue à cette date. (Ahmad Mansûr, « L’exposition de Toutankhamon organisée aux États-Unis rapportera plus de 5 millions de dollars », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 décembre 2017).

Part of the gate during transportaton Te ancient gate of King Amenemhat I is being transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) from its original location to join other artefacs in preparation for the new museum’s scheduled opening next year. Târiq Tawfîq, supervisor-general of the GEM, told Al-Ahram Online Wednesday that the gate would be put on display at the museum’s grand staircase along with the colossus of King Ramses II and other gigantic monuments.

Zaydân during packing process Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the gate was carved from red granite and engraved with hieroglyphic inscriptions, among them the official cartouche of King Amenemhat I and his different titles. Te gate was uncovered by an Austrian mission in the ‘Izbat Hilmî area of Tell al-Dab‘a in Egypt’s Nile Delta. It weighs six tonnes and is supported by a vertical stone lintel, which is inscribed with hieroglyphic text.

Zaydân during packing process ‘Isa Zaydân, the direcor of frst-aid restoration at the GEM, said that prior to the move, the gate was subjeced to essential restoration work, using scientifc methods to pack and transport the items. He said the artefac would undergo further restoration at the GEM. (Nevine El-Aref, “King Amenemhat I gate on its way to the Grand Egyptian Museum”, Ahram Online, December 6, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le GEM réceptionne le portail d’Amenemhat 1er », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le portail d’Amenemhat 1er arrive au GEM », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 6 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al. 1er Minyâwî, « Le portail d’Amenemhat transféré de Fâqûs au GEM », Sada al-Balad, 6 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le GEM 1er réceptionne le portail d’Amenemhat », Watanî, 6 décembre ; Associated Press, “Egypt moves ancient gate to new museum”, Egypt Independent, December 7). Le Conseil d’administration du CSA a approuvé l’envoi de 16 pièces appartenant à la collecion du Musée Égyptien pour la participation à une exposition archéologique en Italie consacrée aux divinités pharaoniques. Ce prêt d’une durée de 9 mois rapportera 100 000 euros à l’Égypte, en plus de la police d’assurance et des frais de transport. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le CSA approuve la participation à une exposition en Italie », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 décembre 2017).

One of the seized coins Te Antiquities Unit in Cairo International Airport in collaboration with the airport customs department foiled today an attempt to smuggle a collecion of 28 gilded, silver and copper coins. Ahmad al-Râwî, Head of the Central Administration of the Antiquities Units in Ports, told Ahram Online that the coins can be dated to the Ottoman era and the Muhammad ‘Alî Pasha family reign. Te seized coins are varied in shapes and sizes, and decorated with Arabic calligraphy.

Some of the seized coins al-Râwî explains that the coins were deteced in the cargo village in the luggage of a passenger. Te coins were sent to the Museum of Islamic Art in Bâb al-Khalq for restoration and then to be put on a temporary display. (Nevine El-Aref, “28 historic coins recovered before smuggling out of Cairo International Airport”, Ahram Online, December 6, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère 28 monnaies archéologiques des douanes de l’aéroport du Caire », al-Masrî al- Yawm, 6 décembre ; « Saisie de 28 pièces de monnaie à l’aéroport du Caire », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 6 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Les douanes de l’aéroport du Caire remettent au ministère de l’Archéologie 28 monnaies archéologiques », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 6 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère 28 monnaies archéologiques des douanes de l’aéroport du Caire », al-Wafd, 6 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie récupère 28 pièces antiques des douanes de l’aéroport du Caire », Watanî, 6 décembre).

95 ans après sa découverte, les appliqués et les motifs d’or de la collecion dorée du roi Toutankhamon seront exposés au grand public au Musée égyptien du Caire dans le cadre des festivités organisées pour célébrer 115 ans de la fondation du musée. Stockés dans un coffre, dans les entrepôts du musée, ces motifs qui ornaient les objets funéraires du jeune roi ont été minutieusement restaurés par un groupe de scientifques allemands. « Suite à un long travail très délicat et minutieux et des heures laborieuses au laboratoire, notre équipe allemande a pu terminer les trois quarts de la restauration de la collecion des pièces trouvées par le Britannique Howard CARTER en 1922, lors de sa découverte du tombeau de ce célèbre pharaon, Toutankhamon », dit Christian ECKMANN, conservateur allemand, direceur de l’équipe des scientifques chargés de cette mission.

En fait, entre 88 et 90 plaques et feuilles en or de cette collecion, qui compte 120 pièces, ont été complètement restaurées. Cette équipe est formée de conservateurs, d’égyptologues et de spécialistes de l’archéologie du Proche-Orient. « CARTER et son équipe ont immédiatement encaissé ce trésor après l’avoir photographié et emballé, mais ils ne l’ont pas restauré. Et depuis, personne n’y a touché », se félicite ECKMANN. Il ajoute que ces pièces, trouvées au sol lors de la découverte de la tombe, ont été, depuis, conservées dans ce coffre qui a été transporté de la vallée des Rois à Louqsor, au Musée du Caire, afn d’être étudiées puis restaurées. Mais Selon ECKMANN, CARTER n’a pas eu le temps de fouiller et d’examiner les 5 200 pièces trouvées dans la chambre funéraire ainsi que dans l’antichambre de la tombe de Toutankhamon. Ce n’était qu’en 2014 que l’Institut de l’archéologie allemande au Caire, qui fête le 60e anniversaire de sa réouverture, le Musée de Mayence et l’Université de Tübingen en Allemagne, en coopération avec le Musée Égyptien, ont décidé d’ouvrir le coffre pour la première fois et d’entamer un projet pour la restauration de ces appliqués dans l’objecif de dévoiler encore quelques secrets de ce roi mythique régnant entre 1332 et 1323 av. J. -C. « C’était un grand déf », explique Ilhâm Salâh, présidente du seceur des musées, indiquant que les pièces ont été dans un état déplorable de conservation. « Vu leur état déplorable, ces pièces ont été fragmentées en de très petites pièces pour pouvoir les rassembler, afn de leur faire reprendre leur beauté d’antan. Elles étaient à la fois très difficiles et sophistiquées », souligne ECKMANN, qui renchérit que ces appliqués n’étaient pas seulement en or, mais aussi en cuir, en matière organique et en textile. L’exposition « Les Trésors invisibles de Toutankhamon — Les appliqués d’or » vient donc saluer les efforts de cette équipe, et pour la première fois, les visiteurs peuvent également voir des poignées de dagues, des décorations d’arcs et des fèches, ainsi que d’autres objets. « Cette exposition, qui a lieu dans la salle numéro 13 au premier étage au milieu de trésors de ce roi, va durer 45 jours, jusqu’au 31 décembre prochain », déclare Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, direceur général du Musée Égyptien, ajoutant que ces objets seront ensuite transférés au Grand Musée Égyptien en 2018, pour rejoindre le reste du fabuleux trésor du jeune roi, destiné à être exposé lors de l’inauguration partielle du nouveau musée prévue en mai prochain. Les trésors de Toutankhamon seront le héros de cette inauguration. « Il nous reste à restaurer près d’une trentaine de pièces qui sont en très mauvais état. Nous avons planifé d’achever tout le travail d’ici l’été prochain », conclut ECKMANN. (Nasma Réda, « À la découverte des trésors du roi d’or », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 décembre 2017).

Te FIFA delegation at Gîza Plateau. Photo Aymen Barayez A delegation from the Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA), along with renowned former Egyptian football player and a member of the Egyptian Football Federation Magdî ‘Abd al-Ghanî, visited the pyramids today. Wâ’il Fathî, Chief Inspecor at the Gîza Plateau, said that the delegation included of 70 international professional footballers who are in Egypt to attend the FIFA Annual Congress in Cairo. Te delegation also visited the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Sphinx and the panorama area. Fathî told Ahram Online that the players were fond of the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization. (Nevine El-Aref, “FIFA delegation brings 70 international football players to Gîza plateau”, Ahram Online, December 6, 2017. Voir également « Une délégation de la FIFA visite les pyramides », al-Wafd, 6 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le plateau de Gîza reçoit une délégation de la FIFA », Watanî, 6 décembre).

Prince Bin Salmân at the Museum of Islamic art Prince Sultan Bin Salmân, head of the Saudi Arabia Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, embarked last night with Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî on a tour of the Museum of Islamic Art in Bâb al-Khalq and al-Mu‘izz Street in Old Cairo. Te prince expressed his fondness for the museum’s treasured collecion, which he recorded with photos. Mamdûh ‘Uthmân, the museum’s general direcor, guided the prince and the minister on the tour and explained the efforts of Egyptian workers to restore the artefacs, which were damaged in a 2014 bomb explosion at the Security Direcorate. ‘Uthmân also described the achievements in restoration work in collaboration with the United Arab of Emirates since the museum’s reopening last year.

Sultan Qalâwûn complex, the al-Sâlih Nagm al-Dîn Dome and the Textile Museum. (Nevine El-Aref, “Saudi Prince Sultan Bin Salmân tours the Museum of Islamic Art and al-Mu‘izz Street”, Ahram Online, December 6, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie et le président de l’Office saoudien du Tourisme visitent le musée d’Art islamique », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 décembre).

Les photos héliopolitainnes sous les arcades de Korba. (Photo : Fondation du patrimoine d'Héliopolis) 130 photos et 20 sketchs, tel est le contenu de l’exposition organisée le 9 décembre à la synagogue Vitali Madjar, la seule synagogue d’Héliopolis. Ces photos exposées sont le résultat de concours photographiques organisés par la Fondation du patrimoine d’Héliopolis au cours des 4 dernières années, alors que les sketchs ont été faits l’an dernier. Les travaux ont été réalisés par des habitants d’Héliopolis. « L’exposition est organisée dans le cadre des festivités annuelles du réseau patrimonial Gens et patrimoine, sous la devise : La Découverte des trésors cachés », indique Shukrî Asmar, PDG de la Fondation du patrimoine d’Héliopolis. Pour lui, Héliopolis compte beaucoup de trésors cachés que même ses habitants ne connaissent pas et qui appellent à être découverts. La seule et unique synagogue d’Héliopolis en est un bon exemple. Raison pour laquelle les responsables de la fondation ont décidé d’organiser l’exposition héliopolitainne à l’intérieur de la synagogue. « C’est à la fois un message de paix et un moyen de briser tout tabou en matière d’utilisation de la synagogue comme centre culturel pour récolter les fonds

nécessaires à sa restauration », reprend Asmar.

Le 1er prix de la compétition 2017. (Photo : Fondation du patrimoine d'Héliopolis) L’exposition présente les œuvres primées entre 2013 et 2017. « Elles sont réparties en deux thèmes : l’architecure et les Héliopolitains », explique Asmar. L’exposition permet notamment au visiteur de découvrir les balcons en demi-cercle, recangulaires ou encore triangulaires, fréquents à Héliopolis. La plupart de ces balcons sont cernés de colonnes latérales, coiffées de chapiteaux qui portent des ornements botaniques. Les villas d’Héliopolis occupent une place considérable dans les photos de l’exposition. Certaines sont entourées de jardins et d’arbres forissants, dont l’âge remonte parfois à plus de 60 ans. « Malheureusement, aujourd’hui, le nombre de ces arbres diminue au proft des nouveaux intérêts des propriétaires », regrettent les jeunes photographes d’Héliopolis, qui enregistrent tout changement au niveau de la verdure ou de l’architecure de la banlieue historique avec leurs caméras. Les portes des maisons du quartier de Korba et des rues des alentours sont elles aussi le sujet de plusieurs photos de l’exposition. Certaines portes sont ornées de motifs botaniques d’une grande fnesse. D’autres sont partiellement en verre. Le tramway, symbole de la ville d’Héliopolis, occupe lui aussi une grande partie de l’exposition et le visiteur peut retracer son histoire à travers les photos exposées. Certaines représentent des passagers qui contemplent le paysage héliopolitain à travers les vitres du tramway. D’autres montrent des arrêts déserts, avec juste un homme qui dort sur les bancs dans l’attente du tramway. Sur l’une des images, un contrôleur tend sa main avec ferté en montrant les tickets qu’il vend aux passagers. Si les Héliopolitains sont représentés dans le tramway, on les retrouve aussi dans les fameux cafés et restaurants d’Héliopolis, comme Groppi, pour prendre leur café du matin ou siroter une limonade, ou bien dans un café populaire pour feuilleter le journal, ou encore assis devant leurs magasins. On voit encore un piéton en djellaba qui profte de l’ombre des arbres, alors qu’un autre se sert des murailles d’une villa pour se reposer. Bref, l’exposition retrace l’acuelle vie d’Héliopolis avec toutes ses facettes. N’oublions pas les photos des palais, prises en noir et blanc, signe de la nostalgie d’une époque d’antan. Quant aux sketchs exposés, ils ont été réalisés par de jeunes dessinateurs, qui ont ainsi traduit leurs vues sur les différents bâtiments et les richesses architecurales d’Héliopolis. Asmar explique que l’exposition est organisée à l’intérieur de la synagogue grâce à une coopération entre la Fondation du patrimoine d’Héliopolis et Drop of Milk Egypt (association la Goutte de Lait), responsables du patrimoine juif du Caire. Cette coopération vise à transformer Héliopolis en une « ville culturelle avec plusieurs centres d’art, de culture et de divertissements pour offrir à ses habitants une qualité de vie et des possibilités de sorties exceptionnelles et encourager les nouvelles générations à ne pas quitter leur ville natale », selon les propos d’Asmar. (Doaa Elhami, « Héliopolis vue par ses habitants », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 6 décembre 2017).

La mission italienne du Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), en coopération avec le ministère égyptien des Antiquités, a exhumé les vestiges de deux forteresses d’époque tardive à Tell al-Maskhûta, précisément à Wâdî al-Tumaylât situé à 15 km à l’Ouest de la ville d’Ismâ‘îliyya. Giuseppina Capriotti VITTOZZI, chef de mission, a précisé que la première forteresse est considérée comme l’une des plus imposantes jamais découvertes dans cette région. Sa muraille Nord est composée de deux murailles collées l’une à l’autre. L’épaisseur de la première est de 12 m, tandis que celle de la seconde est de 10 m sur une hauteur de 7 m. La muraille Est mesure près de 12 m d’épaisseur sur 4 m de profondeur.

Quant à la seconde forteresse, elle est érigée sur des vestiges de l’époque Hyksôs. Plus précisément, elle remonte à la XXVIe dynastie. Ses murailles Ouest (8 m d’épaisseur) et Nord (7 m) s’élèvent à 5 m de hauteur. Dr Muhammad ‘Abd al-Maqsûd, membre de l’équipe de fouilles, a souligné que les murailles mises au jour sont construites en briques crues et dotées de tours défensives. Cette découverte enrichit l’histoire de l’architecure militaire égyptienne, surtout que le site commande les frontières Est du pays. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 2 forteresses à Tell al-Maskhûta », al- Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 7 décembre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Une mission égypto-italienne dévoile les vestiges de 2 citadelles à l’Ouest d’Ismâ‘îliyya », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Une mission égypto-italienne exhume les vestiges de 2 citadelles d’époque tardive à Ismâ‘îliyya », Sada al-Balad, 7 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte des vestiges de 2 forteresses à Ismâ‘îliyya », al-Wafd, 7 décembre). Scans and 3D X-rays on two mummies which were discovered during excavations at the Elephantine tombs, west of Aswân, revealed the mummies date back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt. Te frst mummy dates back to around 3000 BC, while the second dates to the beginning of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, which existed around 1950 BC. Te University of Aswân said in a statement that the discovery comes following joint examination and cooperation between the Aswân University, headed by Professor Ahmad Gallâb, the University of Cayenne in Spain, and Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities. Te latest scanning technology was used in the X-ray, which, according to the statement, is capable of performing 124 radial segments simultaneously, with a high quality and accuracy. Egyptologists believe that both mummies are likely to have died of acute gastrointestinal fucuations. Tere were no traces of bruises or any other type of disease on the mummies, according to the statement. Te study of the two mummies began in May in the University of Aswân, represented by the President of the University and Vice-President of the University for Graduate Studies, Professor Ayman ‘Uthmân, in addition to the Faculty of Archaeology, the statement read. (“Mummies discovered in Elephantine tombs date to Late Period of ancient Egypt”, Egypt Independent, December 7, 2017).

Le ministre des Antiquités, Khâlid al-‘Inânî, a annoncé que plusieurs expositions archéologiques temporaires seront envoyées à l’étranger au cours de l’année 2018. Ces expositions contribuent à renfouer les caisses du ministère, à fnancer les projets de restauration, à promouvoir le tourisme ainsi que les échanges entre les archéologues égyptiens et leurs homologues étrangers. En mars 2018, une exposition sur les antiquités submergées sera inaugurée à Saint-Louis aux États-Unis, une autre sur la collecion de Toutankhamon à Los Angeles qui servira de publicité pour le Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM), ainsi qu’une troisième exposition d’archéologie islamique au Canada. Toutes ces expositions sont organisées dans le stric respec de la loi et des garanties diplomatiques et bancaires nécessaires. Le ministère détermine les sociétés d’assurance et les compagnies aériennes. Les pièces sont accompagnées à l’allée comme au retour par des membres de la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités, des archéologues et des restaurateurs égyptiens, ainsi qu’un inspeceur présent sur le site tout au long de l’exposition.

En vue d’augmenter les recettes du ministère, plusieurs idées sont mises en place : le mécénat, les cartes de fdélité, l’impression de publicité sur les tickets d’entrée des musées et des sites, l’amendement du règlement et des tarifs de tournage cinématographique. Ces tarifs ne sont plus calculés par heure, mais par journée de tournage avec une réducion de 50 % sur le tournage dans le désert ainsi que sur les prises de vue nocurne. (MENA, « Organisation d’expositions archéologiques en 2018 », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 décembre 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : Organisation de plusieurs expositions archéologiques à l’étranger en 2018 », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 9 décembre).

Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al. ‘Inânî announced on Saturday the discovery of two tombs in the ancient Qurna area west of Luxor. “Te discovery was carried out by an Egyptian mission of the Ministry of Antiquities under the supervision of the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Wazîrî,” said al-‘Inânî in a speech during the announcement of the archaeological discovery. “Te discovery was a joint effort of Ministry of Antiquities and Luxor Governorate to promote tourism and ancient Egyptian antiquities,” he added. “All the international and local media today came to witness this great moment,” he said. al-‘Inânî pointed out that later in the day, for the frst time since 1961, the Holy of Holies of Amun Ra will be opened in the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in al-Dayr al-Baharî. He noted that the Executive Direcor of the World Bank and his deputy made an official visit to Egypt after hearing about the discovery, in order to visit the two tombs. (“Two ancient Egyptian tombs discovered in Qurna, west of Luxor”, Egypt Independent, December 9, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 2 tombes archéologiques à al-Qurna », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 9 décembre ; Tâhir al-Husaynî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 2 tombes à Louqsor », al-Fagr, 9 décembre).

Gindî H. G. , foncionnaire à la retraite, a été mis en examen pour fouilles archéologiques illicites dans les fondations de sa maison située à Qal‘at al-Kabsh, dans le distric de Sayyida Zaynab. Lors des interrogatoires, l’accusé a reconnu les faits retenus contre lui. « Un charlatan a téléphoné au djinn devant moi. J’ai écouté leur discussion qui confrme l’existence de trésors archéologiques sous ma maison. C’est ce qui m’a incité à y entreprendre des fouilles », avoue l’accusé devant le Parquet ! Lors de la perquisition de son domicile, les policiers ont trouvé un puits de 2 m de diamètre sur 5 m de profondeur, ainsi que deux céramiques. (Samar Fathî, « Un ex-foncionnaire à Sayyida Zaynab : Le charlatan a téléphoné au djinn. Ils m’ont convaincu de la présence d’antiquités sous mon habitation », al- Tahrîr, 12 décembre 2017. Voir également Hasan Ahmad, « Un foncionnaire à la retraite écroué pour fouilles clandestines sous sa maison », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 11 décembre).

Le ministre des Antiquités, Khâlid al-‘Inânî, a inauguré samedi le sancuaire d’Amon-Rê au temple de Hatshepsout, situé dans le site archéologique d’al-Dayr al-Baharî à Louqsor. Cette inauguration est le fruit des travaux de restauration qui ont débuté en 1961 par la mission archéologique polonaise. Le saint des saints est situé dans la terrasse supérieure du temple de la reine Hatshepsout. C’est une cour recangulaire entourée sur ses quatre côtés par un portique à deux rangées de colonnes. Le saint des saints se terminait par une niche destinée à abriter la statue d’Amon-Min. Le lieu était destiné à recevoir la barque d’Amon durant la Belle fête de la vallée. La sortie de la barque est représentée sur les parois du temple qui date de la XVIIIe dynastie. À l’époque ptolémaïque, le sancuaire fut prolongé par une chapelle consacrée au roi Amenhotep. Le ministre égyptien a exprimé, lors de l’inauguration, sa satisfacion des travaux effecués et de la coopération avec les archéologues et restaurateurs polonais qui opèrent sur le site depuis le début des années 1960. L’ambassadeur polonais en Égypte, Michal MURKOCINSKI, n’a pas manqué de féliciter le ministère égyptien des Antiquités pour la longue coopération entre les deux pays et a également souligné que l’inauguration de ce sancuaire était une grande réussite scientifque dans le domaine archéologique. « Dès le début, les archéologues ont pris soin de préserver l’authenticité du sancuaire, qu’il s’agisse des matériaux de construcion ou des couleurs. Les visiteurs ne manqueront pas de constater le résultat du travail ardu et minutieux des restaurateurs de la mission égypto-polonaise », a souligné de son côté Z. E. SZAFRANSKI, chef de la mission archéologique polonaise et direceur du Centre polonais d’archéologie méditerranéenne. SZAFRANSKI a noté que le temple de Hatshepsout aurait vu défler trois générations d’archéologues polonais, tout en souhaitant que cette vieille collaboration se perpétue encore pour d’autres générations. (Rana Gohar, « Inauguration du sancuaire d’Amon-Rê », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 décembre 2017. Voir également Muhammad al-Samkûrî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure le sancuaire du temple d’Hatchepsout », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 9 décembre ; Tâhir al-Husaynî, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure le sancuaire du temple d’al-Dayr al-Baharî », al-Fagr, 9 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Inauguration du sancuaire du temple d’al-Dayr al-Baharî », Watanî, 9 décembre).

Te Ministry of Antiquities announced on Tuesday the renovation and maintenance of Prince Tâz Palace in al-Khalîfa neighbourhood and Sheikh Muhammad al-Sâdât House in the Sayyida Zaynab neighbourhood as part of a national campaign launched by the Ministry in 2015 to save 100 historic buildings in old Cairo. Direcor General of the Historic Cairo Antiquities Department Muhammad ‘Abd al. ‘Azîz said that the estimated cost of the maintenance of both buildings is LE2 million. Te projec is due to be completed in a year by a private company under the supervision of the Ministry.

Prince Tâz Palace is one of Egypt’s historic palaces that is characerized by its distincive architecural style. It was built by the Mamluk Prince Sayf al-Dîn Tâz. It covers an area of more than 8,000 square meters and has a large courtyard in the center, surrounded by the palace’s buildings. Te Sâdât House is located in the new Hilmiyya area in Sayyida Zaynab. It dates back to the Ottoman era and was built following the Ottoman architecural style. It has a garden, a ground foor with warehouses and kitchens and an upper foor, which has living rooms and a small corner for prayer. (“Antiquities Ministry to renovate Prince Tâz Palace, Sâdât House”, Egypt Independent, December 13, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Lancement des travaux de restauration du palais de l’émir Tâz et de la demeure d’al-Sâdât », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 12 décembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie entame la restauration du palais de l’émir Tâz et de la demeure d’al-Sâdât », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 12 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Lancement des travaux de restauration et de maintenance du palais de l’émir Tâz et de la demeure d’al-Sâdât », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 12 décembre ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Restauration et préservation du palais de l’émir Tâz et de la demeure d’al-Sâdât », Watanî, 12 décembre).

Le bas-relief déterré au temple de Kom Ombo. (Photo : ministère des Antiquités) La mission archéologique égyptienne du ministère des Antiquités opérant au temple de Kom Ombo au nord d’Aswân vient d’annoncer la découverte d’un bas-relief en calcaire sur lequel apparaissent le portrait et le nom de Philippe III Arrhidée, le demi-frère du grand conquérant Alexandre le Grand. En fait, cette découverte change une évidence importante dans l’histoire de la reconstrucion de ce temple. « Contrairement à ce qui est connu, ce bas-relief pourrait témoigner que ce temple a été reconstruit à l’époque grecque et non pas à celle ptolémaïque », souligne Mustafa Wazîrî, secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités. L’histoire de cette découverte commence lors du projet lancé par le ministère des Antiquités dans le but de réduire le niveau de l’eau souterraine du temple. Dans la région nord-ouest du temple, tout près de la chapelle du dieu Sobek, la mission a trouvé ce bas-relief qui est de taille moyenne, et qui porte des inscriptions hiéroglyphes évoquant le nom de Philippe III Arrhidée, de même que des prières à Sobek, dieu crocodile qui est considéré comme le dieu de la ville de Kom Ombo et dieu du Nil. « Sur la partie supérieure du bloc se trouve la déesse Nekhbet, la déesse protecrice de la Haute-Égypte et de la royauté du sud, alors que la partie inférieure montre le roi Philippe III Arrhidée portant la couronne rouge de la Basse-Égypte », explique Wazîrî, ajoutant que l’importance de cette découverte réside dans le fait que ce bas-relief révèle un nouvel épisode de l’histoire de la reconstrucion de ce temple connu pour être un temple ptolémaïque qui daterait du Ier siècle av. J. -C. Même opinion partagée par Ayman al. ‘Ashmâwî, direceur du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes au ministère des Antiquités, qui estime que cette découverte a une grande importance historique et pourrait changer beaucoup de choses. « C’est la première fois que l’on découvre des preuves sur le fait que ce temple a été utilisé à l’époque hellénistique », dit-il. Et d’ajouter que la découverte apporte des éclaircissements sur l’histoire hellénistique de l’Égypte qui a commencé par la conquête d’Alexandre le Grand en 332 av. J. -C. et a pris fn en 30 av. J. -C. En fait, juste avant cette découverte, il était connu pour les archéologues que la reconstrucion du temple de Kom Ombo a été faite par Ptolémée V en 181 av. J. -C. et le premier roi de l’époque ptolémaïque mentionné sur le monument est Ptolémée VI, le dernier étant Ptolémée XII. Ensuite, le temple a été agrandi et enrichi au cours des siècles jusqu’à l’époque romaine. Comme la plupart des temples de cette région, le temple de Kom Ombo est venu remplacer un autre plus ancien, puisque les archéologues ont trouvé, lors de différentes saisons de fouilles, des éléments architecuraux qui remontent à l’époque du roi Amenhotep Ier de la XVIIIe dynastie, en plus d’une statue représentant l’une des épouses du roi Toutmosis III, toujours de la XVIIIe dynastie.

Toujours à Aswân, et plus précisément au nord, sur l’île Éléphantine, une mission archéologique suisse a mis au jour, après plusieurs saisons de fouilles, un atelier artisanal. « C’est un atelier de menuiserie où on a trouvé deux hachettes à double face et un bâton en bois », affirme Cornelius VON PILGRIM, direceur de la mission archéologique suisse. Et d’ajouter que ce type de hachette a vu son apparition au cours de la XVIIIe dynastie, plus précisément à l’époque du roi Toutmosis III et les premières années de l’époque du roi Amenhotep II. Selon VON PILGRIM, l’une de ces hachettes, qui a probablement été utilisée comme outil de construcion, est fortement rongée et est dans un mauvais état de conservation. « La seconde hachette est en fait la plus importante non seulement parce qu’elle est dans un état meilleur que la première, mais parce qu’elle a l’aspec des haches syriennes, étant ainsi la première en son genre découverte en Égypte jusqu’à présent », assure le direceur de la mission. Il ajoute que deux pièces presque identiques avaient été trouvées dans un sancuaire de la strate VIII à Beth Shan (Palestine du nord) et dans une tombe à Ugarit (en Syrie), ce qui explique que ce type de hachettes était très répandu dans le Levant et la Syrie. Cependant, la hache syrienne peut avoir trouvé son chemin en Égypte pendant les contacs direcs, ou les confits entre l’Égypte et le Mitanni pendant cette période. « La découverte de cette hache syrienne à Éléphantine pourrait ajouter à l’étude des relations entre l’Égypte et le Mitanni durant la période thoutmoside », conclut VON PILGRIM. Dalia Farouq, « Aswân révèle de nouveaux secrets », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 décembre 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nouvelles découvertes à Gabal al-Silsila et à Kom Ombo », Sada al-Balad, 14 décembre). Le président du département des projets, Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ, a annoncé la poursuite des travaux du musée de Tell Basta dont l’inauguration est prévue au cours du premier semestre 2018. Le réaménagement total de ce musée englobe : le système de sécurité, le réseau d’éclairage, la peinture, ainsi que le doublage de la façade en verre par une protecion en fer. Le coût de modernisation de ce musée s’élève à 3 millions de livres égyptiennes, entièrement fnancé par le ministère de l’Archéologie. (Ahmad Mansûr, « Inauguration du musée de Tell Basta au cours du premier semestre 2018 », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 13 décembre 2017).

Te serenity of the Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor was disturbed earlier this week when Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî along with hundreds of Egyptian, Arab and foreign journalists, together with flm crews and photographers, focked to the site to view the newly excavated 3,500-year-old tombs of two unidentifed ancient Egyptian officials.

“Tis is a very important discovery because the tombs contain very rich funerary collecions, and one of them features a distinguished painted statue of a lady in the shape of Osiris,” al-‘Inânî said, adding that 2017 had been a “year of discoveries” in Egypt with this being the third in 60 days in Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ alone. “It seems that our ancient Egyptian ancestors are bestowing their blessings on Egypt’s economy as these discoveries are good for the country and its tourism industry,” al-‘Inânî told Al-Ahram Weekly. Te New Kingdom tombs had been known about since the last century, but this was the frst time they had been entered as a result of an Egyptian archaeological mission’s excavations, al-‘Inânî explained. Te tombs had come to light in September when the same Egyptian excavation mission had uncovered the tomb of Amenemhat, a goldsmith of the god Amun-Re, he said. While removing debris from the tomb, the excavators had stumbled upon a hole at one end that had led them to another tomb. “More excavations then revealed the painted walls of tomb Kampp 161,” al-‘Inânî said, adding that the discovery added to a spate of recent fnds at sites across Egypt. “Tese fnds are not a matter of luck, but are the result of the hard work of archaeologists and workers across the country who are working in often very difficult conditions,” he concluded. “Antiquities are the soft power that distinguishes Egypt,” al-‘Inânî told the Weekly, adding that news of the discovery of antiquities catches the international headlines and the attention of the world as a whole. Te tombs were given numbers by the German archaeologist Frederica KAMPP in the early 1990s, but they had never been explored, according to Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and head of the Egyptian excavation mission. Time has taken its toll on the tombs, whose entrances were covered with sand. Te frst tomb, named Kampp 161, had not been excavated, while excavation work on the second tomb, Kampp 150, was undertaken by Kampp who stopped short of entering the tomb itself. Te tombs had thus been left untouched until excavation started during the recent archaeological season by the Egyptian mission.

Although the names of the tombs’ owners are yet to be identifed, wall paintings and inscriptions suggest they could be dated to the period between the reigns of the Pharaohs Amenhotep II and Tutmose IV, Wazîrî told the Weekly. INSIDE THE TOMBS: Te frst tomb is a small tomb that had been reused in antiquity. It has a sandstone façade that leads to a recangular hall with a niche, as well as a court lined with stone and mud- brick walls and a six-metre burial shaft that leads to four side chambers. All the inscriptions are found on the western wall located at the tomb’s northern end. Tis shows two feast scenes, the frst depicing a person, probably the deceased’s brother, presenting offerings and fowers to the deceased and his wife. Te second scene is found below the frst and shows guests standing in four rows, among them one consisting of three men and three women. Te frst man in the row is the keeper of the storeroom. Most of the items discovered in Kampp 161 are fragments of wooden coffins, but there is also a large wooden mask that originally was part of a coffin. A small painted wooden mask, a fragment of a gilded wooden mask in poor condition, four legs of wooden chairs that were among the deceased’s funerary equipment, and the lower part of a wooden Osirian-shaped coffin decorated with a scene of the goddess Isis lifting up her hands, were also found.

Te second tomb, Kampp 150, is located a few metres to the north of the frst, and since a cartouche of Tutmosis I is engraved on the ceiling of one of the tomb’s chambers it can be dated to the end of the 19th Dynasty or the beginning of the 18th Dynasty. “Te owner is not yet known, but there are two possible candidates,” Wazîrî told the Weekly. “Te frst possibility is that the tomb belongs to a person named Djehuty Mes, because his name is engraved on one of the walls. Te second possibility is that the owner could be the scribe Maati, because his name and the name of his wife Mehi are inscribed on 50 funerary cones unearthed in the tomb’s recangular chamber,” Wazîrî said. “Most probably, the tomb belongs to the scribe Maati,” he added. Te tomb is of average size and has fve entrances that open onto a recangular hall that is partly damaged and has two burial shafts of 10 and seven metres deep. “Te burial of a woman named Isis Nefret was found inside the tomb, and she could be the mother of the tomb’s owner,” Wazîrî said. He added that inside one of the burial shafts a wooden painted coffin featuring various ancient Egyptian scenes had been found along with 36 Ushabti fgurines. Te latter are funerary fgurines placed in tombs in ancient Egypt and intended to ac as servants of the deceased. Te tomb has only one inscription on one of its northern pillars. It shows a scene with a seated man offering food to four oxen, with the frst kneeling in front of the man, who is giving it herbs. Te scene also depics fve people making funerary furniture. Te entrance of the tomb’s long hall is inscribed with a hieroglyphic text with the name Djehuty Mes. Te ceiling of the chamber is inscribed with hieroglyphic inscriptions and the cartouche of Tutmose I. Te artefacs uncovered inside the tomb include 100 funerary cones, painted wooden masks, a collecion of 450 statues carved in different materials such as clay, wood and faience, and a small box in the shape of a wooden coffin with a lid. “Te box was probably used for storing an Ushabti fgurine 17cm tall and 6cm wide,” Wazîrî said. Also found was a collecion of clay vessels of different shapes and sizes, as well as a mummy wrapped in linen with its hands on its chest in the Osirian form. Studies suggest that the mummy, found inside the long chamber, could be of a top official or similar powerful fgure from ancient Egypt. (Nevine El-Aref, “Finds from New Kingdom tombs”, Al-Ahram Weekly, December 14, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Découverte à Louqsor d’une tombe archéologique non identifée », Sada al-Balad, 9 décembre ; Nevine El-Aref, “Two ancient Egyptian New Kingdom-era tombs opened at Luxor necropolis”, Ahram Online, December 9 ; Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Mise au jour d’une nouvelle tombe à Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ », Watanî, 9 décembre ; Rana Gohar, « Deux nouvelles tombes à Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 13 décembre). Le secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî, a pris la décision n° 7667/2017 portant nomination de :

— Gamâl Muhammad Mustafa au poste de superviseur général de la zone archéologique du Sud du Caire (Sayyida Zaynab, al-Khalîfa, al-Darb al-Ahmar, Sayyida ‘Â’isha, Sultan Hasan at al-Rifâ‘î).

— Nâgî Hanafî Mahmûd au poste de direceur général de la zone archéologique de la citadelle de Saladin. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Gamâl Mustafa nommé superviseur général de la zone archéologique du Sud du Caire », Sada al-Balad, 14 décembre 2017).

Tere have been a series of antiquities discoveries in Aswân in the last few weeks, officials have said. Te Swedish-Egyptian mission working in the Gabal al-Silsila area has uncovered four intac burials of children, while the Austrian mission at Kom Ombo’s archaeological hill discovered a large segment of a First Intermediate Period cemetery, and the Egyptian-Swiss mission working in the old town of Aswân has unearthed a small incomplete statue that probably depics Greek goddess Artemis. Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the four child burials date to the 18th dynasty (549/1550 BC to 1292 BC. ). Tey consist of a rock-hewn grave for a child between two and three years old; the mummy still retains its linen wrapping and is surrounded with organic material from the remains of the wooden coffin. Te second burial, he went on, belongs to another child aged between six and nine years old, who was buried inside a wooden coffin, while the third burial is of a child between fve and eight. Both of these graves contain funerary furniture, including amulets and a set of pottery. Te fourth burial is also of a child between the ages of fve and eight. “Te new burial discoveries are shedding more light on the burial customs used in the Tutmosid period as well as the social, economic and religious life of people during that period,” Maria NILSSON, head of the Swedish mission said, adding that the mission has succeed during its previous excavation works to uncover many burials but the newly discovered ones have a special signifcance. More excavations and studies on the site will reveal more about the death rituals conduced in this site during the period, she said.

A child burial Te Egyptian-Austrian archaeological mission in Kom Ombo led by Irene FOSTER uncovered a part of a cemetery from the First Intermediate Period, with a number of mud-brick tombs. Numerous pottery vessels and grave goods were unearthed.

FOSTER explains that the preliminary study revealed that it is mostly built on top of an earlier cemetery. Below the cemetery, FOSTER told Ahram Online, the mission has uncovered remains of an Old Kingdom town with a ceiling impression of King Sahure from the 5th Dynasty (2494 to 2345 BC).

Te frst intermediate cemetery In the ancient town of Aswân, the Egyptian-Swiss mission, headed by Egyptologist Wolfgang MULLER, unearthed a statue of a woman that was missing its head, feet and right hand. ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd, general direcor of Aswân and Nubia Antiquities, said that the statue is carved from limestone and measures 14cm by 9cm in width and the thickness of its bust is 3cm and the lower part is 7cm.

Te statue of the Greek goddesses A preliminary study on the statue reveals that the dress she wears is similar to that of Artemis, Greek goddess of hunting, procreation, virginity and fertility, combined with the Egyptian goddesses Isis and Bastet. (Nevine El-Aref, “New discoveries in Aswân including child burials, small Artemis statue”, Ahram Online, December 14, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie annonce la découverte de 4 tombes d’enfants à Aswân », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 décembre ; Islâm ‘Abd al-Ma‘bûd, « Les missions suédoises, autrichiennes et suisses réalisent de nouvelles découvertes archéologiques à Aswân », al- Shurûq, 14 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Nouvelles découvertes archéologiques à Aswân », al-Wafd, 14 décembre ; Associated Press, “Archaeologists uncover burial sites, statue in Egypt’s Aswân”, Egypt Independent, December 14). - -

Te Egyptian Museum began showcasing a new display on Tursday evening of three artifacs, available for the public to see for the frst time, as part of celebrations of the 115th anniversary of the Egyptian Museum.

Te frst piece is a coloured face of a coffin made of cartonage wood, found in Minyâ and dates back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt.

Te second is a mask bearing the face of a man, made out of stucco ornamented with gold. Te mask bears the name of the man’s two wives on one side, and the name of another woman called Nefro on the other side, Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq, Direcor General of the Egyptian Museum, said in a statement on Friday. Te mask dates back to the Second Intermediate Period (1800-1550 BC) and was found the region of al-‘Asâsîf in Luxor.

Te third piece was recovered from Belgium in 2016. It is a statue of a man and a woman made of steatite, dating back to the Middle Kingdom, she added. (“Tree artifacs displayed for frst time at Egyptian Museum”, Egypt Independent, December 15, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie assiste à l’exposition pour la première fois de 3 pièces archéologiques au Musée Égyptien », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 7 décembre ; MENA, « 3 nouvelles pièces archéologiques exposées à l’entrée du Musée Égyptien », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 14 décembre ; MENA, « Le Musée Égyptien expose 3 nouvelles pièces antiques », al-Shurûq, 14 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 3 nouvelles pièces archéologiques exposées à l’entrée du Musée Égyptien », Sada al-Balad, 21 décembre). - -

Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî, South Sinai Governor Major General Khâlid Fûda, and St Catherine’s Monastery Archbishop DIMETRIOSE have inaugurated the frst phase of the St Catherine’s Library conservation projec, including restoration of the Mosaic of Transfguration. Te opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers along with members of parliament and ambassadors of foreign countries in Egypt, as well as representatives of Pope Tawadros II and al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmad al-Tayyib. al-‘Inânî described St Catherine’s as “a source of inspiration that radiated across civilisation, both regionally and globally. ” He added: “St Catherine’s Monastery combines Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Tis is what we could call the genius of Egypt and its refecion on the harmony between its components and its great people. ” Te monastery was registered as a world heritage site since 2002.

“I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the distinguished audience and would also like to express my great gratitude to all those who contributed to this work and to your generous support,” al- ‘Inânî said. “I am very happy to share in the inauguration of the restored library, which is the third library ever in the world,” Major General Fûda said in a press conference held at the monastery today.

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf, assistant to the minister of antiquities and head of the Coptic and Islamic Antiquities secor at the ministry, told Ahram Online that conservation work was carried out under the supervision of the ministry with funds provided by the monastery. Te restoration projec began in 2014 after approval of the Permanent Committee of Islamic and Coptic Antiquities. It includes the development of the eastern side of the library, upgrading the architecure of the library facade as well as consolidating and conserving the Justinian Wall, which dates back to the 6th century AD.

‘Abd al-Latîf pointed out that the ministry announced a month ago that during conservation work restorers uncovered the "Palmist" manuscript, which dates back to the ffth or sixth century AD. It is a manuscript written on leather and shows medical texts from HIPPOCRATES, as well as three other medical texts by an unknown writer. As for the Mosaic of Transfguration, he explained that an Italian-Egyptian team headed by Italian expert Nardi GUVIANI carried out restoration of the Mosaic.

Ahmad al-Nimr, a member of the Scientifc Office of the ministry of antiquities, said that the mosaic is one of the oldest and most beautiful and largest mosaics in the Middle East. It dates to the ninth century AD. It covers a surface of about 46 square metres, painted with precious materials such as gold and silver.

Te mosaic includes an image of Jesus and the prophet Elijah and the prophet Moses. Below, the prophets John and Jacob prostrate. Te mosaic is surrounded by 31 medallions containing picures of messengers and prophets, in addition to two medallions representing Jonah and the Virgin Mary. (Nevine El-Aref, “St Catherine’s Library and Mosaic of Transfguration inaugurated after restoration”, Ahram Online, December 16, 2017. Voir également Sanâ’ Fârûq, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure la bibliothèque du monastère de Sainte-Catherine », Watanî, 12 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : L’inauguration de la bibliothèque du monastère de Sainte-Catherine est un message de paix adressé au monde », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 16 décembre ; « Le ministre de l’Archéologie : La bibliothèque du monastère de Sainte-Catherine est un patrimoine religieux et artistique digne d’être conservé », Sada al-Balad, 16 décembre).

Un rapport diffusé aujourd’hui par le ministère de l’Archéologie indique que 238 missions archéologiques étrangères appartenant à 24 États opèrent en Égypte. Avec 49 missions archéologiques, la France vient en tête de ce classement, suivie par les États-Unis (40), l’Allemagne (40), le Royaume-Uni (21), l’Italie (19), la Pologne (17), l’Espagne (7), la Suisse (6), l’Autriche (5), la Belgique (5), l’Australie (4), les Pays-Bas (4), la Russie (4), la Hongrie (3), la Grèce (3), le Canada (2), ainsi qu’une seule mission archéologique pour l’Argentine, la République tchèque, le Brésil, la République dominicaine, le Mexique et la Bulgarie. (‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « 238 missions archéologiques étrangères opèrent en Égypte », Sada al-Balad, 19 décembre 2017).

Aux alentours du plateau des pyramides, à quelques mètres du Sphinx, se trouve l’entrée de la nécropole des ouvriers, les construceurs des pyramides, ouverte au public depuis novembre dernier. De loin, elle apparaît comme une colline à plusieurs degrés. Un trajet bien tracé muni de pancartes explicatives mène les visiteurs au site, encerclé par des fls en fer barbelés pour le protéger. « La région est bien sécurisée », dit l’archéologue Muhammad Kamâl, inspeceur du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités dans la région des pyramides, qui a participé aux travaux de fouille et de restauration de la nécropole. Et d’ajouter : « Bien que nous ayons trouvé les tombeaux de la nécropole quasi vides, ils sont d’une très grande valeur historique et archéologique. Ils nous ont appris de nombreux détails sur la construcion des pyramides ». Allant à l’encontre de toute idée d’esclavage, la nécropole apporte des éléments de preuve qui indiquent que les construceurs étaient issus de familles vivant dans le Delta et en Haute-Égypte. « L’ADN des squelettes découverts vient confrmer que les défunts vivaient en groupes familiaux et les études permettent d’estimer leur nombre entre 20 000 et 30 000. Les bâtisseurs changeaient tous les trois mois ou plus, et ceux enterrés dans la nécropole sont ceux qui sont décédés au cours du processus de construcion », explique Ashraf Muhyyî, direceur du plateau des pyramides. Les analyses ont aussi révélé des traces de fracures qui avaient été correcement soignées. « Visiblement, ces hommes bénéfciaient des mêmes soins médicaux que les nobles », ajoute Muhyyî.

Par ailleurs, les poteries et les différents ustensiles découverts sur le chantier, ou tout prés de la cité des ouvriers, montrent que ces travailleurs consommaient quotidiennement près de 21 buffles et 23 moutons. « Ils étaient bien nourris, bien soignés et vivaient en famille. Ces tombes ont été construites à côté de la pyramide du roi, ce qui indique que ces gens n’étaient pas des esclaves. S’ils l’avaient été, ils n’auraient pas été autorisés à construire leurs tombeaux à côté de leur roi », souligne Muhyyî. Toutes les découvertes, analyses et études viennent donc écarter la thèse de l’esclavagisme. « Il ne s’agissait pas d’esclaves, mais bien de privilégiés », ajoute le direceur. À l’intérieur du site, le visiteur trouve des dômes et des puits funéraires de petite taille accolés les uns aux autres et difficiles de les compter. « Presque tous les objets trouvés ont été transférés au Musée du Caire pour être restaurés et étudiés », explique Ahmad ‘Izz, superviseur de la région, qui se charge d’expliquer aux visiteurs le plan du site. « Les travaux pour ouvrir ce site aux visiteurs n’ont duré que trois mois. Nous avons fni la restauration des tombeaux, tracé le trajet, placé quelques planches en bois pour protéger certaines tombes, puis installé les pancartes et imprimé les billets. Nous sommes prêts à accueillir les visiteurs », se réjouit ‘Izz. La nécropole des ouvriers a été découverte par hasard, en 1990, lorsque le chef des surveillants des pyramides a remarqué un mur en brique crue sur lequel un cheval avait trébuché, jetant à terre un touriste. Après quelques jours de fouilles par la mission archéologique du ministère des Antiquités, dirigée en ce temps par Zâhî Hawwâs, il a été constaté que ce mur faisait partie d’un tombeau qui renfermait une chambre voûtée et deux fausses portes, à travers lesquelles le défunt était en contac avec les vivants. Depuis cette découverte, les fouilles, la restauration et la réhabilitation du site ont eu lieu en continu. La découverte des tombeaux des bâtisseurs des pyramides est considérée comme l’une des plus importantes du XXe siècle. « Elle nous a donné beaucoup d’informations sur les différentes classes sociales et le mode de vie des bâtisseurs des pyramides », explique Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî, chef du seceur des monuments et sites antiques. « La taille et la qualité des tombeaux de cette région sont variables. Il y a ceux faits en brique crue, d’autres en calcaire, avec ou sans inscriptions, les uns en bon état et d’autres non. Même l’architecure diffère d’un tombeau à l’autre », indique ‘Izz, qui explique que cela est dû au fait que les ouvriers des pyramides venaient de tous les coins du pays, chacun construisant son tombeau à sa guise. « La nécropole renfermait de nombreux objets, dont les statues d’Inti Shedu, Neferef NSW et d’autres, conservés au Musée du Caire. Elle comprend jusqu’ici plus de 700 petits tombeaux et près de 120 autres de taille large et moyenne », déclare ‘Izz, ajoutant que trois tombeaux seulement sont ouverts au public : ceux de Ptah Shepsw, Petety et Nefer Teth.

Le tombeau de Ptah Shepsw a été le premier à être découvert sur le chantier et remonte à la IVe dynastie (2613-2498 av. J. -C. ). « Il est considéré comme le plus grand de toute la nécropole », déclare ‘Izz. Il comporte une cour extérieure et un corridor voûté. Son toit était conçu en 16 troncs de palmiers. En rentrant, le visiteur doit se courber. La chambre est composée de deux fausses portes, dont une ne porte aucune inscription, alors que sur l’autre se trouve le nom du défunt à l’encre noire. « Il apparaît que Ptah Shepsw est mort avant d’achever sa tombe et

qu’il était le chef des ouvriers ou une personne importante sur le plateau », souligne ‘Izz.

En haut de la colline se trouve le merveilleux tombeau de Nefer Teth, qui portait les titres de « superviseur du palais royal » et de « purifcateur du roi ». D’après les magnifques inscriptions et gravures trouvées à l’intérieur de la tombe, Nefer Teth a épousé deux femmes. La première, Neferhetepes, a eu 11 enfants, tandis que la deuxième, Neankh Hathor, n’en a eu que 7. « Le nom de chaque épouse est mentionné sur leur fausse porte », explique Muhammad Kâmil. Le tombeau a 3 fausses portes : une pour le propriétaire et les 2 autres pour ses épouses. Les murs du tombeau renferment aussi deux scènes d’offrandes dans lesquelles apparaissent pain, bière, huile et habits. Le tombeau de Petety est considéré comme l’un des plus importants de tout le cimetière. « À son arrivée, le visiteur peut voir le propriétaire et sa femme, gravés sur les parois de la tombe », explique ‘Izz, ajoutant que le tombeau renferme plusieurs inscriptions et scènes et qu’il se distingue par un style architecural très différent de celui des autres tombeaux. La chambre funéraire de ce tombeau est incomplète. Une statuette en boue d’un corps humain avec une tête de singe y a été découverte. Elle se trouve acuellement au Musée Égyptien du Caire. (Nasma Réda, « À la rencontre des bâtisseurs des pyramides », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 20 décembre 2018).

Painted coffin The Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square opens a temporary exhibition on Tursday night focused on the artisans of Luxor’s Dayr al-Madîna archaeological site. Titled “Te Artisans of the Pharaohs through their Artworks”, the month-long show also marks the centenary of French archaeological research (Ifao), excavation and restoration at the site.

Ostraca On show for the frst time will be a collecion of 52 artefacs discovered by the French mission at Dayr al- Madîna, along with documents and photos from the archive of the Institut français d’archéologie orientale (IFAO), Ilhâm Salâh, head of the museums secor at the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online. Te artifacs, she explains, refec the daily life, the faith and the funerary rituals of the Dayr al-Madîna artisans. Among the most important objecs are a statue of Sanejem, lintels of kings Amenhotep I and II, as well as a painted limestone ostraca.

Te lintel Te exhibition is organised by the Ministry of Antiquities, the IFAO and the University Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egyptian Museum displays works of Dayr al-Madîna artisans”, Ahram Online, December 20, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Exposition au Musée Égyptien de 52 pièces exhumées par la mission française », Sada al-Balad, 21 décembre ; « Le ministre de l’Archéologie inaugure au Musée Égyptien une exposition sur les artisans de Dayr al-Madîna », al-Fagr, 21 décembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Le Musée Égyptien consacre une exposition aux artisans de Dayr al-Madîna », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 23 décembre).

Wâ’il Fathî, superviseur en chef des antiquités du plateau des pyramides, souligne l'importance de la découverte de la nécropole des ouvriers et ce qu'elle nous apprend sur les défunts. Entretien. Al-Ahram Hebdo : 27 ans après sa découverte, quelle est l’importance de l’ouverture au public du cimetière des bâtisseurs des pyramides ? Wâ’il Fathî : L’identité des construceurs des pyramides a de tout temps préoccupé les archéologues. Depuis des décennies, plusieurs théories sont apparues. Certaines disaient que ce ne sont pas des Égyptiens, mais des esclaves ou des créatures extraterrestres qui ont bâti les pyramides. La découverte du cimetière et de la cité qui les entoure vient mettre un terme à l’incertitude. C’est d’ici que vient l’importance de cette nécropole, qui répond à toutes les questions qui étaient en suspens — Comment la découverte de la nécropole a-t-elle répondu à ces questions ?

— Les tombeaux ont prouvé de manière défnitive que ce sont des ouvriers égyptiens et non pas d’autres nationalités qui ont construit les pyramides. Ils venaient des quatre coins du pays pour participer à ce travail, qu’ils considéraient comme un projet national. Et ils venaient de leur plein gré. Ainsi, ce site archéologique permet d’assurer que les construceurs n’étaient pas des esclaves, comme l’avaient suggéré quelques théories. S’ils avaient été des esclaves, il leur aurait été interdit de construire leurs propres tombes aussi près du plateau des pyramides. On a aussi pu identifer, grâce à cette découverte, leurs classes sociales : il y a des tombeaux édifés en boue, d’autres en brique crue, encore d’autres en pierre. En plus, nous avons pu distinguer plusieurs types architecuraux, les uns étant simples, alors que d’autres ont une forme pyramidale.

— D’après les inscriptions et les objets trouvés, avez-vous pu identifer le nombre d’ouvriers, leur âge ou leur salaire ?

— À part la nécropole, nous avons mis au jour la cité, qui nous a donné des informations sur le mode de vie de ces gens et sur leur manière de réféchir. Leur salaire était du pain, du poisson salé et de la bière. Et d’après les squelettes trouvés et conservés au Musée Égyptien, nous avons pu déterminer leur âge, le sexe, etc. Les études menées nous ont aussi permis de faire une autre découverte intéressante : l’ouvrier qui se blessait ou tombait malade en travaillant était traité jusqu’à sa guérison.

— Quel but visez-vous avec l’ouverture du site au public ?

— C’est une bonne promotion pour le tourisme égyptien, et cela permettra au ministère des Antiquités de générer des

recettes. En même temps, l’endroit continuera d’être restauré. Il est vrai que si ce site est important, il est aussi très délicat. C’est pourquoi la visite est limitée à trois tombeaux, et à 5 personnes à la fois. Je pense que cette mesure permettra de ménager le site. — Le site de la nécropole est d’une grande importance archéologique, mais pensez-vous qu’il saura attirer les visiteurs ?

— Une semaine après l’inauguration du site (en novembre dernier, ndlr), le nombre de visiteurs avait dépassé la centaine, ce qui constitue un chiffre prometteur. Le site sera intégré à la carte des sites touristiques publiée par l’Office de tourisme, et nous espérons que cela fera venir plus de visiteurs.

— Maintenant que le site est ouvert au public, les travaux de fouille ont-ils été clos ?

— Nous les avons interrompus, mais les fouilles ne sont pas terminées. Le site est vaste. Mais jusqu’à présent, la décision de savoir quand nous allons reprendre les travaux n’a pas encore été prise. (Nasma Réda, « Wâ’il Fathî : Ces tombeaux ont prouvé que ce sont des Égyptiens qui ont bâti les pyramides », Al-Ahram Hebdo du 20 décembre 2018).

Te Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is receiving another three artefacs of the King Tutankhamun collecion — a chariot and two of his shirts, from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr Square. Te collecion of King Tutankhamun is being transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) ahead of its soft opening in 2018. Târiq Tawfîq supervisor general of the GEM, told Ahram Online that the chariot is the third to be transported to the GEM. Tutankhamun had six chariots. He explained that the move comes within the framework of an Egyptian-Japanese projec between the Ministry of Antiquities and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to pack and transport 71 artefacs now on display at the Egyptian Museum to their new permanent exhibition spaces in the GEM. Tawfîq said that among the 71 artefacs was a collecion of reliefs of founder of the ancient Fourth Dynasty Senefru and a collecion of 65 objecs from Tutankhamun’s funerary collecion, including three funerary beds, fve chariots and 57 pieces of textile.

Direcor of frst-aid restoration at the GEM, ‘Isa Zaydân, said the restoration team had consolidated the wooden surfaces of the chariot as well as weak points in joint areas. Te chariot, he said, was packed and transported as one item with the chair of the throne. Zaydân pointed out that the artefacs were padded with special materials to absorb any vibrations during transportation. State-of-the-art technology and modern scientifc techniques had been used in order to guarantee the safe lifting and moving of the chariot from its display case at the Egyptian Museum. Te team had also used acid-free packing materials. (Nevine El-Aref, “Chariot and clothes of Egypt’s Tutankhamun transported to GEM”, Ahram Online, December 20, 2017. Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le 3e char de Toutankhamon transféré bientôt au GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 9 décembre ; Samar al-Naggâr, « Transfert du 3e char de Toutankhamon vers le GEM », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 19 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le GEM réceptionne 3 pièces de la collecion de Toutankhamon », al-Ahrâm al- ‘Arabî, 19 décembre).

Photo: Khaled El-Fiqi Coincidence has always played a major role in making new discoveries. Among the most famous examples are the uncovering of the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamun on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, the funerary collecion of the Pharaoh Khufu’s mother Hetepheres, the Pyramids Builders’ Cemetery on the Gîza Plateau, and the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the Bahariyya Oasis. Tis year, coincidence led to the discovery of more than 30 treasures, something which made the Ministry of Antiquities describe 2017 as “the year of discoveries”. “It seems that our ancient Egyptian ancestors are bestowing their blessings on Egypt’s economy, as these discoveries are good for the country and its tourism industry,” Minister of Antiquities Khâlid al-‘Inânî told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said that many new discoveries had been made. In the Gabal al-Silsila area in Aswân, 20 tombs were discovered by a team from Lund University in Sweden, for example, while in Luxor an Egyptian-Japanese mission discovered the tomb of a royal scribe. An Egyptian-German mission in Matariyya outside Cairo made international headlines when it discovered fragments of a colossal statue of the Pharaoh Psamtik I. An Egyptian mission from the Ministry of Antiquities discovered the inner parts of a pyramid from the 13th Dynasty, as well as the remains of a burial that would once have been inside the pyramid. At the Tuna al-Gabal archaeological site in Minyâ, a mission from Cairo University stumbled upon a cachette of non-royal mummies of men, women and children buried in catacombs eight metres below ground level in the desert neighbouring the local bird and animal necropolis. “Tis discovery has changed our understanding of the Tuna al-Gabal site,” al. ‘Inânî told the Weekly, adding that in Luxor several other important discoveries had been made. An Egyptian-European mission working at the Colossi of Memnon and the funerary temple of Amenhotep III had uncovered 136 statues of the goddess Sekhmet, most of which are life-size, as well as a beautiful alabaster statue of queen Tiye, wife of Amenhotep, carved on the side of a colossal statue of the king. A team from Jaen University in Spain also discovered the tomb of an official in Aswân. A Spanish mission in western Tebes discovered the remains of a funerary garden, a frst in the area’s history. A mission from the Ministry of Antiquities stumbled upon the almost-intac funerary collecions of Amenemhat, the goldsmith of the god Amun-Re, and of Userhat, chancellor of Tebes during the 18th Dynasty, in the Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ Necropolis at Luxor. Te mission also uncovered two yet-unidentifed tombs that are particularly rich in their funerary collecions. “Tese fnds are not only a matter of luck, but are the result of the hard work of archaeologists across the country working in sometimes very difficult conditions,” al-‘Inânî said. “Antiquities are the soft power that distinguishes Egypt,” he added, remarking that news of new discoveries always catches the headlines and the attention of the whole world.

TOMB DISCOVERIES: Among these discoveries were the three major ones made by the Egyptian mission in the Dirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ Necropolis on Luxor’s west bank, which provide a better understanding of the history of the Necropolis and the lives of the tomb. owners. Te tomb of Userhat housed a collecion of ten well-preserved painted wooden coffins and eight mummies in various states of preservation, for example. A collecion of more than 1,000 ushabti fgurines and wooden masks were also uncovered alongside with skeletons, wooden anthropoid masks, fgurines in faience, terracotta and wood and various clay pots. Archaeologist Shirîn Shawqî, a specialist in osteology, told the Weekly that early studies carried out on the mummies and skulls had revealed that one of the individuals had been anaemic and probably suffered severe toothache while a second had undergone primitive surgery. and anthropoid wooden sarcophagi, and jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones. Mustafa Wazîrî, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the tomb had come to light when the mission stumbled upon it through a hole located at the end of one of the other tomb’s chambers. In the courtyard of the goldsmith’s tomb, a Middle Kingdom burial shaft was found with the family burial of a woman and her two children. Also unearthed were the limestone remains of an offering table, four wooden sarcophagi that were partly damaged and decorated with hieroglyphic texts and scenes of different ancient Egyptian deities, and a sandstone dual statue of a trader in the temple of the Pharaoh Tutmose III named Mah. A collecion of 150 ushabti fgurines carved in faience, wood, burned clay, limestone and mud brick was also unearthed, as well as a collecion of 50 funerary cones, 40 of which are evidence of the presence of other tombs belonging to four officials.

Early studies of the mummies have shown that the woman died at the age of 50 and during her life had suffered from cavities in her teeth that had led to an abscess in her jaws and a bacerial disease in her bones. Studies on the mummies of her two children, Wazîrî said, had shown that they belonged to two adult males between 20 and 30 years old. Both mummies are in very good condition.

“Tis woman probably was in considerable pain as the size of her bones is abnormally enlarged,” Shawqî, who has studied the bones, told the Weekly. Inside the coffin, the headrest of the deceased woman was found, as well as a group of pottery vessels. One of the male mummies shows that he was also suffering from teeth cavities during his lifetime, while the second one was probably put later in the same coffin because the bones are bare.

Skulls cachette in Luxor Tis tomb led to discovery of two other yet-unidentifed tombs that could be dated to the period between the reign of Amenhotep II and Tutmose IV. Both contain wall paintings that show part of the deceased’s life and death, a collecion of 450 ushabti fgurines, 100 funerary cones, painted statuettes, painted funerary masks, and a sarcophagus decorated with hieroglyphic texts. At the Tuna al-Gabal site in Minyâ, an Egyptian mission from Cairo University uncovered a cachette of mummies containing 32 human mummies, 17 of which were in very good condition, this year. Salâh al-Khûlî, head of the mission, said the cachette was found by chance in a radar survey carried out in collaboration with experts from the University’s Faculty of Science in early 2016 that had revealed deep, hollow ground. A collecion of eight limestone sarcophagi, two of which were carved in clay and with anthropoid lids, was found. Two baboon coffins, fragments of wooden sarcophagi decorated with funerary inscriptions, clay amphora, two papyri written in demotic ancient Egyptian, and the remains of a gilded funerary mask were also found, as well as a golden decoration shaped like feathers. PYRAMID DISCOVERY: With the help of state-of-the-art non-invasive technology including muon and infra-red scanning, a French, Canadian, Japanese and Egyptian team succeeded in locating “a giant void space” above the Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid on the Gîza Plateau as a further step towards deciphering its unique architecure. Although there is not yet any architecural interpretation of the space, and the role and purpose of its construcion are unknown, it is fairly certain that it is a void space flled with air and not with small or larger stones or funerary collecions as some have claimed. Meanwhile, at Dahshûr an Egyptian mission uncovered the remains of 13th-Dynasty pyramid. Tis strucure is composed of a corridor leading to the inside of the pyramid and a hall that leads to a southern ramp, as well as a room at the western end. At the Abûsîr Necropolis, 30km south of the Gîza Plateau, a mission from the Czech Institute of Egyptology at the Charles University in Prague stumbled upon what is believed to be the remains of a Ramses II temple, including the foundations of its sancuary, pillar hall, and a pylon, as well as relief fragments engraved with scenes conneced to the cult of the solar deities. Direcor of the Czech mission Miroslav BÁRTA described the discovery as important because uncovering a temple of Ramses II in an Old Kingdom necropolis provided unique evidence of the building and religious acivities of the Pharaoh in the Memphis area and the permanent status of the cult of the sun god Ra. Te latter was venerated in Abûsîr from the Fifth Dynasty to the New Kingdom when Ramses II reigned. “Tis could easily change the history of the Necropolis, as it sheds more light on the importance of Abûsîr for religion and ideology during the New Kingdom,” BÁRTA said. At the Saqqâra Necropolis, a French-Swiss mission from the University of Geneva discovered two important Old Kingdom remains that may be the frst evidence of a long-lost satellite pyramid and a funerary temple of the Sixth Dynasty queen Ankhnespepy II, the infuential wife of Pepy I.

She was the mother of Pepy II and ruled as regent until he came of age. Te mission uncovered a pyramidion, the uppermost part of a pyramid, and the upper part of an obelisk.

Painted sarcophagi Philippe COLLOMBERT, head of the archaeological mission, said the pyramidion was found at the northern side of Pepy I’s pyramid and measured 1. 3m high and 1. 1m wide on its sides. Its upper part has been partly destroyed, but it was originally covered by metal foil, either gold or copper, a technique used to make the top of the strucure glint in the sun. Of the obelisk, COLLOMBERT said that it was carved of red granite and was the largest obelisk fragment from the Old Kingdom ever discovered at 2. 5m tall. “We can estimate the original full size of the obelisk at around 5m high,” he said. Also this year, at the Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai restorers of the library have stumbled upon a sixth-century CE copy of a medical recipe originally written by the ancient Greek physician HIPPOCRATES. Te manuscript is written on leather. It also contains three other medical recipes written by an anonymous scribe, one of which contains drawings of medicinal herbs. Te second layer of writing found on the manuscript is a text from the Bible. In Alexandria, Roman shipwrecks and a votive bark of the god Osiris were found submerged on the seabed. A crystal Roman head probably depicing the Roman commander Mark Antony, the lover of Cleopatra, and gold coins from the reign of the emperor Augustus were also found. Restorers working at the Monastery of St Bishoy in the Wâdî al-Natrûn area uncovered a number of mediaeval-era wall paintings and architecural elements while removing a modern layer of mortar from the walls of the Monastery’s old church this year. Te paintings date from between the ninth and 13th centuries CE, and they will help archaeologists to determine the original architecural style of the church and the dates of its construcion. A cachette of embalming materials in Luxor, a lintel of the Pharaoh Sesostris II in Ihnâsyâ, and 10 Late Period tombs in Aswân were also found this year. Te cachette was uncovered in a shaft inside an auxiliary chamber in the north-east corner of the upper courtyard of the tomb of Ipi in Luxor, where a collecion of 56 large clay jars and almost 300 packets of natron and other materials used in the embalming process were found. Te discovery not only highlights the mummifcation methods and materials used for Middle Kingdom elites, but it also adds signifcantly to the understanding of the kind of embalming techniques, tools, textiles, chemicals and balms used when the mummifcation procedures started to take on their most efficient form, reaching a peak in the New Kingdom. Te year ended with three discoveries in the Kom Ombo and Aswân areas. A Swedish-Egyptian mission working in the Gabal al-Silsila area near Aswân uncovered four intac burials of children, while an Austrian mission in Kom Ombo discovered a large segment of a First Intermediate Period cemetery. An Egyptian-Swiss mission working in the old town of Aswân also unearthed a small incomplete statue that probably depics the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, the goddess of hunting, procreation, virginity and fertility, combined with the Egyptian goddesses Isis and Bastet. (Nevine El-Aref, “A year of many discoveries”, Al-Ahram Weekly, December 21, 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Louqsor dévoile de nouveaux mystères archéologiques », Sada al-Balad, 10 décembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Bilan des acivités du ministère de l’Archéologie en 2017 », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 19 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Bilan 2017 des acivités et des découvertes du ministère de l’Archéologie », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 19 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al- Minyâwî, « Bilan 2017 des projets du ministère

de l’Archéologie », Sada al-Balad, 19 décembre). - -

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities will restore the al-Sharâybî bathhouse in Islamic Cairo in collaboration with the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation. Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz, direcor-general of the Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec, told Ahram Online that the restoration projec is funded by a grant from the Prince CLAUS Foundation. ‘Abd al-‘Azîz explains that the restoration projec will be executed in two phases. Te frst will include the removal of all dust and garbage accumulated around the site and the consolidation of the bathhouse walls from inside and outside as well as the oven area, while the second phase will include the restoration of the building and its decorative elements. Te al-Sharâybî bathhouse was construced during the rule of Sultan Qunsuwwa al-Ghûrî in 1500 AD and is located in the al-Ghûriyya area. Te Moroccan trader Muhammad Dâdâ al-Sharâybî was the original owner of the bathhouse. (Nevine El-Aref, “Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities to restore Islamic Cairo’s al- Sharâybî bathhouse”, Ahram Online, December 21, 2017. Voir également Hiba ‘Âdil, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve le projet de restauration du hammâm al-Sharâybî », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 21 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Projet de restauration du hammâm al-Sharâybî », Sada al-Balad, 21 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie approuve la restauration du hammâm al- Sharâybî », al-Wafd, 21 décembre ; “Antiquities Ministry to restore historic al-Sharâybî bathhouse in Islamic Cairo”, Egypt Independent, December 22).

Le secrétaire général du CSA, Dr Mustafa Wazîrî, a pris la décision n° 7932/2017 portant nomination du Dr Abû Bakr Ahmad ‘Abdallah au poste de superviseur général des antiquités du Nord du Caire (al- Gamâliyya, al-Azhar, al-Ghûrî, le centre et l’Ouest du Caire). (Hiba ‘Âdil, « Abû Bakr Ahmad ‘Abdallah nommé superviseur général des antiquités du Nord du Caire », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 22 décembre 2017. Voir également ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nomination du Dr Abû Bakr Ahmad ‘Abdallah au poste de superviseur des antiquités du Nord du Caire », Sada al-Balad, 22 décembre).

Te Ministry of Antiquities has announced its frst donation in response to a new campaign to help fund ongoing construcion work at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Te gift of $1,000 was made by American tourist John Robert MASSI, who arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to embark on an inspecion tour of the GEM site. Târiq Tawfîq, Supervisor-General of the GEM, told Ahram Online that MASSI was impressed by the construcion work and the state-of-the-art laboratories.

Tawfîq and MASSI at the GEM He told Tawfîq that he hopes to return to Egypt for the museum’s soft opening in 2018. (Nevine El-Aref, “Grand Egyptian Museum receives frst $1,000 donation from tourist in new funding drive”, Ahram Online, December 28, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Un touriste étranger offre 1 000 dollars au GEM », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 28 décembre ; Ahmad Mansûr, « Un touriste étranger offre 1 000 dollars au GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 28 décembre ; Hiba ‘Âdil, « Un premier donateur étranger offre 1 000 dollars au GEM », al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî, 28 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Première donation faite par un touriste étranger au GEM », Sada al-Balad, 28 décembre ; Ahmad ‘Uthmân, « Un touriste étranger fait le premier don au GEM », al-Wafd, 28 décembre ; Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mu‘tî, « Premier don fait par un touriste au GEM », al-Ahrâm, 29 décembre).

Le porte-parole officiel du ministère de l’Agriculture, Dr Hâmid ‘Abd al-Dâyyim, a révélé la découverte d’un vol commis hier au musée de l’Agriculture situé à Duqqî. Aucune infracion n’a été relevée. 6 pièces antiques exceptionnelles, d’une valeur inestimable, ont disparu : une grenouille en agate, ainsi que 5 petites céramiques en forme de hérisson. Le Parquet a immédiatement été saisi. Le responsable du musée a été interrogé. Le musée de l’Agriculture est en cours de restauration depuis six mois. Plusieurs caméras de vidéosurveillance ont été installées dans les salles et les couloirs. Dès l’issue de l’enquête, toute la vérité sera annoncée à la presse. Malgré le vol, les travaux de restauration ne seront pas suspendus. (Dînâ ‘Abd al- Khâliq, « 6 pièces archéologiques exceptionnelles volées au musée de l’Agriculture », al-Watan, 28 décembre 2017. Voir également Bahgat Abû Dayf, « Le musée de l’Agriculture à Duqqî vicime d’un vol », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 27 décembre ; Muna Husayn, « Vol du musée de l’Agriculture à Duqqî », Sada al-Balad, 27 décembre ; Rîhâm al-Zahhâr, « Visionnage des caméras de vidéosurveillance pour éclaircir les circonstances du vol du musée de l’Agriculture à Duqqî », Watanî, 28 décembre ; Muhammad al- Qammâsh, « Un comité du ministère de l’Archéologie enquête sur les circonstances du vol du musée de l’Agriculture à Duqqî », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 2 janvier 2018).

Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities stated on Sunday that the visiting fees for tourist areas and museums will be increased in February 2018, notably including the Gîza Pyramids, Saqqâra Pyramids, Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr, Islamic Art Museum and the Saladin Citadel of Cairo, in addition to the Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings and Abû Simbil temples. No changes will occur in the visiting fees to al-Mu‘izz street, Banî Hasan and Tell al-Amarna, in addition to Tomb of Akhenaten, Graves of nobles in West Aswân, Temple of Kalâbsha and Manyal Palace Museum. Te ministry’s statement added that taking photos and videos in museums will for Egyptians cost LE50 instead of the current LE20. Free access to Egyptian museums will be allowed for tours organized by governmental primary and intermediary schools. Te ticket price of visits by university and secondary school students to museums will be fxed at fve pounds.

Te annual fees of visits for secondary stage school students will be reduced to LE50 and university students will pay LE125. Holders of the Cairo Pass card will enjoy a 50 percent deducion on ticket prices for visits to archaeological sites and museums when they purchase a Luxor Pass card. Egyptians over 60 will be allowed to freely enter museums as of February 2018. (“Visiting prices to tourist spots to change in 2018: Antiquities Ministry”, Egypt Independent, December 31, 2017. Voir également Samar al-Naggâr, « Augmentation des tarifs d’accès aux sites archéologiques à partir de février 2018 », al- Masrî al-Yawm, 31 décembre ; ‘Alâ’ al-Minyâwî, « Nouveaux tarifs d’accès aux sites archéologiques en 2018 », Sada al-Balad, 31 décembre). - -

VII -WHO’S WHO ? Voici la liste alphabétique des principaux responsables égyptiens régulièrement cités dans le BIA :

‘Abd al-Fattâh ‘Îd Président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de Basse-Égypte ‘Abd al-Hamîd al-Kafâfî Direceur général de la planifcation et du suivi des restaurations ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Sa‘îd Direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân et de Nubie Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Nâsir Ahmad ‘Abd Direceur général de la restauration du temple de Karnak al-‘Azîm ‘Abd al-Rahîm ‘Alî al- Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Buhayra Ma‘ddâwî ‘Abd al-Rahîm Rayhân Direceur général des recherches, des études archéologiques et de la publication scientifque en Basse-Égypte et au Sinaï ‘Âdil ‘Ukâsha Président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza ‘Âdil Dalla Direceur général des antiquités islamiques du Fayyûm ‘Âdil Ghunaym Direceur général des antiquités islamiques et coptes du Caire et de Gîza ‘Alâ’ al-Shahhât Vice-président du département des antiquités égyptiennes ‘Alâ’ Fawzî Muhammad Direceur de la documentation archéologique de Sâhil Silîm ‘Alî ‘Abd al-Zâhir Direceur général des antiquités du Nord d’al-Minyâ ‘Alî Ahmad ‘Alî Direceur général du département des antiquités restituées ‘Alî al-Bakrî Direceur général des antiquités de Mallawî ‘Alî Dâhî Direceur général du département des acquisitions archéologiques ‘Amr al-Tîbî Direceur exécutif de l’Unité des reproducions archéologiques ‘Âtif Muhammad al-Sa‘îd Direceur des entrepôts muséologiques islamiques et coptes à Fustât ‘Awnî Mukhtâr Hasan Direceur des antiquités de Fîrân et d’al-Tawr ‘Awnî Qustantîn Hilmî Direceur général de l’entrepôt muséologique de Tell Bastâ ‘Imâd ‘Uthmân Direceur général de la zone archéologique d’al-Darb al-Ahmar ‘Imâd Hammâd Président du département de la restauration des antiquités de Rosette ‘Isâm Khamîs Direceur des antiquités de Mît Rahîna

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? ‘Isâm Mughâzî ‘Abd al- Direceur général de l’entrepôt muséologique de Shatb Rahmân ‘Izzat Habîb Salîb Direceur général de la restauration des musées du Grand Caire Abû Bakr Ahmad ‘Abdallah Superviseur général des antiquités du Nord du Caire Ahmad ‘Abd al-‘Âl Direceur général des antiquités du Fayyûm Ahmad ‘Abdallah Bilâl Direceur général du Centre des unités archéologiques de Damiette Ahmad ‘Arabî Direceur des antiquités du temple de Louqsor Ahmad ‘Awad Inspeceur en chef de la zone archéologique Ouest d’Aswân Ahmad ‘Ubayd Superviseur du bureau technique du ministre de l’Archéologie Ahmad al-Nimr Membre du bureau scientifque du ministre de l’Archéologie Ahmad al-Râwî Président de l’administration des unités archéologiques portuaires Ahmad Fathî Direceur de la zone archéologique de Tell al-Amarna Ahmad Hammûda Sayyid Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Balât Ahmad Hasan ‘Abd al- Direceur des temples rupestres Mâgid Ahmad Ibrâhîm Direceur des zones archéologiques al-Ibâgiyya et al-Tunsî Ahmad Mahfûz Ibrâhîm Direceur de l’unité archéologique du port de Damiette Ahmad Mûsa Direceur de l’Amphithéâtre romain d’Alexandrie Ahmad Mûsa Mustafa Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Khârga Ahmad Mutâwi‘ Assistant du président du département des antiquités islamiques et coptes Ahmad Sâlih Direceur général des antiquités d’Aswân Ahmad Shu‘ayb Président de l’administration générale pour la restauration des antiquités et des musées du Delta Est Ahmad Sulaymân ‘Abd al- Direceur général des antiquités islamiques et coptes d’Asyût ‘Âal al-Hasan Tâhir Direceur général des antiquités du Nord de Minyâ al-Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr Direceur général du département de la publication scientifque al-Qazzâfî ‘Abd al-Rahîm Direceur de la zone archéologique de Karnak ‘Azab al-Sa‘îd Hilmî Président de l’administration centrale des antiquités islamiques et coptes al-Sayyid al-Talhâwî Inspeceur en chef d’al-Daqahliyya al-Shâf‘î Muhammad Zahrân Direceur général des fouilles archéologiques du Centre du Delta Amîn Ramadân Direceur général de la zone archéologique d’al-Qurna Amîna ‘Abd al-Munsif Direcrice de la restauration des antiquités du Nord d’al-Munûfyya

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Amîna al-Bârûdî Assistante du ministre de l’Archéologie pour les services numériques As’ad al-Amîn Direceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes de Qinâ Ashraf ‘Abd al-Salâm Inspeceur en chef des antiquités d’al-Gharbiyya Ibrâhîm Ashraf ‘Ukâsha Direceur général des antiquités d’Abydos Ashraf Mahmûd Direceur général des antiquités islamiques et coptes de Basse- Égypte Ashraf Muhyî al-Dîn Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Gîza Ayman al-‘Ashmâwî ‘Alî Président du seceur des antiquités égyptiennes Ayman al-Gunaydî Direceur général du palais Muhammad ‘Alî à Shubrâ al-Khayma Ayman Hindî Direceur de la zone archéologique de Qinâ Bâsim Gihâd Assistant du ministre de l’Archéologie pour le développement des ressources humaines Dâlyâ Milîgî Direcrice générale du Centre de recherches et de la maintenance des antiquités Diyâ’ Gâd al-Karîm Direceur général des recherches et des études archéologiques dans le département des antiquités islamiques Diyâ’ Zahrân Direceur général de l’enregistrement dans le département des antiquités islamiques et coptes Doris Hannâ Direcrice générale de l’Ancient Egyptian Art Revival Center Gâbir Ahmad Hâziz Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de l’Ouest de Suhâg Gamâl ‘Abd al-Halîm Direceur général des antiquités de l’Ouest du Caire et d’al- Farahât Qalyûbiyya Gamâl ‘Abd al-Nâsir Direceur général des antiquités de Suhâg Gamâl Abû Bakr al- Direceur des antiquités de Moyenne-Égypte Samstâwî Gamâl Ahmad Muhammad Direceur général des antiquités de Maghâgha Gamâl al-Faqîr Direceur général des antiquités de Maghâgha Gamâl al-Hawwârî Direceur général de la zone archéologique du sultan Hasan et d’al. Rifâ‘î Gamâl al-Simistâwî Direceur général des antiquités de Moyenne-Égypte Gamâl al-Sûsânî Direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Rahmâniyya, gouvernorat al-Buhayra Gamâl Fârûq al-Qassâs Direceur général de l’administration générale pour l’enregistrement des antiquités du Delta Centre Gamâl Muhammad Mustafa Superviseur général de la zone archéologique du Sud du Caire Gamâl Sâlim Ahmad Direceur général des antiquités de Kafr al-Shaykh

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Gharîb Sunbul Président de l’administration centrale pour la restauration et la maintenance Hâla Qadrî Silîm Direcrice générale des ressources humaines Hamdî Amîn Sayyid Inspeceur en chef de Saqqâra-Nord et Centre Hamdî Hamâm Direceur général de l’Unité archéologique à l’aéroport international du Caire Hanân Hasan Mitwallî Direcrice de l’inspecorat de Dâkhla Hânî Abû al-‘Azm Président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités de Haute- Égypte Hasan Muhammad Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Dâkhla Hasan Tâhir Inspeceur en chef de la zone archéologique du Nord de Minyâ Hind Muhammad Abû al- Direcrice des antiquités du Nord d’al-Daqahliyya Futûh Hisaniyya Muhammad Hilmî Direcrice générale des antiquités du Vieux Caire Fadîlî Hishâm al-Laythî Direceur général du Centre de documentation et d’études de l’Égypte ancienne Hishâm Gum‘a Inspeceur en chef des antiquités d’al-Azhar et d’al-Ghûrî Huda al-‘Ashmâwî Direcrice générale des antiquités d’al-Azhar et d’al-Ghûrî Husâm al-Dîn ‘Abbûd Direceur général des antiquités d’Abû Simbil Husâm Ghadiyya Direceur général des antiquités du Sud Sinaï Ibrâhîm ‘Abd al-Rahmân Direceur général des zones archéologiques du Vieux Caire et de Fustât Ibrâhîm al-Nuzûrî Direceur général de la documentation archéologique dans le département des antiquités islamiques et coptes Ibrâhîm Mitwallî Direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie Ibrâhîm Ragab Direceur des antiquités islamiques du Fayyûm Ibrâhîm Rif‘at Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Mît Rahîna Ibrâhîm Subhî Inspeceur en chef des antiquités d’al-Buhayra Nord Îmân Zaydân Assistante du ministre de l’Archéologie pour le développement des ressources fnancières Kamâl al-Tûkhî Restaurateur d’icônes antiques Kâmil Ahmad Direceur de la zone archéologique de la Nouvelle Vallée Khâlid ‘Abd al-Ghanî Direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Buhayra Farahât Khâlid Abû al-Hamd Direceur général des antiquités d’Alexandrie Khâlid Ahmad Shawqî Inspeceur en chef des antiquités de Gabal al-Silsila à Aswân

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Khâlid al-‘Inânî Ministre de l’Archéologie Khâlid Muhammad Abû al- Direceur général des antiquités de Matariyya et de ‘Ayn Shams ‘Ilâ Khidr Madbûlî Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Gamâliyya Magdî Husayn Muhammad Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Khârga Magdî Ibrâhîm Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Dâkhla Magdî Shawqî Midyâr Direceur de la zone archéologique au Sud d’Asyût Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Latîf Direceur de la zone archéologique de Abû Ridîs Mahmûd ‘Abd al-Qâdir ‘Abd Direceur des antiquités d’Alexandrie Ouest al-Salâm Mahmûd ‘Afîfî Mahmûd Barîqî Président du département de restauration à Kom al-Shuqâfa Mahmûd Musa Direceur général du palais Empain Mahmûd Ragab Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Suez Mahmûd Salâh Direceur général des antiquités de Minyâ Mahmûd Sha‘bân Direceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes au sud de Gîza Mahrûs Sa‘îd Direceur général du Nubian Antiquities Salvage Fund Mamdûh ‘Uda Direceur général du département central de la gestion des crises et des risques Mamdûh Taha Superviseur archéologique du projet de la deuxième barque de Chéops Mansûr ‘Uthmân Direceur général des antiquités islamiques de la Nouvelle Vallée Marwa ‘Abd al-Râziq Responsable du bureau d’enregistrement, de documentation et de la gestion des collecions au Musée Égyptien Mîmî Ibrâhîm ‘Abd al-Samî‘ Direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Gharbiyya Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîm Inspeceur du temple d’Hibis à Khârga Husayn Muhammad ‘Abd al-‘Azîz Direceur du Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec (HCRP) Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hamîd Direceur des antiquités d’Alexandrie Est Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hamîd Direceur général de la zone archéologique Est du Caire Muhammad Râshid Muhammad ‘Abd al-Latîf Adjoint du ministre pour les affaires archéologiques et président du seceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes Muhammad ‘Abd al-Maqsûd Coordinateur général du projet de développement des sites archéologiques situés dans l’axe du canal de Suez Muhammad ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Direceur général des affaires fnancières ‘Uwayda

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Muhammad Abû al-Wafâ Direceur général des antiquités de la mer Rouge Muhammad Ahmad Direceur de l’Administration de la documentation archéologique ‘Uthmân d’Asyût Muhammad al-Husaynî Direceur général des zones archéologiques d’al-Daqahliyya Tamân Muhammad al-Sayyid al- Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Gharbiyya Sawwâf Muhammad al-Sayyid Direceur général des antiquités d’Asyût Muhannadî Muhammad al-Tuhâmî Direceur général des antiquités de Rosette Muhammad Badîr Khalîl Direceur des antiquités du Sud Sinaï Muhammad Hamâda Direceur général des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza Muhammad Hamâda Superviseur des monastères de Wâdî al-Natrûn Muhammad Husayn Hindâwî Inspeceur en chef de Saqqâra-Sud Muhammad Ibrâhîm Direceur des antiquités de Khârga Muhammad Muhammad Ismâ‘îl Superviseur du Comité permanent et des missions archéologiques étrangères Muhammad Mahmûd Direceur général de la zone archéologique de Qinâ Muhammad Mahrân Président de l’administration centrale pour les antiquités juives Muhammad Mitwallî Direceur général des antiquités islamiques, coptes et juives d’Alexandrie et de la côte Nord Muhammad Muhammad Direceur du Comité permanent des antiquités égyptiennes ‘Abd al-Badî‘ Muhammad Muhammad ‘Alî Direceur général des unités archéologiques des ports ‘Uthmân Muhammad Mustafa ‘Abbâs Direceur de la zone archéologique de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î Muhammad Mustafa ‘Abd Superviseur général de l’administration centrale d’archéologie sous- al-Magîd marine en Alexandrie Muhammad Rashâd Direceur général des antiquités de l’Est du Caire Muhammad Rashâd ‘Abd al- Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Munûfyya Hamîd Muhammad Sa‘îd Dusûqî Direceur général de la zone archéologique de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î Muhammad Sayf al-Sayyid Vice-direceur général des ressources humaines Muhammad Yûsuf Direceur des antiquités de Dahshûr et d’al-Lisht Muhammad Zayn Direceur de la zone archéologique du Vieux-Caire Mukhtâr al-Kasabânî Conseiller du ministre de l’Archéologie Muna Yusrî Inspecrice en chef d’Asyût

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Mushîra Mûsa Conseillère médiatique du ministre de l’Archéologie Mustafa ‘Abd al-‘Azîz Direceur général des zones archéologiques d’al-Minyâ Mustafa ‘Uthmân Direceur général des antiquités du Delta Centre Mustafa Ahmad Mahmûd Direceur général des antiquités de Haute-Égypte Mustafa al-Saghîr Direceur général des antiquités de Karnak Mustafa Amîn Conseiller du ministre de l’Archéologie pour les affaires techniques Mustafa Faysal Direceur de l’entrepôt muséologique de Kom shîm Mustafa Muhammad Nûr al- Direceur des antiquités de Sirâbît al-Khâdim Dîn Mustafa Rizq Ibrâhîm Direceur général de la préhistoire au Sud Sinaï Mustafa Rushdî Direceur général des antiquités du Delta Ouest (Marsa Matrûh, al- Buhayra et Mârînâ) Mustafa Shawqî Ibrâhîm Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Sharqiyya Mustafa Subhî Direceur général du suivi technique des antiquités du Caire et de Gîza Mustafa Wazîrî Secrétaire général du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités (CSA) Nâgî Hanafî Mahmûd Direceur général de la zone archéologique de la citadelle de Saladin Nagwa Mitwallî Direcrice générale de l’Administration de la publication scientifque Nasr Gibrîl Ibrâhîm Président de l’Administration centrale des saisies archéologiques Nirvîn Muhammad Hâfz Direcrice générale des antiquités de l’Ouest du Caire Nivîn al-‘Ârif Consultante médiatique du ministre de l’Archéologie Nûbî Mahmûd Ahmad Direceur général de l’administration des fouilles Qutb Fawzî Qutb Direceur de la zone archéologique de Kafr al-Shaykh Ra’fat Muhammad Gunaydî Direceur de l’inspecorat archéologique du Sud d’al-Buhayra Rashâ Kamâl Direcrice générale du département du développement culturel Râshid Muhammad Badrî Direceur de l’inspecorat archéologique de l’Ouest de Suhâg Ridâ Ramadân Direceur général des antiquités de Damiette Rif‘at al-Gindî Direceur de l’inspecorat archéologique du Sud d’al-Buhayra Sa‘îd Shibl Président de l’administration centrale des entrepôts muséologiques Sabrî Muhyî al-Dîn Farag Direceur général des antiquités de Saqqâra Sabrî Yûsuf ‘Abd al-Rahmân Direceur de la zone archéologique de Dâkhla et de Farâfra Salâh al-Hâdî Direceur général de la restauration des antiquités islamiques de Bi’r al-‘Abd et d’al-Qantara Sharq Salâh al-Mâsikh Inspeceur en chef des temples de Karnak à Louqsor Salâma Zahrân Direceur général des antiquités islamiques et coptes d’al-Bahnasâ

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Sâlim al-Bughdâdî Direceur général de la zone archéologique d’al-Daqahliyya Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Alîm Direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Qantara Sharq Sayyid al-Shûra Direceur général des antiquités du Fayyûm Sha‘bân ‘Abd al-Gawwâd Superviseur général du département des antiquités restituées Sharîf Fawzî Coordinateur général de la rue al-Mu‘izz l-Dîn Allah al-Fâtimî Sharîf Hâmid Direceur des antiquités du Vieux-Caire Sharîf Muhammad ‘Abd al- Assistant du ministre de l’Archéologie pour le développement des Mun‘im sites archéologiques Shâzlî Dunqul Inspeceur en chef de Qinâ Sophia ‘Abd al-Hâdî Direcrice générale des antiquités d’al-Darb al-Ahmar et de Sayyida ‘Â’isha Suhayr al-Sayyid Qunsuwwa Direcrice générale des antiquités du Vieux-Caire et de Fustât Sumayya Binyâmîn Présidente du département des Financements Suzi Labîb Direcrice générale des antiquités d’Idfû Târiq Ahmad Mukhtâr Hirsh Direceur général des antiquités de l’Est du Delta, et sous-direceur du secrétaire général du CSA Târiq Gharîb Direceur général des antiquités d’al-Azhar et d’al-Ghûrî Usâma al-Sayyid Direceur de la citadelle Qâytbây en Alexandrie Usâma Farîd ‘Uthmân Direceur de l’entrepôt muséologique de Tell al-Farâ‘în à Kafr al- Shaykh Usâma Hâmid Direceur de l’entrepôt muséologique des pyramides Usâma Wahba Direceur général de l’entrepôt muséologique de Tell al-Yahûdiyya Wa‘d Abû al-‘Ilâ Président du seceur des projets Wâ’il Fathî Inspeceur en chef du plateau de Gîza Wâ’il Zakariyyâ al-Balîhî Direceur général de la restauration des antiquités islamiques et coptes dans l’ouest et le centre du Delta Wagdî ‘Abbâs Abû Ahmad Direceur général du bureau technique du département des antiquités islamiques, et vice-président du seceur des antiquités islamiques et coptes Wahîba Sâlih Direcrice des antiquités de Dahshûr Walâ’ al-Dîn Badawî Direceur général du palais Manyal Wisâm Kamâl Direceur de la zone archéologique de Sammanûd Yâsir ‘Îsa Zaghlûl Direceur de la zone archéologique d’al-Munûfyya Yâsir Fathî Wahba Direceur général de l’administration du cadastre et de la topographie dans le seceur des antiquités islamiques Yâsmîn al-Shâzlî Direcrice de l’administration des organisations internationales pour le patrimoine culturel et les affaires de la coopération internationale

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Yusriyya Ibrâhîm Direcrice générale de la zone archéologique de Mustafa Kâmil en Alexandrie Yûsuf Khalîfa Président de l’administration centrale des antiquités de Basse-Égypte, du Sinaï et de la côte Nord

‘Abd al-Râziq al-Naggâr Secrétaire général de la commission nationale égyptienne pour les musées ‘Alâ’ ‘Abd al-‘Âtî Direceur général du musée national de Suez ‘Âtif Nagîb Direceur général du musée Copte ‘Îsa Zaydân Direceur du département de restauration au Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) Ahmad ‘Alî Direceur général des équipements du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) Ahmad al-Laythî Direceur général du musée de Mallawî Ahmad Humayda Direceur général du musée Atonien al-Husayn ‘Abd al-Basîr Direceur du musée archéologique de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina al-Sayyid al-Bannâ Direceur général du musée national de Suez Ashraf Abû al-Yazîd Direceur général du musée des Textiles égyptiens Gamâl al-Bilim Direceur général de la bibliothèque du Musée Égyptien Hishâm Farghalî Direceur général du musée du Nil à Aswân Huda Kâmil Direcrice générale du musée de l’obélisque de Matariyya Husnî ‘Abd al-Rahîm Direceur général du musée de la Nubie Ibrâhîm al-Sharîf Direceur général du musée archéologique de Suhâg Ibtisâm Khalîl Direcrice générale du musée national d’Alexandrie Ilhâm Salâh al-Dîn Présidente du seceur des musées Îmân Shawqî Superviseur du musée de la Barque de Chéops Karam ‘Abd al-Hamîd Direceur général du musée Gayer-Anderson Muhammad Khâlid ‘Azab Président du conseil d’administration de la commission nationale égyptienne pour les musées Magdî Mansûr Direceur général de la restauration du musée Copte Mahâ Muhammad Présidente de l’administration centrale des musées historiques Mahrûs Sa‘îd Superviseur général du musée national de la Civilisation égyptienne

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? (NMEC) Mamdûh Hasan ‘Uthmân Superviseur général du musée d’Art islamique Mamdûh Ramadân Conservateur en chef du musée de Kom hîm Mirvat ‘Izzat Direcrice générale du Musée Gayer-Anderson (Bayt al-Kiritliyya) Mirvat Yahya Direcrice générale du musée national d’Alexandrie Mu’min ‘Uthmân Direceur général de la restauration au Musée Égyptien Muhammad ‘Abd al-Rasûl Président de l’Administration centrale des antiquités islamiques de Haute-Égypte Muhammad Badr Direceur des magasins et des registres du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) Muhammad Sayyid al- Direceur du musée de ROMMEL Sharqâwî Muna Sha‘bân Direcrice générale du musée archéologique d’Ismâ‘îliyya Nabîla Hasanayn Direcrice générale du palais al-Gawhara Nâdya Khidr Superviseur général des musées d’Alexandrie et de Rosette Rândâ Muhammad ‘Abd al- Direcrice générale des musées régionaux Ra’ûf Sa‘îd ‘Abd al-Hamîd Direceur général de la restauration des musées archéologiques Sa‘îd Rakhâ Direceur général du musée archéologique de Rosette Sabâh ‘Abd al-Râziq Direcrice générale du Musée Égyptien de Tahrîr Sabâh Muslim Direcrice générale des musées de Basse-Égypte Sanâ’ Ahmad ‘Alî Direcrice générale des musées de Haute-Égypte Târiq Mahmûd Direceur général du musée archéologique de la Nouvelle Vallée Târiq Tawfîq Superviseur général du projet du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) Usâma Abû al-Khayr Direceur exécutif du centre de restauration du Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM) Walâ’ al-Dîn Badawî Direceur général du musée du palais Manyal Zaynab ‘Alî Direcrice du musée archéologique de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina

‘Abd al-Qâdir Muhammad Président de l’Université d’Aswân ‘Abd al-Wahâb ‘Izzat Président de l’université de ‘Ayn Shams ‘Âtif Mansûr Doyen de la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Fayyûm

Wh o ’ s Wh o ? Ahmad al-Ansârî Chef du département d’archéologie égyptienne à l’université de Suhâg Ahmad Ghallâb Président de l’université d’Aswân Amîn Lutfî Président de l’université de Banî Swayf Fâyza Haykal Professeur d’égyptologie à l’American University in Cairo (AUC) Gamâl al-Dîn ‘Alî Abû al- Président de l’université de Minyâ Magd Hânî Hilâl Ancien ministre de l’Enseignement supérieur, professeur de polytechnique à la faculté Polytechnique, univeristé du Caire Hiba Kamâl Mustafa Doyenne de la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Caire Khâlid Gharîb Président du département des antiquités grecques et romaines à l’université Misr Khâlid Hamza Président de l’université du Fayyûm Khâlid Hasan ‘Abd a-Bârî Président de l’université de Zaqâzîq Mâgid Nigm Président de l’université de Hilwân Mamdûh al-Damâtî Ancien ministre de l’Archéologie, professeur d’archéologie à l’université de Lettres, université de ‘Ayn Shams Mansûr al-Nûbî Doyen de la faculté d’Archéologie de Louqsor Muhammad ‘Uthmân al- Président de l’université du Caire Khasht Muhammad Hamza Ismâ‘îl Doyen de la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Caire Muhammad Hasan al- Président de l’université d’al-Mansûra Qinâwî Muhammad Kamâl Khallâf Président du département de la restauration à la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Fayyûm Mukhtâr al-Kasabânî Professeur d’archéologie islamique, université du Caire et conseiller scientifque du ministre de l’Archéologie Muna Fu’âd Chef du département de restauration de la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Caire Muna Haggâg Chef du département des études grecques et romaines à la faculté de Lettres, université d’Alexandrie Muna Sha‘bân Hâfz Sous-direceur du président du département des musées archéologiques Nâsir Mikkâwî Chef du département d’Archéologie à la faculté d’Archéologie, université du Caire Ra’fat al-Nabarâwî Professeur d’archéologie islamique à l’université du Caire Salâh al-Khûlî Professeur d’archéologie à la faculté d’Archéologie de l’université du Caire Sâmî Sabrî Shâkir Doyen de l’Institut des études coptes

‘Abd al-Hamîd al-Haggân Gouverneur de Qinâ ‘Âdil al-Ghadbân Gouverneur de Port Sa‘îd ‘Alâ’ Abû Zayd Gouverneur de Matrûh ‘Âtif ‘Abd al-Hamîd Gouverneur du Caire ‘Isâm al-Badîwî Gouverneur d’al-Minyâ Ahmad ‘Abd al-Zâhir Direceur de la Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités Ahmad ‘Abdallah Gouverneur de la mer Rouge Ahmad Saqr Gouverneur d’al-Gharbiyya Ayman ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Gouverneur de Suhâg Hilmî al-Namnam Ministre de la Culture Hishâm ‘Abd al-Bâsit Gouverneur d’al-Munûfyya Ibrâhîm Nasr Gouverneur de Kafr al-Shaykh Kamâl al-Dâlî Gouverneur de Gîza Khâlid Sa‘îd Gouverneur d’al-Sharqiyya Magdî Higâzî Gouverneur d’Aswân Muhammad ‘Ashmâwî Gouverneur de la Nouvelle Vallée Muhammad Badr Gouverneur de Louqsor Muhammad Mukhtâr Gum‘a Ministre des Waqfs Muhammad Sultân Gouverneur d’Alexandrie Nâdya ‘Abdu Gouverneur d’al-Buhayra Ridâ Farahât Gouverneur d’al-Qalyûbiyya Sharîf Habîb Gouverneur de Banî Swayf Sharîf Ismâ‘îl Premier ministre Târiq Nasr Gouverneur de Minyâ Wâ’il Makram Gouverneur du Fayyûm Yahya Râshid Ministre du Tourisme Yâsîn Tâhir Gouverneur d’Ismâ‘îliyya Yâsir al-Dusûqî Gouverneur d’Asyût

‘Alî Radwân Président de l’Union générale des archéologues arabes Ahmad ‘Awwâd Président du Fonds de développement culturel (CDF) Ahmad al-Skukî Président du Dâr al-kutub wa-l-wathâ’iq al-misriyya Ciara BERDISKI Responsable culturel du bureau de l’Unesco au Caire Fathî Sâlih Conseiller pour les affaires du patrimoine auprès du conseil des ministres Hânî Hilâl ScanPyramids Projet coordinator Husâm Ismâ‘îl Professeur d’archéologie islamique à l’université de ‘Ayn Shams et président de l’Association du patrimoine et des arts traditionnels Lu’ayy Sa‘îd Direceur du Centre des études coptes Monica Hannâ Présidente de l’Unité archéologique à l’Académie arabe des sciences, technologies et transport maritime Muhammad Abû Si‘da Président du National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH) Muhammad al-Kahlâwî Secrétaire général de l’Union générale des archéologues arabes Muhammad Fârûq Direceur du National Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT) Muna ‘Abd al-Ghanî Présidente de l’Association des antiquités grecques en Alexandrie Haggâg Muna Haggâg Présidente de l’Association des antiquités d’Alexandrie Mustafa al-Fiqî Direceur de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina Nagwa al-Shâzlî Présidente du conseil d’administration du Sound and Light Company Ra’fat al-Nabarâwî Ancien doyen de la faculté d’Archéologie Safâ Mahmûd Président de l’université de Suhâg Sâlih Lam‘î Professeur d’architecure et direceur du Centre de ressuscitation du patrimoine architecural islamique

--

VIII -INDEX A ADN . 235 Aéroports Aéroport international d’Hurghada . 174 Aéroport international du Caire. 89, 94, 122, 124, 125, 159, 220 Agences de presse Agence France Presse (AFP). 77, 78, 123, 175, 179, 183 Middle East News Agency (MENA) 9, 10, 11, 31, 41, 42, 54, 74, 77, 78, 81, 94, 108, 113, 123, 131, 136, 139, 141, 160, 179, 190, 198, 215, 218, 225, 233 Reuters. 85, 186 TASS Russian News Agency . 148 Te Associated Press (AP) . 179, 189, 205, 219, 232 al-Azhar . 73, 99, 168, 207, 233, 244, 250, 254 Amphithéâtre de Kom al-Dikka. 39 Amphore . 242 Amulette. 62, 70, 190, 197, 198, 212, 231 Anatomie humaine Barbe . 83, 126 Squelette . 235, 238, 241 Torse. 147 Ancre. 210 Ankh . 129 Arbres Figuier des banians. 120 Palmier. 58, 236 Armée. 22, 26, 39, 73, 90, 107, 133, 147, 159, 169, 199, 206 Armes Char . 145, 201, 208, 239 Flèche . 221 Fusil . 40, 93, 107, 127, 128, 152, 201, 205 Hache. 228 Lance . 10, 34, 52, 207 Pistolet. 123 Artères historiques Rue al-Khalîfa. 172, 226, 231 Rue al-Mu‘izz l-Dîn Allâh al-Fâtimî 17, 22, 23, 26, 28, 222, 245, 254 Autel. 82 Autoroute . 50 B Bâb-s Bâb al-‘Azab . 162, 179, 180 Bâb al-Futûh . 26, 179 Bâb al-Nasr . 147 Bâb Sharq . 28 Bâb Zuwayla . 26, 179 Bains. 30, 38, 39, 72, 73, 134, 179, 184, 194, 195, 244 Banques World Bank . 225 Barques 11, 59, 74, 78, 88, 129, 132, 200, 226, 251 Barque de Chéops. 11, 88, 122, 251, 255 Barrages Haut barrage d’Aswân. 16, 72, 112, 160, 165 Basilique. 193, 194 Bateau . 194, 199, 200, 208, 209, 210 Batraciens Grenouille. 245 Bible . 13, 82, 168, 169, 196, 243 Bibliothèques . 66, 195, 196, 235, 255 Bibliotheca Alexandrina. 37, 41, 56, 87, 194, 195, 196, 255, 256, 259 Bibliothèque du monastère de Sainte- Catherine . 235 Bibliothèque nationale de Marsa Matrûh . 171, 172 Bière. 203, 237, 238 Bijoux . 57, 58, 70, 115, 128, 205, 212, 241 Botanique. 69, 119 Bustes. 112, 152, 157, 191, 211, 216, 230 C Cachettes . 128, 152, 212, 240, 241, 242, 243 Cairo Opera House . 19, 131 Calligraphie. 125, 220 Campagne d’Égypte . 72, 179

Canneaux Canal al-Mahmûdiyya . 119, 120, 175 Canal al-Salâm . 39 Canal de Suez38, 39, 40, 120, 192, 208, 251 Carrières. 9, 33, 132, 157, 176, 181, 188, 193 Cartographie . 40, 80, 87, 93, 108, 114, 120, 137, 138, 156, 171, 186, 197, 199, 205, 211, 239 Cartonnage . 191, 232 Cartouche. 14, 15, 38, 39, 64, 66, 197, 202, 219, 230 Casino . 171 Catacombes . 79, 175, 240 Catacombes de Kom al-Shuqâfa . 175, 176, 251 Catalogue. 202 Centres de Culture Istituto Italiano di Cultura per la R. A. E. (iiccairo) . 185 Centres de recherches American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) . 110, 137, 162, 180 Cairo Lab for Urban Studies, Training and Environmental Research (Cluster Cairo)99, 100, 101, 103 Center of Documentation and Studies of Ancient Egypt . 250 Centre d’Études Alexandrines (CEAlex) . 28 National Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (CULTNAT) . 259 Unesco World Heritage Center . 84 Céramique. 32, 72, 81, 138, 142 Cercueil . 13, 119 Céréales . 150, 152 Chaînes de télévision . 21, 114, 126, 134 Chambre funéraire . 14, 79, 91, 110, 154, 178, 180, 221, 237 Chapelles . 134, 141, 204, 211, 217, 218, 226, 227 Cimetière. 21, 79, 80, 110, 111, 117, 134, 203, 231, 232, 237, 238, 243 Citadelles . 39, 72, 75, 76, 77, 179, 207 Citadelle al-Nahhâsîn. 28 Citadelle de Qâytbây. 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 210, 254 Citadelle de Saladin. 38, 61 Citadelle de Taro. 39 Citadelle du Caire. 207 Collecionneur. 119, 213 Colloque. 117 Colonnes . 62, 66, 67, 71, 142, 150, 170, 193, 195, 217, 223, 226 Colosses . 22, 63, 96, 126, 127, 131, 145, 146, 147, 219 Colosse de Psammétique 1er. 63, 131, 147 Colosse de Ramsès II. 22 Colosses de Memnon. 240 Comités. 10, 18, 25, 32, 53, 58, 62, 64, 76, 84, 88, 89, 124, 138, 142, 171, 181, 183, 187, 188, 189, 198 Comité permanent des Antiquités du CSA . 46, 53, 93, 94, 136, 138, 142, 143, 162, 165, 171, 180, 234, 252 Compagnies du BTP al-Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment 98, 99, 103, 105 Misr Real Estate Assets. 98 Orascom Construcion Industries . 70, 71 Te Arab Contracors Osman Ahmed Osman & Co. . 22, 42, 43, 46, 70, 71 Congrès. 41 Conseil Suprême de la Culture . 95 Conseil Suprême des Antiquités 25, 28, 31, 32, 33, 38, 48, 55, 63, 75, 84, 93, 94, 110, 111, 118, 121, 136, 137, 140, 142, 143, 144, 145, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 160, 162, 164, 180, 181, 190, 191, 194, 199, 205, 207, 210, 216, 219, 225, 227, 229, 230, 231, 235, 241, 244, 253, 254 Conservation 11, 14, 43, 48, 50, 66, 76, 82, 84, 88, 91, 93, 99, 108, 110, 124, 127, 135, 152, 173, 177, 191, 195, 201, 204, 211, 217, 218, 221, 228, 233, 234 Coopération . 11, 12, 20, 35, 43, 50, 51, 57, 74, 82, 99, 113, 125, 126, 141, 164, 174, 186, 221, 223, 226, 254 Coran. 27, 168, 169 Cosmétique. 57, 97, 128 Couleurs blanc . 27, 72, 133, 157, 191, 205, 211, 223 bleu. 63, 70, 128, 150, 153, 190, 191, 197 jaune. 46, 91 noir . 71, 72, 85, 129, 149, 200, 223, 236 rose. 72, 179 rouge . 14, 82, 140, 227 vert. 63, 133 Coupole . 83 Couronne . 64, 70, 147, 170, 207, 227 Croix. 50, 82, 196

D Demeures bourgeoises Bayt al-Qâdî. 27 Dépôt de fondation. 36 Déserts . 152, 192, 223, 225 Désert Occidental. 91, 137, 157, 160 Nabta . 136 Nouvelle Vallée . 92, 139, 145, 147, 250, 251, 256, 258 Disque solaire. 144, 156 Divinités44, 116, 126, 129, 149, 150, 152, 153, 190, 191, 197, 204, 211, 212, 216, 217, 230, 231, 232, 240, 241, 242, 243 Amon . 82, 85, 117, 150, 153, 225, 226 Amon-Rê. 114, 117, 226, 229, 240 Apis. 134 Astarté . 39 Aton. 121, 143 Bastet. 190, 232, 244 Bès. 144, 196 Hâpy . 78 Harpocrate. 70 Hathor. 126, 127, 134, 135, 141, 204, 237 Hérichef . 119 Horus39, 40, 44, 45, 144, 146, 156, 196, 197 Ibis . 16 Isis. 44, 45, 46, 155, 190, 191, 196, 197, 211, 230, 232, 243 Neïth. 197, 204 Nekhbet. 150, 153, 227 Osiris. 15, 70, 110, 153, 158, 190, 199, 210, 229, 243 Ptah. 134, 165, 236 Rê. 150 Rê-Horakhty. 146, 147 Sekhmet. 81, 134, 197, 216, 217, 240 Sérapis . 196 Sobek. 227 Tot . 182 Dômes. 26, 27, 28, 42, 73, 217, 218, 222 Dôme al-Ashraf Khalîl . 179 Donation . 61, 244, 245 Dromos. 114, 160, 161, 164 E Eau souterraine . 15, 16, 53, 68, 72, 95, 147, 157, 173, 175, 176, 217, 227 Écritures Démotique. 242 Hiératique . 91 Hiéroglyphes . 9, 15, 16, 43, 45, 59, 60, 71, 85, 88, 91, 116, 131, 156, 174, 182, 196, 197, 203, 204, 208, 219, 227, 230, 241, 242 Églises . 39, 49, 50, 81, 82, 83, 118, 192, 193, 194, 243 Émirs Tâz (Sayf al-Dîn) . 227 Entrepôts muséologiques 45, 55, 96, 139, 247, 248, 253, 254 Environnement . 57, 148 Épave . 209, 210 Époques byzantine . 39, 174, 194, 196 copte . 10, 13, 23, 25, 31, 34, 37, 42, 46, 49, 50, 51, 53, 59, 60, 61, 62, 70, 71, 82, 109, 118, 124, 137, 138, 142, 160, 161, 162, 164, 171, 174, 180, 191, 195, 196, 234 gréco-romaine 28, 29, 31, 38, 46, 50, 70, 79, 136, 143, 171, 191, 195, 206, 213 grecque 12, 13, 21, 59, 61, 76, 86, 115, 153, 158, 159, 169, 174, 184, 185, 203, 231, 232, 243 hellénistique . 29, 184, 185, 195, 196, 227 islamique . 31, 57, 69, 125, 138, 165, 195, 196, 208, 216, 222, 224, 256, 257, 259 abbasside. 39, 49 ayyoubide . 218 fatimide. 26, 27, 49, 57, 71, 105 mamelouke . 26, 27, 42, 77, 82, 147, 172, 179, 180, 196, 227 omeyyade . 50 ottomane. 10, 25, 26, 27, 50, 51, 69, 71, 73, 77, 89, 122, 125, 132, 133, 134, 179, 180, 196, 220, 227 Moyen-Âge. 19, 26, 71, 72 pharaonique Ancien Empire. 15, 62, 66, 149, 151, 153, 154, 232, 242, 243 IVe dynastie66, 126, 155, 157, 178, 186, 236, 239 Ve dynastie. 66, 150, 153, 158, 232, 242 VIe dynastie. 151, 153, 154, 243 Basse époque . 116, 117, 146, 155, 212, 224, 232, 243 XXVIe dynastie . 131, 145, 147, 155, 157, 224 XXVIIe dynastie . 79 XXVIIIe dynastie . 39 XXXe dynastie . 15, 146

Deuxième Période intermédiaire . 117, 233 XIIIe dynastie. 240 Dynastie 0 . 16 dynasties XVIIe dynastie. 117 Moyen Empire. 14, 40, 115, 116, 196, 224, 233, 241, 243 Nouvel Empire . 13, 38, 39, 40, 115, 117, 128, 134, 150, 153, 168, 169, 195, 212, 228, 229, 230, 242, 243 XIXe dynastie . 39, 230 XVIIIe dynastie. 14, 110, 113, 115, 121, 127, 143, 169, 226, 228, 230, 231, 240 XXe dynastie . 110 période thinite Ie dynastie . 168 Ière dynastie . 119 Première Période intermédiaire . 231, 232, 243 Ramesside . 217 Troisième Période intermédiaire. 116 XXIe dynastie . 16, 111, 212 prédynastique15, 16, 94, 111, 140, 141, 208 préhistoire. 16, 62, 117, 136, 137, 183, 213, 253 Ptolémaïque16, 29, 60, 79, 80, 94, 170, 184, 185, 210, 226, 227, 228 romaine. 16, 21, 30, 38, 39, 49, 60, 61, 64, 91, 92, 93, 107, 145, 147, 159, 191, 195, 196, 199, 205, 209, 210, 211, 228, 243, 257 saïte . 136 Ermitage. 83 Érosion . 9, 37, 120, 162, 180 Esclavage . 235 Esclave . 37, 89, 203, 236, 238 Exode . 168, 169, 170 Exposition archéologique . 20, 30, 37, 38, 41, 45, 46, 54, 58, 69, 87, 89, 90, 92, 108, 112, 123, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133, 134, 137, 147, 165, 166, 167, 170, 174, 175, 176, 177, 182, 190, 191, 192, 195, 196, 198, 201, 202, 207, 208, 211, 212, 218, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 233, 237, 238, 239 F Faïence. 29, 70, 81, 116, 128, 190, 212, 230, Famille royale Ânkhésenpépi II. 148, 149, 151, 153, 154, 243 Hétephérès . 240 Néfertari. 34 Néfertiti. 54, 206 Nefret . 230 Tiy . 240 Fatwa. 207 Fausse porte. 190, 203, 208, 236, 237 Figurine . 115, 116, 197, 212, 230, 241, 242 Fleurs. 119, 208, 229 Lotus . 208 Fondations Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). 13, 44 Alexandria Preservation Trust. 85 Built Environment Collecive (BEC) . 172 Fonds Fonds de développement culturel (CDF) . 74, 259 Nubian Antiquities Salvage Fund . 251 World Monuments Fund (WMF) . 161 Fontaine . 27, 42, 68, 69, 71, 72, 142 Forteresses . 30, 40, 41, 224 Fouilles . 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 49, 53, 54, 58, 59, 62, 64, 71, 75, 79, 85, 87, 88, 91, 93, 95, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 121, 122, 123, 127, 129, 137, 140, 141, 143, 145, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 161, 167, 184, 185, 191, 192, 193, 194, 199, 207, 209, 210, 211, 213, 216, 217, 218, 224, 225, 226, 228, 229, 231, 236, 237, 239, 248, 253 Fresque . 81, 82 G Gabal al-Silsila. 228, 231, 240, 243, 250 Gouvernorats11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 24, 31, 42, 43, 44, 49, 53, 58, 69, 82, 87, 90, 93, 94, 96, 98, 105, 113, 139, 140, 145, 148, 151, 152, 154, 165, 249 Gouvernorat d’al-Daqahliyya. 94, 165 Gouvernorat d’al-Sharqiyya. 11, 17, 87, 148 Gouvernorat d’Aswân. 145, 160 Gouvernorat de Gîza . 149 Gouvernorat de la Nouvelle Vallée . 139 Gouvernorat de Louqsor . 113 Gouvernorat de Marsa Matrûh . 65, 92, 108, 151, 171 Gouvernorat de Minyâ. 54, 79, 121, 143 Gouvernorat du Caire. 18, 98, 214 Graffiti . 36, 37, 93, 111, 140, 141 Grand Prêtre. 195

Grotte. 76, 77, 93, 140, 151, 152 Guerre . 38, 93, 108, 144, 147, 152, 210 H Hammâms . 89, 122, 124 Hammâm al-Sharâybî. 244 Harem. 133, 134 Hittites. 9 Humidité. 27, 28, 67, 68, 193, 195, 214 Hyksôs . 168, 169, 224 Icône. 174, 196, 250 Îles. 19, 169 Chypre . 197, 198, 200 Éléphantine. 93, 224, 228 Île Pharaon. 38 Pharos . 210 Incendie. 25, 26, 48, 58, 106, 122, 139, 180 Infltration . 68, 77 Instituts Czech Institute of Egyptology in Cairo. 149, 150, 152, 242 Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Kairo (DAIK). 17, 29, 93, 110, 137, 184, 185, 201 Heritage, Innovation and Preservation Institute . 77 Institut européen d’archéologie sous-marine (IEASM). 199, 209 Institut français d’archéologie orientale (Ifao) . 59, 60, 125, 237, 238 International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) . 84 Internet. 98, 135, 141, 196 Irrigation. 16, 167, 173 Islam . 73, 218, 233 Ivoire . 42, 70 J Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) . 66, 144, 239 Jardins. 19, 46, 47, 48, 54, 56, 59, 68, 69, 73, 109, 119, 120, 141, 147, 171, 173, 182, 184, 212, 214, 223, 227, 240 Jarre . 14, 32, 39, 204, 243 Jésus. 164, 174, 235 Judas Iscariote. 83 Juif. 23, 24, 46, 70, 83, 86, 137, 138, 142, 150, 161, 169, 183, 223 K Khôl . 204 Kom-s Kom Abû Billû. 143 Kom al-Dikka . 71, 142, 161 Kom al-Hîtân. 216, 217 Kom al-Nâdûra . 28 Kom al-Shuqâfa . 175, 176, 251 Kom shîm . 58, 253, 256 Kuttâb-s. 27, 28 L Lacs . 17, 192, 194 ‘Ayn al-Sîra. 36 Lac al-Bardawîl. 38 Lac Manzala . 17, 47 Lac Maryût . 192, 194 Lac Nâsir . 44, 160 Lampe . 32, 62, 71, 81, 142 Le Caire historique . 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 43, 46, 57, 70, 84, 105, 109, 162, 172, 218, 226, 244, 251 Le Caire khédivial. 17, 18, 19, 20, 96, 97, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 Ligue arabe . 214 Liste du patrimoine 10, 11, 103, 138, 162, 165, 216 Livre des Morts. 156 Livre des Portes. 110 Lois Loi 117/1983. 23, 70, 83, 123, 138, 142, 158, 174 Loi 3/2010. 70, 138, 142, 174 Loi 44/2006. 103 M Madrasa-s. 27, 179 Magie . 90, 110, 196 Malédicion des pharaons. 187, 204, 206 Mammifères . 140, 157, 202, 240 Âne . 21, 39, 72, 140 Babouin . 242 Bélier . 119 Chameau . 122 Chat . 190 Chauve-souris . 47, 48 Cheval. 39, 158, 179, 203, 236 Chien . 84, 111 Dromadaire. 193 Éléphant . 16, 47

Gazelle. 140, 208 Hérisson. 245 Hippopotame . 140, 204 Lion. 19, 155, 156, 196, 202, 204, 205, 216, 217 Panthère . 129 Singe. 88, 237 Taureau. 16 Manuscrit. 12, 13, 40, 59, 60, 87, 94, 124, 125, 176, 191, 234, 243 Maquette. 208 Mashrabiyya . 26, 27, 72 Masques . 21, 62, 91, 110, 116, 191, 205, 211, 229, 230, 233, 241, 242 Mastabas . 125 Matériaux de construcion Argile . 14, 194 Béton . 17, 39, 40, 76, 214 Bois. 26, 27, 42, 51, 52, 57, 60, 62, 67, 71, 72, 79, 80, 88, 92, 109, 115, 116, 118, 122, 128, 129, 132, 142, 144, 149, 151, 162, 180, 183, 191, 196, 199, 201, 202, 210, 211, 218, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 236, 239, 241, 242 Brique . 15, 82, 140, 224, 236, 238 Brique crue . 74, 91, 92, 116, 150, 203, 224, 236, 238, 241 Ciment . 27, 181 Gypse . 121, 143 Sable. 14, 57, 209 Mausolées . 10, 13, 111, 165, 218 Mausolée ‘Abd al-‘Azîz al-Darînî. 165 Mausolée de l’Agha Khan . 13 Mausolée de l’imâm al-Shâf‘î. 218 Médecine . 174 Mers Mer Méditerranée. 40, 60, 71, 72, 76, 87, 93, 107, 109, 119, 142, 161, 169, 199, 201, 202 Alexandrie . 10, 11, 17, 24, 28, 30, 52, 55, 57, 58, 63, 71, 87, 92, 114, 150, 162, 163, 176, 192, 193, 194, 196, 200, 209, 210, 248, 250, 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259 Marsa Matrûh . 24, 63, 65, 66, 92, 93, 107, 108, 151, 152, 171, 172, 253, 258 Mer Rouge. 25, 36, 37, 40, 50, 83, 132, 135, 141, 167, 216, 252, 258 al-Qusayr. 25, 37 Bérénice . 167 Hurghada . 83, 113, 174 Râs Ghârib. 216 Safâgâ . 37, 50, 122, 123 Sharm al-Shaykh. 113, 189 Tâbâ . 38 Wâdî al-Hammâmât . 94 Métaux . 50, 59, 60, 122, 149, 154, 158, 159, 183, 243 Argent. 70, 71, 119, 122, 127, 142, 211, 220, 234 Bronze. 19, 70, 81, 112, 145, 212 Cuivre . 59, 60, 149, 154, 157, 174, 190, 202, 211, 220, 243 Fer . 58 Mihrâb. 92 Minaret. 10, 42, 43, 51, 52, 163 Minbar. 42 Ministères Ministère de l’Agriculture . 245 Ministère de l’Archéologie . 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 88, 89, 91, 92, 96, 108, 109, 111, 113, 118, 121, 123, 124, 125, 135, 136, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 145, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 158, 161, 162, 163, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 194, 197, 199, 200, 203, 204, 207, 209, 210, 211, 216, 217, 218, 220, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 232, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 244, 245 Ministère de la Culture . 152 Ministère des Waqfs . 10 Ministère du Tourisme. 23, 171, 202, 206 Miroir. 23, 48 Moine . 12, 13, 82 Moïse. 168, 169, 170, 235 Momies . 12, 13, 21, 22, 110, 115, 116, 117, 127, 128, 130, 174, 182, 191, 205, 209, 211, 212, 224, 230, 231, 240, 241, 242 Momifcation . 14, 22, 128, 204, 243 Monastères. 12, 13, 49, 50, 81, 82, 83, 192, 193, 194, 196, 233, 234, 235, 252 Dayr al-Banât . 191 Monastère de Saint Bishoy. 49, 50, 82, 83 Monastère de Saint Ménas. 24, 193

Monastère de Sainte-Catherine. 12, 13, 192, 233, 235, 243 Monnaie . 11, 50, 69, 81, 89, 91, 93, 94, 122, 133, 145, 166, 193, 199, 205, 220, 236, 238, Mont Muqattam . 157 Mosaïque. 26, 30, 38, 39, 114, 195, 196, 233, 234, 235 Mosquées. 10, 27, 42, 51, 52, 67, 73, 122, 179, 217, 218 Mosquée Abû Shûsha. 43 Mosquée Ahmad Ibn Tûlûn . 122 Mosquée al-Hâkim. 222 Mosquée al-Mahallî . 67 Mosquée al-Rifâ‘î . 179 Mosquée Ingî Hânim . 51, 52, 163 Mosquée Jânî Bek al-Ashrafî . 42 Mosquée Marzûq al-Ahmadî . 9, 10 Mosquée Sayyida Nafîsa . 172 Mosquée Sultan Hasan. 196 Mosquée Zaghlûl. 72, 73 Moulins. 53, 150, 151 Moulin d’al-Mandara . 53, 151 Murailles. 17, 224 Musées British Museum . 90, 110, 111, 185 Brooklyn Museum of Art. 137 Georg STEINDORFF Egyptian Museum. 145 Grand Musée Égyptien (GEM)11, 22, 34, 41, 66, 88, 96, 126, 127, 131, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 159, 170, 183, 201, 204, 206, 212, 219, 221, 224, 239, 244, 245, 255, 256 Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien . 127 Louvre Abou Dhabi . 123 Musée archéologique d’Ismâ‘îliyya . 38, 256 Musée archéologique de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina . 255, 256 Musée archéologique de la Nouvelle Vallée . 139, 147, 256 Musée archéologique de Mallawî. 58, 63, 150, 255 Musée archéologique de Marsa Matrûh. 66, 172 Musée archéologique de Rosette58, 90, 256 Musée archéologique de Suhâg. 255 Musée Atonien . 54, 58, 255 Musée Copte . 57, 118, 255 Musée d’archéologie sous-marine. 210 Musée d’Art islamique42, 57, 124, 125, 138, 172, 220, 222, 245, 256 Musée de Kom shîm . 256 Musée de l’Agriculture . 245 Musée de la Barque de Chéops. 122, 255 Musée de la Chasse. 56 Musée de la Marine. 76 Musée de la Momifcation . 12 Musée de la Nubie . 44, 45, 46, 255 Musée de la Police . 57 Musée de Louqsor. 154 Musée de Plein Air . 19, 67, 73, 74, 114, 141, 161, 203 Musée de Tell Basta . 58, 59, 228 Musée des Bijoux royaux. 57, 58 Musée des Carrosses royaux . 57 Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée (MuCEM) . 40 Musée des Textiles égyptiens . 57, 222, 255 Musée du Louvre. 123, 163, 185 Musée Égyptien. 11, 12, 22, 34, 36, 41, 57, 78, 84, 94, 117, 159, 164, 175, 185, 186, 190, 191, 192, 202, 215, 220, 221, 224, 233, 236, 237, 238, 251, 255, 256 Musée Erwin ROMMEL 93, 107, 108, 152, 256 Musée GAYER-ANDERSON . 29, 256 Musée gréco- romain . 28, 29, 46, 70 Musée Manyal . 56, 132, 133 Musée Nagîb Mahfûz . 74 Musée national d’Alexandrie. 255, 256 Musée national de la Civilisation égyptienne (NMEC). 29, 33, 35, 36, 46, 61, 62, 70, 96, 174, 212, 255 Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Madrid 14 Museo delle Culture (MUDEC)108, 127, 128, 129 Museo Egizio di Torino. 185 Neues Museum. 185 Northampton Museum . 62 Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. 127, 185 Rukn Fârûq. 56, 207, 209 Te Metropolitan Museum of Art. 119 Toledo Museum of Art . 62 Muséologie . 45, 50, 51, 55, 90, 96, 117, 139, 152, 164, 172, 208, 247, 248, 253, 254 Musique . 18, 86, 127, 211 N Nain. 134 Nappe phréatique. 17, 175 National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS). 148

National Geographic Society . 129, 166 National Organisation for Urban Harmony (NOUH) . 98, 103, 106, 259 Natron . 14, 204, 243 Navigation. 192, 210 Navire. 209, 210 Nécropoles. 13, 91, 113, 114, 115, 117, 136, 141, 148, 149, 152, 153, 154, 191, 192, 204, 230, 235, 236, 238, 239, 240, 242 Nécropole d’Abûsîr . 149, 152 Nécropole de Saqqâra . 141, 148, 153, 242 Némès. 126, 127 Niche. 27, 82, 115, 211, 217, 226, 229 Nil. 14, 19, 54, 69, 71, 72, 73, 74, 78, 90, 97, 108, 114, 119, 128, 132, 134, 149, 153, 157, 160, 167, 184, 208, 213, 219, 227, 228, 240, 255 Noms de lieux Afghanistan. 168 Allemagne . 29, 107, 137, 152, 174, 221, 235 Berlin. 137, 185 Mainz. 145, 201 Tübingen. 9, 221 Arabie saoudite . 89, 90, 122, 169, 222 La Mecque . 36 Argentine. 35, 235 Australie. 205, 206, 235 Sydney . 205 Autriche . 118, 192, 235 Vienne . 117, 127 Belgique . 47, 176, 177, 183, 191, 192, 233, 235 Bruxelles. 191 Brésil . 235 Bulgarie . 235 Canada . 92, 189, 224, 235 Vancouver . 100 Chilie. 131 Chine . 19, 20, 94, 96 Confédération suisse . 109, 137, 235 Bâle . 137 Genève. 148, 151, 153, 242 Zurich . 174 Égypte Alexandrie . 10, 11, 17, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, 46, 51, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 59, 63, 70, 71, 72, 75, 77, 85, 86, 87, 92, 109, 114, 119, 120, 135, 136, 137, 138, 142, 150, 161, 162, 163, 166, 171, 176, 184, 192, 193, 194, 196, 199, 209, 210, 243, 248, 250, 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259 Abû Mînâ. 24, 193 Abûqîr. 109, 196, 199, 209, 210 al-Manshiyya. 10, 138, 142 al-Muntazah. 119, 171 al-Qabbârî . 29 al-Shâtbî . 85 Burg al-‘Arab . 17, 24 Héraklion . 199, 210 Kom al-Dikka . 71, 142, 161 Kom al-Shuqâfa . 175, 176, 251 Sporting. 109 Taposiris Magna . 137 Delta . 16, 17, 30, 33, 39, 45, 55, 63, 67, 137, 143, 169, 170, 184, 219, 235, 248, 249, 253, 254 al-Buhayra. 11, 43, 49, 63, 82, 95, 247, 249, 250, 253, 258 Damanhûr . 95 Rosette. 12, 43, 58, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, 90, 91, 198, 199, 247, 252, 256 Wâdî al-Natrûn. 49, 50, 81, 82, 109, 243, 252 al-Daqahliyya. 71, 94, 136, 165, 248, 250, 252, 254 al-Gharbiyya . 170, 249, 251, 252, 258 Samannûd. 170 Tantâ. 61, 144 al-Ismâ‘îliyya . 38, 58, 224, 256, 258 al- Mansûra. 47, 137, 257 al-Munûfyya . 194, 248, 252, 254, 258 al-Qalyûbiyya. 16, 24, 25, 64, 69, 140, 197, 249, 258 Tell Atrîb . 140, 197 al-Sharqiyya . 11, 17, 45, 58, 87, 122, 137, 148, 253, 258 Qantîr. 137 Tanis. 16, 212 Tell Bastâ . 17, 58, 59, 228 al-Zaqâzîq . 206, 257 Damiette. 24, 248, 253 Kafr al-Shaykh. 16, 42, 108, 249, 253, 254, 258 Tell al-Farâ‘în . 16, 254 Gîza . 9, 24, 33, 34, 35, 41, 46, 63, 66, 70, 75, 77, 80, 85, 88, 96, 122, 126, 127, 132, 135, 143, 144, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 160, 167, 178, 180, 182, 183, 184, 186, 192, 201, 203, 204, 212, 213, 221, 240, 242, 245, 247, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 258 Abûsîr . 29, 89, 141, 149, 150, 152, 153,

242 al-Lisht . 252 Dahshûr . 242, 252, 254 Memphis. 134, 135, 136, 141, 150, 153, 158, 242 Mît Rahîna. 135, 137, 141, 247, 250 Nazlat al-Sîsî . 157 Saqqâra . 22, 125, 126, 141, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 156, 242, 245, 253 Haute-Égypte. 36, 37, 64, 136, 137, 143, 165 Aswân 13, 44, 45, 72, 93, 136, 137, 140, 145, 158, 160, 165, 166, 176, 190, 192, 224, 227, 228, 231, 232, 240, 243, 245, 247, 248, 250, 255, 256, 257, 258 Abû Simbil . 112, 136, 160, 165, 166, 167, 245, 250 Gabal al-Silsila. 228, 231, 240, 243, 250 Idfû. 137, 145, 254 Kalâbsha . 245 Kum Umbû. 140, 190, 227, 228, 231, 243 Subayra . 140, 141 Asyût46, 55, 70, 85, 144, 150, 192, 248, 251, 252, 258 Louqsor. 12, 14, 15, 22, 34, 36, 39, 41, 80, 81, 109, 110, 113, 114, 115, 117, 121, 132, 135, 137, 141, 148, 154, 160, 161, 164, 166, 169, 192, 195, 216, 217, 221, 225, 226, 228, 230, 233, 237, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 246, 248, 253, 257, 258 al-‘Asâsîf. 113, 233 al-Dayr al-Baharî. 14, 110, 225, 226 al-Kâb. 15 al-Qurna. 14, 113, 225, 248 Dayr al-Madîna. 237, 238 Dhirâ‘ Abû al-Nagâ . 110, 113, 114, 117, 228, 229, 230, 240, 241 Karnak 39, 40, 41, 114, 117, 137, 154, 195, 245, 247, 248, 253 Kom al-Hîtân . 216, 217 Madînat Hâbû . 192 Qurnat Mura‘î. 113 Tèbes . 117, 167, 240 Vallée des Reines. 154 Nubie. 13, 17, 44, 45, 46, 75, 112, 136, 140, 167, 190, 232, 247, 255 Qinâ. 37, 249, 252, 254, 258 Qûs . 82 Le Caire. 9, 11, 12, 24, 33, 34, 35, 50, 51, 56, 57, 65, 68, 69, 80, 84, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 113, 125, 138, 163, 164, 185, 190, 192, 195, 206, 207, 208, 220, 221, 223, 231, 236, 237, 244, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 257, 258, 259 al-Darb al-Ahmar . 42, 231, 247, 254 al-Fustât. 29, 32, 36, 46, 61, 62, 70, 96, 163, 212, 247, 250, 254 al-Gamâliyya. 9, 10, 25, 26, 95, 244, 251 al-Khalîfa. 172, 226, 231 Bâb al- Khalq . 220, 222 Bûlâq . 213 Héliopolis . 20, 43, 46, 47, 48, 70, 145, 173, 192, 222, 223 Hilwân. 29, 57, 207, 208, 257 Imbâba . 143, 192 Ma‘âdî. 20, 35 Matariyya. 47, 63, 113, 131, 145, 147, 152, 240, 251, 255 Sûq al- Khamîs . 62, 145, 147 Sayyida Zaynab. 25, 111 Shubrâ . 19, 24, 25, 46, 67, 68, 69, 70, 124, 249 Vieux-Caire . 19, 42, 118, 135, 147, 149, 163, 217, 222, 226, 252, 254 Zamâlik . 19, 34, 80, 144, 173 Marsa Matrûh Mârînâ al-‘Alamayn. 195 Moyenne-Égypte . 9, 119, 139, 192, 249 Banî Swayf 14, 24, 44, 89, 205, 257, 258 Ihnâsyâ al-Madîna (Hérakléopolis Magna) . 14, 243 Fayyûm . 14, 31, 58, 139, 184, 185, 191, 211, 212, 247, 248, 250, 254, 256, 257, 258 al-Lâhûn . 14 Kom shîm. 58, 253, 256 Minyâ. 54, 58, 64, 79, 80, 81, 92, 113, 121, 143, 232, 240, 241, 242, 248, 250, 251, 257, 258 al-Amarna. 54, 121, 143, 245, 248 al-Bahnasâ. 253

al-Kamîn al-Saharâwî. 79, 80 Banî Hasan . 245 Mallawî. 58, 63, 150, 247, 255 Suhâg . 15, 53, 54, 87, 135, 141, 144, 249, 253, 255, 257, 258, 259 Abîdus. 15, 16, 143, 249 al-Ballînâ . 15 Nouvelle Vallée al-Dâkhla. 92, 145, 251 al-Khârga . 139 Port Sa‘îd. 169 Sinaï. 12, 26, 37, 38, 39, 41, 122, 137, 157, 169, 192, 198, 204, 233, 243, 247, 250, 252, 253, 255 Nord-Sinaï . 26, 37, 38, 169, 204 al-Qantara Est . 38, 40, 41 al-Qantara Ouest . 38 Péluse . 39, 41 Rafah . 39 Tell Abû Sayfî . 41 Tell al- Maskhûta. 41, 223, 224 Tell Dafna. 40, 41 Tell Habwa . 41 Sud-Sinaï. 12, 122, 233, 250, 252, 253 Sainte- Catherine . 13, 192, 235 Sirâbît al-Khâdim. 253 Suez. 38, 39, 40, 58, 120, 157, 192, 208, 251, 255 Wâdî al-Garf . 132, 157, 158 Émirats arabes unis. 123, 189, 190, 211, 222 Abu Dhabi. 123 Chardja. 189, 190, 211, 212 Espagne. 62, 140, 194, 224, 235, 240 Madrid. 14 États-Unis. 19, 21, 28, 29, 30, 61, 75, 129, 130, 134, 135, 136, 141, 167, 175, 188, 217, 218, 219, 224, 235 California. 100 Chicago. 209 Dallas . 137 Los Angeles. 131, 224 Texas. 137 Washington. 137 France . 40, 56, 59, 72, 77, 86, 112, 113, 123, 125, 126, 140, 163, 181, 186, 188, 189, 194, 213, 235 Marseille. 40 Paris. 19, 20, 21, 39, 59, 97, 104, 112, 123, 163, 167, 186 Grèce. 29, 131, 184, 194, 235 Athènes. 184 Hongrie. 235 Inde. 19, 29, 43, 47 Iran. 168 Iraq . 94 Israël . 23, 24, 37, 38, 78, 168, 198, 205, 214 Jérusalem. 168 Italie. 19, 55, 56, 108, 128, 140, 165, 166, 167, 184, 185, 193, 194, 220, 235 Florence . 127 Milan . 108, 127, 128, 129, 165 Rome. 30, 127, 137, 167 Turin . 56, 167, 185 Japon. 11, 12, 78, 144, 159, 160, 181, 187, 188, 189 Jordanie. 205 Liban . 158, 159, 205 Libye . 66, 137 Maroc. 87 Mexique. 35, 235 Palestine . 36, 40, 205, 228 Gaza . 40 Pays-Bas. 235 Pérou . 29, 30, 129, 130 Pologne . 235 Portugal . 129, 130, 131 République Tchèque . 235 Prague. 143, 152, 242 Royaume-Uni . 62, 72, 137, 143, 157, 167, 198, 199, 213, 235 Londres . 94, 104, 110, 111, 134, 137, 157, 167 Russie. 164, 235 Soudan . 19, 44, 169 Khartoum . 169 Suède . 240 Syrie. 205, 207, 228 Damas . 109 Turquie . 122 Constantinople. 194 Istanbul . 72, 123, 124 Yémen. 10 Noms de personnes ‘Abd al-‘Azîz (Muhammad)23, 27, 30, 43, 46, 70, 84, 109, 162, 179, 218, 226, 244, 251 ‘Abd al-Basîr (al-Husayn). 9, 248, 255 ‘Abd al-Fattâh (Muhammad). 65, 70, 81, 88, 89 ‘Abd al-Gawwâd (Sha‘bân) . 190, 197, 200,

205, 254 ‘Abd al-Latîf (Muhammad) . 9, 12, 36, 49, 67, 72, 83, 122, 132, 138, 142, 191, 234, 251 ‘Abd al-Maqsûd (Muhammad). 38, 170, 224, 251 ‘Abd al-Mun‘im (Ayman). 258 ‘Abd al-Nâsir (Gamâl). 120, 214, 249 ‘Abd al-Râziq (Sabâh)78, 117, 164, 176, 192, 211, 221, 233, 256 ‘Afîfî (Mahmûd) . 9, 14, 15, 251 ‘Awad (Muhammad). 85 ‘Azab (Khâlid) . 20, 255 ‘Ukâsha (Ashraf). 15, 249 ‘Ukâsha (Tarwat). 112, 165 Abû al-‘Azm (Hânî) . 15, 250 Abû al-‘Ilâ (Wa‘d) . 11, 23, 58, 70, 161, 175, 228, 254 Abû al-Khayr (Usâma). 256 al-‘Agîzî (‘Ulâ). 9 al-‘Ashmâwî (Ayman). 9, 16, 30, 45, 50, 64, 79, 88, 91, 113, 114, 125, 139, 141, 145, 149, 170, 184, 203, 217, 227, 236, 249 al-‘Attâr (‘Abdallah). 92 al-‘Awadî (Târiq). 62 al-‘Inânî (Khâlid) 9, 11, 12, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 40, 41, 50, 58, 61, 63, 73, 74, 92, 93, 107, 108, 111, 112, 114, 115, 117, 121, 125, 131, 132, 134, 135, 139, 141, 148, 159, 160, 164, 175, 176, 181, 183, 185, 189, 190, 191, 194, 198, 199, 201, 202, 206, 212, 217, 222, 224, 225, 226, 228, 229, 233, 234, 240, 251 al-Damâtî (Mamdûh) . 37, 257 al-Ibrâshî (May). 172, 173, 218 al-Kahlâwî (Muhammad) . 259 al-Kasabânî (Mukhtâr) . 252, 257 Allam (Schafk). 9 al-Laythî (Hishâm). 250 al-Mallâkh (Kamâl). 88 al-Nabrâwî (Ra’fat). 257, 259 al-Nimr (Ahmad) . 13, 49, 82, 234, 248 AL-QADI (Galila). 104 al-Râwî (Ahmad) . 50, 83, 89, 94, 158, 220, 248 al-Sâdât (Anwar). 98, 214 al-Saghîr (Mustafa) . 34, 80, 161, 253 al-Sâwî (Ahmad) . 143, 144 al-Shammâ‘ (Bassâm) . 16 al-Shâzlî (Yâsmîn). 254 al-Simistâwî (Gamâl). 64, 91, 121, 249 al-Sîsî (‘Abd al-Fattâh). 12, 35, 157, 163, 200 al-Tîbî (‘Amr) . 247 Amîn (Mustafa). 25, 31, 33, 55, 63, 84, 94, 118, 121, 190, 253 ARNOLD (Dieter). 180, 188 Badîr (Muhammad) . 122, 252 Bakr (Ibrâhîm). 37 BARAIZE (Émile) . 157 BÁRTA (Miroslav). 150, 153, 183, 188, 242 BELZONI (Giovanni) . 165, 166, 167 BONAPARTE (Napoléon) . 161, 167 BURCKHARDT (Johann Ludwig) . 165, 166, 167 CARTER (Howard). 201, 220 CHAMPOLLION (Jean-François) . 106, 166, 167 CHASSINAT (Émile Gaston) . 59 COLLOMBERT (Philippe) . 148, 149, 151, 154, 243 COSTE (Pascal) . 69 DARNELL (John Coleman) . 16 DE MORGAN (Jacques). 213 DESROCHES NOBLECOURT (Christiane). 112 DOURGNON (Marcel) . 214 ECKMANN (Christian). 202, 220 EIFFEL (Gustave). 19, 216 Fakhrî (Ahmad). 67 Gâballâh (Gâballâh ‘Alî) . 37, 74 GODDIO (Franck). 209 Hammâm (Hamdî). 89, 122, 124 Handûsa (Tuhfa). 33, 74, 75 Hasan (Silîm) . 112, 156, 166 HAUSSMANN (Georges Eugène) . 19 Hawwâs (Zâhî) . 20, 21, 22, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 55, 56, 62, 75, 77, 102, 103, 104, 111, 131, 143, 144, 154, 158, 175, 180, 181, 183, 184, 188, 189, 203, 206, 236 Haykal (Fâyza) . 74, 257 HÉRODOTE . 158, 203 Hilmî (al-Sa‘îd). 10, 23, 25, 33, 42, 69, 132, 248 Husnî (Fârûq). 37, 175, 180, 182 Ibrâhîm (Muhammad) . 37, 55, 74, 252 IKRAM (Salima) . 32 KEMP (Barry) . 121, 143 Khidr (Nâdya). 58, 256 Lam‘î (Sâlih). 259 LASCIAC (Antonio) . 19, 104 LAUER (Jean- Philippe). 125, 154 LECLANT (Jean) . 154 LEHNER (Mark). 134, 141, 157, 183, 188 LEPSIUS (Karl Richard). 166

LORET (Vicor) . 128 Mahfûz (Nagîb) . 74, 248 MARCEL (Alexandre). 19, 47 MARIETTE (Auguste) . 155, 213 MASPERO (Gaston) . 59, 155, 211, 213 Mitwallî (Muhammad) . 51, 53, 137, 150, 163, 171, 252 MORALES (Antonio) . 14 MORISHIMA (Kunihiro). 187 Muhyî (Ashraf) . 34, 249 Mukhtâr (Gamâl) . 165 NENNA (Marie-Dominique) . 28 NILSSON (Maria) . 231 NIWI. SKI (Andrzej) . 110, 111 Nûr al-Dîn (‘Abd al-Halîm) . 37, 74 PEREZ-DIE (Maria Del Carmen). 14 PIACENTINI (Patrizia) . 128, 129 POLZ (Daniel) . 110 Qadrî (Ahmad) . 37, 38 Qutb (‘Abd al-Hamîd) . 253 Radwân (‘Alî) . 74, 259 RAUE (Dietrich). 145 Rayhân (‘Abd al-Rahîm). 247 ROMMEL (Erwin) . 92, 93, 107, 108, 151, 152, 256 Rushdî (Mustafa). 30, 55, 63, 253 Sa‘îd (Mahrûs) . 35, 44, 96, 174, 251, 255 Salâh al-Dîn (Ilhâm)54, 57, 58, 65, 68, 78, 93, 108, 118, 123, 124, 138, 152, 171, 176, 212, 221, 237, 255 Salâma (Nasr) . 13, 140, 190 Sâlih (Ahmad). 248 Sâlih (Fathî) . 259 Sayf al-Dîn (Mirvat). 28, 29 SCANLON (George) . 32, 61 SEIDLMAYER (Stephan) . 201 SOUROUZIAN (Hourig). 216, 217 Sunbul (Gharîb) . 45, 250 SZAFRANSKI (Zbigniew). 226 TALLET (Pierre) . 157 Tawfîq (Sayyid) . 74 Tawfîq (Târiq) . 66, 96, 126, 144, 148, 159, 170, 204, 206, 219, 239, 244, 256 VON PILGRIM (Cornelius) . 228 VYSE (Richard William Howard). 157 Wazîrî (Mustafa). 115, 116, 117, 121, 140, 143, 145, 148, 149, 151, 153, 154, 160, 162, 164, 169, 183, 184, 191, 199, 207, 210, 216, 219, 225, 227, 229, 230, 231, 241, 244, 253 WILSON (Penelope). 17 WINLOCK (Herbert). 14 Zakî (Salâh). 99 O Oasis al-Bahariyya . 21, 50, 75, 240 al-Dâkhla. 55, 91, 92, 113, 137, 250, 253 Mût. 92 al-Farâfra. 55, 253 al- Khârga . 55, 248, 251, 252 Obélisques . 149, 151, 153, 154, 176, 182, 243, 255 Œ Œil Oudjat . 197 O Offrande. 87, 237 Oiseaux . 162, 203, 240 Autruche . 133 Cigogne. 16 Ibis . 182 Paon. 133 Vautour . 208 Organisations internationales Organisation des Nations unies (ONU) . 130 United Nations Educational, Scientifc and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) . 17, 18, 30, 38, 83, 86, 94, 112, 129, 135, 161, 162, 165, 174, 198, 205, 210, 259 United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 134, 135, 141, 175 Ossements . 79, 116, 241, 242 Ostraca. 91, 193, 237 Ouchebti . 11, 115, 116, 149, 197, 212, 230, 241, 242 P Pain . 116, 203, 237, 238, 242 Palais 25, 27, 30, 35, 43, 46, 47, 48, 56, 67, 68, 69, 85, 97, 103, 108, 109, 121, 124, 130, 133, 134, 143, 158, 165, 171, 179, 191, 208, 212, 223, 227, 237, 249, 251, 254, 256 Palais ‘Âbidîn . 18, 97 Palais ‘Umar Tûsûn. 108 Palais Alexan. 46, 70 Palais al-Salâmlik. 171 Palais de l’émir Sayf al-Dîn Tâz. 226, 227 Palais du baron Empain. 43, 46, 49, 70, 251 Palais Manyal . 245, 254, 256

Palais Muhammad ‘Alî . 25, 46, 67, 68, 69, 124, 249 Papyrus. 132, 157, 158, 185, 216, 242 Papyrus Abbott. 111 Parfum . 57 Parlement . 125, 190 Particuliers Djéhouty . 230 Harhotep. 14 Hénénou . 14 Herishef . 14 Merer . 132, 157, 158 Ouserhat . 115, 240, 241 Panéhésy. 121, 143 Ptahmes . 117 Ptah-Shepsesu . 203 Sekhem-Ka. 62 Shedu. 236 Touya . 183, 212 Youya . 183, 212 Peinture . 43, 49, 57, 82, 228 Pèlerinage . 36, 37, 39, 194 Perle . 90 Phares. 77, 210, 216 Phare d’Alexandrie . 210 Pierre de Rosette. 71, 72, 90, 198, 199 Pierres . 14, 15, 17, 27, 35, 39, 45, 62, 64, 66, 77, 83, 90, 94, 110, 115, 132, 138, 140, 150, 153, 155, 157, 158, 178, 181, 186, 187, 188, 190, 193, 196, 203, 205, 211, 217, 219, 229, 238, 241, 242 Agate . 245 Calcaire17, 88, 149, 193, 195, 196, 227, 236 Grès . 43 Places publiques Place al-Rimâya. 170 Plateau de Gîza 34, 35, 46, 66, 70, 75, 88, 126, 127, 132, 152, 155, 156, 157, 160, 183, 201, 203, 204, 212, 221, 235, 238, 240, 242, 254 Pluie. 9, 51, 82, 163, 178, 188 Poissons. 73, 82, 111, 238 Polémique . 98, 189, 205 Polices . 15, 16, 21, 22, 42, 44, 92, 118, 125, 160, 171, 189, 194, 200, 205, 213, 220 Organisation internationale de police criminelle (INTERPOL). 81, 197, 200 Police du Tourisme et des Antiquités. 11, 15, 42, 44, 64, 69, 81, 84, 85, 87, 89, 121, 122, 124, 149, 225, 258 Pollution . 102 Ponts Pont Abû al-‘Ilâ . 19 Porcelaine. 158 Ports . 50, 71, 72, 73, 83, 94, 107, 119, 123, 132, 157, 158, 196, 199, 210, 248 Poterie 14, 32, 62, 91, 116, 122, 140, 199, 213, 231, 232, 236, 242 Presse Ahram Online . 9, 10, 13, 23, 25, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 44, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 64, 65, 66, 67, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89, 90, 92, 93, 94, 96, 113, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 125, 126, 127, 138, 140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 154, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 168, 170, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 180, 181, 183, 184, 185, 186, 190, 191, 197, 198, 199, 200, 202, 204, 207, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 230, 231, 232, 234, 235, 237, 238, 239, 244, 245 al-Ahrâm . 10, 12, 13, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 63, 65, 66, 67, 71, 74, 77, 78, 81, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 108, 113, 114, 117, 118, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 132, 136, 138, 140, 141, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 167, 170, 172, 174, 176, 181, 185, 190, 191, 197, 200, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 210, 215, 217, 218, 219, 220, 224, 225, 227, 233, 235, 240, 244, 245 al-Ahrâm al-‘Arabî. 10, 12, 13, 24, 26, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 63, 65, 66, 67, 71, 74, 77, 78, 83, 85, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 108, 113, 114, 117, 118, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 132, 136, 138, 140, 141, 147, 149, 150, 151, 154, 160, 161, 162, 164, 167, 170, 172, 174, 176, 181, 185, 190, 191, 197, 200, 202, 204, 205, 207, 209, 210, 215, 217, 218, 219, 220, 224, 225, 227, 233, 235, 240, 244, 245 Al-Ahram Hebdo . 13, 15, 16, 17, 28, 31, 41, 58, 69, 71, 74, 80, 83, 91, 92, 97, 99, 102, 104, 105, 107, 113, 114, 117, 126, 134, 142, 143, 150, 151, 152, 154, 163, 182, 185, 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, 208, 210, 217, 221, 223, 226, 228, 230, 237, 238,

239 Al-Ahram Weekly. 20, 22, 28, 29, 38, 41, 46, 49, 53, 60, 62, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 108, 109, 111, 115, 117, 128, 129, 131, 134, 136, 137, 142, 143, 144, 153, 154, 158, 165, 167, 170, 179, 180, 182, 183, 187, 189, 190, 202, 203, 204, 212, 215, 229, 230, 240, 244 al-Bashâyyir. 46 al-Bawwâba News. 31, 95 al-Dustûr . 10, 139 al-Fagr. 9, 10, 11, 16, 22, 24, 26, 28, 33, 34, 36, 41, 44, 54, 67, 78, 81, 85, 89, 93, 95, 112, 118, 124, 126, 145, 148, 150, 160, 170, 185, 189, 190, 191, 206, 218, 225, 226, 238 al-Masrî al-Yawm. 9, 10, 11, 13, 24, 25, 28, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 42, 44, 45, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 70, 71, 77, 78, 81, 89, 90, 92, 93, 95, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118, 122, 123, 124, 126, 131, 138, 139, 140, 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 150, 160, 162, 163, 164, 170, 171, 172, 174, 176, 179, 181, 184, 185, 189, 190, 191, 195, 200, 204, 205, 209, 215, 217, 220, 222, 225, 226, 227, 232, 233, 240, 245, 246 al-Musawwar . 22 al-Shurûq . 9, 10, 42, 87, 113, 139, 161, 179, 190, 210, 232, 233 al-Tahrîr. 11, 81, 87, 161, 226 al-Wafd12, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 41, 43, 45, 50, 54, 65, 70, 81, 85, 87, 88, 89, 95, 96, 108, 113, 114, 117, 118, 121, 123, 126, 139, 147, 149, 159, 161, 162, 163, 164, 167, 170, 172, 174, 176, 182, 186, 190, 191, 192, 198, 207, 210, 215, 218, 220, 222, 224, 232, 244, 245 al-Watan . 10, 28, 44, 74, 81, 93, 95, 97, 121, 124, 140, 148, 158, 178, 190, 216, 245 al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 33, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 58, 61, 63, 65, 66, 67, 74, 78, 80, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 111, 117, 118, 119, 121, 123, 125, 126, 131, 132, 136, 138, 139, 141, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 154, 158, 159, 161, 162, 164, 167, 170, 172, 174, 176, 177, 179, 185, 186, 191, 192, 197, 198, 200, 204, 206, 207, 209, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 224, 227, 228, 238, 239, 244, 245 Daily News Egypt . 24, 28, 36 Egypt Independent . 23, 24, 25, 37, 43, 44, 45, 59, 67, 77, 78, 80, 81, 92, 113, 114, 117, 122, 124, 131, 132, 138, 141, 143, 147, 149, 150, 151, 159, 162, 171, 172, 179, 181, 185, 189, 190, 191, 197, 198, 200, 202, 205, 206, 209, 215, 217, 219, 224, 225, 227, 232, 233, 244, 246 Masrâwî. 139 Ruz al-Yûsuf . 24, 26, 33, 34, 41, 71, 74, 77, 83, 93 Sada al-Balad. 9, 12, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 31, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 49, 52, 53, 63, 65, 67, 71, 74, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85, 90, 92, 93, 94, 95, 113, 114, 117, 118, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 131, 132, 136, 138, 140, 141, 145, 147, 148, 149, 151, 154, 159, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 172, 174, 175, 176, 181, 185, 186, 189, 190, 191, 194, 197, 198, 200, 202, 204, 205, 206, 207, 209, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 224, 228, 230, 231, 233, 235, 238, 244, 245, 246 Watanî . 23, 33, 41, 45, 63, 65, 67, 80, 83, 113, 117, 118, 124, 147, 154, 160, 161, 162, 163, 191, 197, 198, 207, 217, 219, 220, 222, 226, 227, 230, 235, 245 Prêtres . 85, 117, 119, 134, 155, 195, 204, 212 Nedjemankh . 119 Procession . 179 Projets Elkab Desert Survey. 15 Gîza Plateau Development Projec. 46 Historic Cairo Rehabilitation Projec (HCRP) . 22, 23, 25, 27, 43, 46, 70, 84, 109, 162, 218, 244, 251 Memphis Walking Circuit Development Projec. 134 ScanPyramids Projec . 56, 181, 187, 189 Puits. 14, 53, 87, 88, 95, 148, 207, 225, 236 Pylône . 150, 152, 153, 242 Pyramides. 14, 41, 56, 63, 77, 80, 84, 91, 125, 129, 132, 148, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 157, 167, 169, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 188, 189, 203, 204, 221, 222, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 242, 243, 254 Pyramide d’Ounas . 125 Pyramide de Chéops . 34, 56, 77, 78, 132,

155, 156, 157, 158, 178, 180, 181, 183, 186, 187, 188, 189, 221, 242 Pyramide de Chéphren. 155 Pyramide de Mykérinos . 122 Pyramidion . 148, 149, 151, 153, 154, 243 Pyramidiots. 181 R Radar . 36, 76, 148, 158, 178, 242 Radiations Rayons laser. 109, 132 Rayons X . 92, 178, 183, 209, 224 Réaménagement 28, 63, 90, 93, 104, 105, 117, 125, 126, 136, 141, 186, 192, 228 Relique . 35, 36, 122, 174 Réplique archéologique 40, 112, 128, 130, 167 Reptiles Cobra. 129 Crocodile . 196, 204, 227 Serpent . 16, 47, 196 Restauration . 10, 12, 17, 23, 24, 26, 28, 35, 39, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 51, 52, 63, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 81, 82, 83, 88, 90, 92, 93, 96, 97, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 118, 121, 126, 135, 139, 142, 143, 144, 146, 151, 152, 154, 157, 159, 161, 162, 163, 170, 171, 180, 181, 191, 195, 199, 202, 213, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 239, 244, 245, 247, 248, 250, 251, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257 Restitution . 30, 61 Résurrecion . 125 Roches Albâtre . 197, 240 Basalte . 45, 71, 158, 203 Diorite. 45, 190, 203 Granit14, 63, 73, 81, 85, 110, 126, 128, 146, 148, 149, 151, 154, 203, 212, 219, 243 Grès . 43 Marbre . 27, 28, 47, 54, 69, 71, 72, 73, 127, 128, 142, 165, 193, 195, 196, 217, 218 Quartzite. 145 Route d’Horus . 39, 40 S Sabîl-kuttâb . 26, 27, 28 Sabîl-kuttâb Khisrû Pasha . 26, 27 Sabîl-s. 27, 28, 42 Saint des saints. 226 Salle hypostyle . 39, 41 Sarcophage . 14, 22, 35, 45, 79, 80, 109, 110, 115, 116, 119, 158, 182, 191, 212, 213, 229, 230, 231, 232, 237, 241, 242, 243 Sauvetage . 10, 52, 113, 162, 163 Sceptre . 216 Scribes. 13, 111, 230, 240, 243 Butehamun . 111 Sérail . 133 Socle. 22, 63, 88, 92, 196 Soldat . 152 Son et lumière. 259 Sondage. 94, 175 Souveraines Cléopâtre. 210, 243 Cléopâtre VII. 210 Hatchepsout . 111, 154, 225, 226 Souverains Akhenaton . 54, 121, 143, 245 Alexandre le Grand . 21, 109, 184, 227 Amenemhat I . 14, 219 Amenhotep 1er110, 111, 127, 128, 129, 216, 217, 228, 229, 237, 240, 242 Amenhotep II. 127, 128, 129, 216, 217, 228, 229, 240, 242 Amenhotep III. 216, 217, 240 Ay . 36, 167 Chéops . 11, 34, 56, 78, 88, 122, 129, 132, 155, 156, 157, 158, 178, 180, 181, 183, 184, 186, 187, 188, 189, 221, 240, 251, 255 Chéphren. 126, 155, 156, 158, 167 Dioclétien . 82 Djedkarê-Izezi . 66, 158 Djoser . 125 Justinien . 234 Khattouchili III. 9 Mérenptah . 78, 169 Mykérinos . 122, 156 Necanébo II. 15 Ounas . 125 Ouserkaf . 126, 153 Pépi II. 149, 151, 153, 243 Psammétique 1er 63, 131, 145, 146, 147, 240 Ptolémée Évergète 1er . 170, 184 Ptolémée Évergète II . 170, 184 Ptolémée V . 228 Ptolémée VI . 228 Ramsès 1er. 9, 14, 22, 38, 39, 41, 96, 131, 134, 135, 137, 141, 146, 147, 149, 150, 152, 153, 160, 165, 166, 168, 169, 171, 192, 197, 198, 200, 219, 242

Ramsès II. 9, 14, 22, 38, 39, 41, 96, 131, 134, 135, 137, 141, 146, 147, 149, 150, 152, 153, 160, 165, 166, 168, 169, 171, 192, 197, 198, 200, 219, 242 Ramsès III. 192 Ramsès VI . 109, 110, 111 Sahourê. 232 Sésostris 1er. 14, 243 Séthi 1er. 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 64, 134, 141, 148, 167, 176 Séthi II. 64 Smenkhkarê . 39 Snéfrou . 66, 239 Souverains musulmans ‘Alî (Muhammad). 19, 24, 25, 26, 28, 46, 53, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 90, 104, 109, 119, 124, 142, 150, 162, 166, 167, 179, 207, 213, 220, 249, 252 al-Ayyûbî (al-Nâsir Salâh al-Dîn) . 61, 231, 245, 253 al-Nâsir Muhammad. 179 Ibn Marwân (‘Abd al-Malik) . 208 Katkhuda (‘Abd al-Rahmân) . 162, 179 khédive Ismâ‘îl. 18, 19, 97, 104, 105, 192, 208, 213 khédive Tawfîq . 104 Nagm al-Dîn (al-Sâlih) . 26, 27, 222 Qalâwwûn (al-Nâsir) . 82 Qâytbây. 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 210, 254 Roi Fârûq Ier. 46, 70, 89, 122, 159, 207, 208, 209 Roi Fu’âd Ier . 89, 176 Shagarat al-Durr . 27 Sultan Hasan . 179, 196, 231 Sultan Husayn Kâmil. 89, 122 Toutmosis 1er . 39, 168, 169, 230 Toutmosis II . 14, 126, 127, 128, 168, 169, 192, 228, 241 Toutmosis III . 14, 39, 116, 127, 128, 168, 169, 192, 228, 241 Toutmosis IV . 155, 171, 229, 242 Toutankhamon. 21, 30, 36, 39, 66, 96, 112, 130, 144, 147, 148, 154, 167, 171, 178, 183, 192, 200, 201, 202, 204, 206, 212, 218, 220, 221, 224, 239, 240 Sphinx. 34, 35, 91, 126, 129, 148, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 182, 190, 202, 221, 235 Statue . 19, 21, 38, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 62, 70, 85, 97, 109, 113, 114, 115, 116, 121, 126, 127, 129, 131, 132, 135, 143, 146, 147, 151, 155, 156, 157, 160, 165, 170, 171, 176, 184, 190, 196, 205, 212, 216, 217, 226, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 236, 237, 240, 241, 243 Statuette. 11, 62, 70, 81, 88, 92, 149, 151, 190, 212, 237, 242 Stèles. 11, 35, 38, 39, 43, 78, 81, 88, 146, 155, 156, 161, 164, 196, 203, 204, 212 Stèle d’Israël . 78 Stèle de la flle de Chéops . 155, 156 Stèle des vicoires de Mérenptah. 78 Stèle du rêve de Toutmosis IV. 155, 157 Survey. 25, 36, 48, 140, 199, 209, 242 Synagogues. 10, 11, 23, 24, 46, 70, 71, 137, 138, 142, 161, 162, 222, 223 Eliyahu Hanavi . 23, 24, 70, 71, 142, 161, 162 Menasce . 10, 11, 137, 138, 142, 143 T Table d’offrande. 116, 241 Takiyat Muhammad Abû al-Dahab. 74 Talisman . 70 Tell-s Tell Abû Sayfî. 41 Tell al-‘Amârna. 54, 121, 143, 245, 248 Tell al-Burg . 39 Tell al-Dab‘a . 219 Tell al- Farâ‘în . 16, 17, 254 Tell al-Hirr . 39 Tell al-Iswid. 17 Tell al-Maskhûta. 41, 223, 224 Tell al-Miqdâm. 71 Tell al-Yahûdiyya. 43, 254 Tell Atrîb . 140, 197 Tell Bastâ . 17, 58, 59, 228, 247 Tell Dafna . 40, 41 Tell Habwa. 41 Temples. 14, 15, 20, 23, 41, 47, 55, 60, 66, 93, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 131, 134, 140, 141, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 160, 165, 166, 167, 168, 176, 182, 184, 195, 197, 203, 216, 217, 226, 227, 240, 241, 242, 243, 245, 247, 248, 251, 253 Temple d’Abû Simbil. 112, 160, 165, 166, 167, 245 Temple d’Amenhotep III . 216, 217, 240 Temple d’Hatchepsout. 154, 226 Temple d’Hathor . 135 Temple d’Herishef . 14 Temple d’Hibis . 55, 251 Temple de Dayr al-Baharî. 111 Temple de Karnak . 41, 117, 154, 195, 245,

247, 253 Temple de Kom Umbû . 227 Temple de Louqsor . 114, 137, 154, 248 Temple de Ptah . 134 Temple de Ramsès II . 150 Terracotta. 62, 81, 241 Textes des Pyramides. 154 Textile. 14, 57, 58, 66, 124, 148, 196, 221, 239, Lin . 14, 191, 230, 231 Tombes . 20, 34, 79, 80, 91, 92, 110, 111, 115, 116, 117, 134, 153, 182, 203, 204, 224, 225, 228, 229, 230, 232, 240, 241, 242, 243, 245 Kampp 143 . 117 Kampp 150 . 115, 229, 230 Kampp 161 . 229 Kampp 390 . 115 Tombe d’Amenhotep 1er . 110, 111 Tombe de Hénénou (TT313) . 14 Tombe de Sénedjem (TT1). 158 Tombe de Séthi Ier (KV17). 148, 167 Tombe de Toutankhamon (KV62). 130, 148, 154, 221 Tombe du vizir Ipi (TT315). 14 Tomographie. 186 Torah . 169 Tourisme 11, 12, 23, 29, 30, 33, 34, 40, 42, 44, 46, 54, 63, 64, 72, 80, 93, 97, 108, 111, 113, 114, 115, 121, 122, 124, 125, 134, 135, 136, 141, 159, 160, 171, 175, 197, 202, 203, 206, 210, 211, 214, 222, 224, 225, 229, 236, 238, 239, 240, 244, 245, 246 Trafc archéologique . 145 Transfert . 17, 22, 31, 32, 35, 45, 48, 66, 123, 145, 159, 166, 176 Tremblement de terre. 76, 111, 217 Trône. 110, 129, 133, 160, 208, 216, 239 U Universités American University in Cairo (AUC) . 31, 61, 257 Johns Hopkins University (JHU) . 28 Nagoya University. 187 Universidad de Jaén . 240 Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) 29, 30 Università degli studi di Milano . 127, 128 Università di Torino. 56 Universität Leipzig . 145 Universität Tübingen. 9 Université Charles de Prague . 143, 152, 242 Université d‘Ayn Shams . 185 Université d’al-Azhar. 168 Université d’Alexandrie. 29, 136 Université d’Hilwân. 29 Université de Genève . 148, 151, 153, 242 Université de la Sorbonne . 39 Université de Lund. 240 Université de Suhâg. 144 Université du Caire . 29, 61, 74, 75, 76, 77, 109, 143, 157, 195, 240, 242 University College London (UCL). 137 University College of Los Angeles (UCLA) . 137 University of Arizona. 136 University of California. 100 University of Cambridge. 121, 143 University of York. 134, 141 Uniwersytet Warszawski. 9, 192, 193, 195 Waseda University . 11 Yale University . 15, 30, 129, 130 Uraeus . 216 V Vallées Vallée de Subayra. 140, 141 Vallée des momies dorées . 21, 240 Vallée des Reines. 154 Vallée des Rois. 36, 56, 109, 110, 113, 128, 129, 137, 148, 192, 221, 245 Vases . 14, 158, 197, 198 Verre. 196, 209, 223, 228 Vierge Marie. 174, 235 Villas Villa Aghion . 86 Villa Cicurel. 86 Vin . 21, 43, 204 Vizirs . 14, 133 Mérérouka . 125 Vol . 17, 20, 21, 44, 45, 46, 50, 65, 81, 83, 89, 96, 111, 118, 122, 124, 158, 159, 166, 174, 176, 198, 199, 220, 245 W Wakâla-s. 25, 26, 222 Wakâlat Bâzar‘a . 222 Wakâlat Uda Pasha . 25 World Heritage Committee (WHC) . 83, 84 Z Zone piétonne. 73, 96, 105, 106