BIA

JUIN 2015
Samedi 6 juin 2015
Claims that nine Late period bronze
artefacts are missing from the stores of the
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) are unfounded,
the Ministry of Antiquities has said in a
statement. GEM Director General Târiq Tawfîq
told Ahram Online that the artefacts are in
store #91 and are in a state of good
conservation.
Tawfîq said the pieces have been in the
same place since February when they were
transferred from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrîr
Square. Tawfîq urged the media not to publish
news before checking the facts. “These
unfounded rumours have negative effects on
Egypt’s reputation in conserving and protecting
its heritage,” Tawfîq said. (Nevine El-Aref, “Late
period bronze artefacts are in GEM storage, not
missing: Ministry”, Ahram Online, June 6, 2015.
Voir également Ahmad Mansûr, « Le ministère
de l’Archéologie nie la disparition de 9 pièces
du GEM », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 5 juin ; Fâdî
Francis, « Le ministère de l’Archéologie nie la
disparition de 9 pièces des magasins du
GEM », al-Masrî al-Yawm, 5 juin).
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Statue in packing
The storage of the Grand Egyptian Museum
(GEM) received Saturday a collection of 247
ancient Egyptian objects from Saqqâra
archaeological site in order to be restored and
prepared for permanent display at the GEM.
The objects are to be stored in the GEM
galleries until its soft opening in 2018.
GEM Director General Târiq Tawfîq told
Ahram Online that the objects are from
different ancient Egyptian eras, among them an
Old Kingdom painted statue of an ancient
Egyptian scribe as well as a large collection of
New Kingdom sarcophagi and limestone stelae.
Among the transferred collection, added
Tawfîq, are objects unearthed by Czech and
Japanese archaeological missions in Saqqâra,
which include a duo of painted statues of
couples wearing curly wigs, male skirts and
long dresses.
‘Îsa Zaydân, director of restoration at the
GEM, told Ahram Online that most of the
objects were restored before packing and that
a detailed list of their shape, size and
condition of conservation was created. He
added that the packing was carried out
according to the latest scientific methods, in
order to protect the objects and provide for
safe transportation.
Last week, said ‘Alâ’ al-Shahhât, director of
the Saqqâra archaeological site, a collection of
432 artefacts were transferred to the GEM from
Saqqâra.
Minister of Antiquities Mamdûh al-Damâtî
said the ministry is exerting all efforts to see
the GEM fully open in 2020. The soft opening
scheduled in 2018 will include the inauguration
of the Tutankhamun collection and the large
hall of stairs. (Nevine El-Aref, “Large tranche of
artefacts transferred to Egyptian Museum from
Saqqâra”, Ahram Online, June 6, 2015. Voir
également Ahmad Mansûr, « 247 pièces
antiques transférées vers le GEM en vue de
leur restauration », al-Yawm al-Sâbi‘, 4 juin ;
MENA, « 432 pièces antiquités transférées de
Saqqâra vers le GEM », al-Shurûq, 4 juin ;
Ni‘mât Magdî, « Le GEM reçoit 247 pièces en
provenance de l’entrepôt muséologique de
Saqqâra », Ruz al-Yûsuf, 4 juin).
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Lundi 8 juin 2015
During a routine inspection tour around al-
Gamâliyya district in Historic Cairo, Antiquities
Minister Mamdûh al-Damâtî stumbled upon a
distinguished Coptic funeral chariot in Bayt al-
Qâdî alley. The wooden chariot dates from the
19 th century. It has four wheels (two large ones
at the back and two small ones in front) and
its body is decorated with foliage on a frame.
BIA LI — Janvier/Juin 2015 149