The Egyptian parliament has given in to most of the culture ministry's suggestions in tightening the antiquities laws to get rid of loopholes. Last week, both the minister of culture as well as the vice minister threatened to resign if the proposed loosening of antiquity laws passed.
The current Egyptian law defines an antiquity as anything older, including buildings and objects more than 100 years old, and all human remains are considered antiquities. In the dictionary, antiquity is described as something before the Middle Ages, so I guess that fits with a description of current Egyptian law.
Those Egyptians unfortunate enough to find an antiquity will now have six months to report it to the Supreme Council of Antiquities instead of the previous two years. Those Egyptians unfortunate enough to inherit their grandmother's antique tea urn will have to report it to the authorities, as it is now known as an antiquity.
Using photographs of archaeological sites or artifacts for commercial purposes without the permission of the antiquities ministry is forbidden. The penalties for anyone caught, smuggling, possessing or inheriting without state permission will be fined with the fines being doubled.
Those caught writing their name on a monument will also receive severe punishment, including six to twelve months in jail.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Restoration of St. Anthony's Monastery
The eight-year restoration of the 1600-year-old Christian monastery St. Anthony's has recently been completed. The restorations to the monastery have been extensive, including a tower, two churches, and the monks' quarters.
The monastery was founded by St. Anthony, who lived in isolation in a cave, and when he died, his followers built the monastery. The timing of the completion of the job is good, as it may hopefully bring a measure of calm and tolerance in light of the recent religious-based murders on the eve of Coptic Christmas.
The monastery was founded by St. Anthony, who lived in isolation in a cave, and when he died, his followers built the monastery. The timing of the completion of the job is good, as it may hopefully bring a measure of calm and tolerance in light of the recent religious-based murders on the eve of Coptic Christmas.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Cave of Giza
Well, this subject is still alive and worth pursuing if only to prove that what Andrew Collins saw was a tomb of the late period "NC2" and not a cave. Certainly, whatever Mr. Collins and his team discovered on their visit in March of 2008 has inspired Dr. Zahi Hawass to investigate further.
Dr. Hawass is pursuing the excavation of "NC2" to show that it is a tomb and what may be discovered about the history of the site. The doctor said, "there are no natural caves at the site, simply a pharaonic tomb later reused as catacombs".
Sales of Mr. Collins' new book, "Beneath the Pyramids," are probably not hurting with this attention.
Dr. Hawass is pursuing the excavation of "NC2" to show that it is a tomb and what may be discovered about the history of the site. The doctor said, "there are no natural caves at the site, simply a pharaonic tomb later reused as catacombs".
Sales of Mr. Collins' new book, "Beneath the Pyramids," are probably not hurting with this attention.
Egyptology and Repatriation
Dr. Zahi Hawass is announcing that there will be several new discoveries revealed in the next few months, including discoveries at Saqqara. He also says he has granted permission for a robot to enter the Great Pyramid to explore the shafts.
Dr. Hawass is set to reveal his interpretation of the results of the CT scanning of the royal mummies, including Tutankhamun and mummies supposedly related to him. The doctor in this article seems assured that he has located the mummy of Akhenaten; no doubt the KV 55 remains, which are almost certainly closely related to the boy king.
Finally, Dr. Hawass talks about the upcoming conference involving 30 countries on the subject of repatriation of antiquities to countries of origin. participating countries include Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, China, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Korea, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru.
Absent from that conference are Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland, making the conference questionable even before it starts, and yes, those objects which Dr. Hawass covets most received mention again!
Dr. Hawass is set to reveal his interpretation of the results of the CT scanning of the royal mummies, including Tutankhamun and mummies supposedly related to him. The doctor in this article seems assured that he has located the mummy of Akhenaten; no doubt the KV 55 remains, which are almost certainly closely related to the boy king.
Finally, Dr. Hawass talks about the upcoming conference involving 30 countries on the subject of repatriation of antiquities to countries of origin. participating countries include Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, China, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Korea, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru.
Absent from that conference are Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the United States, Canada, and Switzerland, making the conference questionable even before it starts, and yes, those objects which Dr. Hawass covets most received mention again!
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