## Egypt Secures
Repatriation of Three Ancient Artifacts from Germany
In a testament to Egypt's
commitment to safeguarding its cultural heritage, the Ministries of Tourism and
Antiquities and Foreign Affairs have successfully repatriated three ancient
artifacts from Germany.
The artifacts, which had been illegally removed from Egypt,
were handed over by a delegation from the German Foreign Ministry's Cultural
and Media Affairs Department to the Egyptian Embassy in Berlin.
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| Egypt Secures |
The returned artifacts
include the hand and head of a gilded mummy, which
had been on display at the Museum of Art in Hamburg
for over three decades. Investigations revealed that these artifacts date back
to the ancient Egyptian civilization, approximately two millennia before the
common era. The circumstances of their original departure from Egypt remain unknown.
Additionally, a "Ankh" amulet dating back to 600 BCE was seized at Frankfurt Airport
by customs officials while attempting to enter Germany
from the United Kingdom.
Minister of Tourism
and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, emphasized the significance of this
achievement, highlighting its contribution to the ongoing collaborative efforts
between Egypt and Germany in
combating illegal antiquities trafficking. He underscored that cultural
heritage constitutes a shared legacy of humanity.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khalid,
Secretary-General
of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the process began when
the Hamburg museum contacted the Egyptian
Embassy in Berlin,
expressing their desire to return the mummy's hand and head. Concurrently, German
customs authorities at Frankfurt Airport successfully confiscated the "Ankh"
amulet, which had been smuggled from Britain.
The repatriation was facilitated by a formal request submitted by the
Egyptian government, aligning with the provisions of the 1970 UNESCO Convention
on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.
The Egyptian Ambassador in Germany received the artifacts from
the German delegation, marking the imminent return of these historical
treasures to their homeland.
Shaaban Abd El-Gawad,
Director
General of the General Administration for the Retrieval of Antiquities and
Supervisor of the Central Administration of Archaeological Ports, clarified
that the recovered artifacts are testament to Egypt's rich history and will soon
be restored to their rightful place within the nation's cultural landscape.
