I - Revue de Presse

BIA
Bulletin dInformation Archologique

XXIV
Institut franais
darchologie orientale
Collge de France
Chaire Civilisation de lgypte pharaonique :
archologie, philologie, histoire
www. egyptologues. net
Patrimoine architectural
des XIX
e
XX
e
sicles,
quel avenir ?
I - REVUE DE PRESSE
1. Thmes gnraux
Disparition
Mustafa Abdallah Shha
Le 25 novembre 2001 sest teint le Dr
Mustafa Abdallah SHHA, professeur darchologie
islamique et vice-doyen de la facult dArchologie
lUniversit du Caire. Il a entam une longue
carrire au sein de lOrganisme des Antiquits
gyptiennes (actuel Conseil Suprme des
Antiquits), o il a sig au Comit permanent des
Antiquits islamiques. Il a fouill Fustt durant de
nombreuses annes. Ensuite, il a embrass la
carrire universitaire. Il tait chef du Dpartement
des Antiquits islamiques et coptes lUniversit
du Caire, o il a dirig de nombreuses recherches
de magistre et de doctorat. Il a galement travaill
et enseign au Soudan, au Ymen puis en Arabie
Saoudite. Il est, surtout, lauteur de nombreux
ouvrages sur les Antiquits islamiques et coptes.
(Abdallah Kmil MS A, Disparition de
larchologue musulman, pionnier des tudes
coptes, al-Qhira du 11 dcembre).
-
- -
Nominations
Samr ANS est nomm directeur gnral
des Antiquits de Miny, en remplacement de
Mahmd HAMZA, parti la retraite.
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Distinctions
Zh Hawws
LAcadmie russe des Sciences remettra,
lors dune crmonie en novembre prochain,
larchologue Zh HAWWS la mdaille en argent
du savant russe Bavel TIRTAGAKOV [sic]. Lex-
secrtaire gnral des Nations Unies, Dr Butrus
GHL est lunique personnalit gyptienne ayant
dj reu cette distinction dispense par lAcadmie
russe. Llection de Zh HAWWS au rang de
membre honorifique de lAcadmie russe des
Sciences vient, en effet, en hommage ses
contributions dans le domaine de larchologie, sa
grande renomme internationale et sa capacit
donner des confrences. (Zh HAWWS reoit la
mdaille TIRTAGAKOV russe, al-Ahrr du 11
octobre).
- - -
Abd al-Azz Slih
Lors de son IV
e
r assembl ement
scientifique tenu du 27 au 29 octobre 2001
lUniversit du Caire, lAssociation des
Archologues arabes a honor la mmoire du
dfunt gyptologue, Dr. Abd al-Azz SLIH,
ancien doyen de la Facult dArchologie, ainsi que
le Dr. Abd al-Rahmn al-Tayyib A L-ANSR,
ancien doyen de la Facult de Lettres lUniversit
du roi SAD et pionnier de larchologie dans la
pninsule arabe. Les armoiries de lAssociation ont
t remises la veuve du Dr. Abd al-Azz SLIH.
(Ihb AL-KHUDAR, Les archologues arabes
examinent le changement du terme les dialectes
smites, Akhbr al-Adab du 4 novembre 2001).
Par ailleurs, conformment aux vux du
Dr. Abd al-Azz SLIH, sa veuve a dcid doffrir
la grande bibliothque archologique ayant
appartenu au Dr. SLIH la facult dArchologie
de lUniversit du Caire. (Luay Mahmd SAD,
Muses et Antiquits, al-Qhira du 16 octobre).
- - -
Le Comit de la culture et de linformation
lAssemble du peuple et lOrganisme central
de comptabilit a adress un message de
remerciement et dapprciation au Conseil
Suprieur des Antiquits pour ce qui a t ralis
par ledit Conseil, durant ces trois dernires annes,
concernant la restriction des dpenses et la
conformit aux rgles et aux lois rgissant sa
gestion de ces dpenses. Tout en prenant les
mesures lgales ncessaires pour viter les
remarques qui lui ont t faites par lOrganisme
central, pendant des priodes prcdentes sur le
gaspillage de fonds en les dpensant sur des
voyages et des crmonies. (Hassan SAADALLAH,
Enregistrement de mosques sur la liste des
Antiquits, Le Progrs gyptien du 12 aot 2001).
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Cooprations
Canada
Bulletin dInformation Archologique XXIV
2
En collaboration avec des experts du
Centre canadien de restauration des manuscrits,
lAdministration de restauration du Conseil
Suprme des Antiquits a entrepris une restauration
minutieuse dune grande collection de papyrus
remontants aux poques ptolmaque et romaine et
conserve actuellement au Muse grco-romain
dAlexandrie. Le directeur du Muse grco-romain,
larchologue Ahmad ABD AL-FATTH, a dclar
quil sagit de documents administratifs retrouvs
dans de nombreux sites archologiques et conservs
dans le muse depuis plus de trente ans. lissue
des quatre mois prvus pour cette opration de
restauration, les papyrus retrouveront nouveau le
chemin des vitrines dexposition. (Les Canadiens
restaurent les manuscrits dAlexandrie, al-Ahrr
du 20 novembre 2001).
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Finlande
Le ministre de la Culture, M. Farouk
HOSNI, a approuv la construction dun Centre
national pour la documentation du patrimoine
civilisationnel et naturel, et ce, en vue de recenser
et de grer les sites historiques, ce qui permettra de
raliser un recensement scientifique, gographique
et qualitatif de ces Antiquits. Cest ce qua dclar
le Secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprieur des
Antiquits, le Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH, avant
dajouter que la construction dun tel Centre
reviendra en faveur du Conseil et des divers
organismes travaillant avec lui, ainsi que les
Antiquits. Il a indiqu quune coordination a t
tablie avec le ministre des Communications et
des Informations en vue de la construction dun
Centre national pour la documentation du
patrimoine civilisationnel et naturel dont la tche
prioritaire sera dlaborer un systme gographique
(GIS) pour les sites historiques, et ce en employant
les techniques les plus modernes disponibles dans
ce domaine. Le Dr GABALLAH a affirm quun
accord a t conclu avec le gouvernement
finlandais pour la fourniture au Centre des
quipements ncessaires afin de tracer les cartes
numriques utilises dans la dlimitation des
frontires et des usages des divers sites historiques.
(Hassan SAADALLAH, Un centre de documentation
du patrimoine civilisationnel en gypte, Le
Progrs gyptien du 23 septembre 2001. Voir
galement Sbit Amn AWWD, Une rserve
lectronique pour le patrimoine civilisationnel, al-
Ahrm du 6 aot).
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Italie
With Italian assistance, an accurate map of
Saqqara archaeological potential is to be charted
with the aim of protecting monuments from natural
and human hazards. The envisaged map covers the
whole of the archaeological area of Saqqara which
stretches to an area of 12 square kilometres Yet
90 per cent of its monuments suffer the effects of
environmental pollution since Saqqara is only a few
kilometres from Giza.
In the first stage of the project all
information and photos published about Saqqara
will be collected to determine sites of the tombs on
the map. The second stage is an extension of the
first one while the third involves details and
paintings in 13 tombs. The team of experts engaged
on the project have resorted to the Remote Sensing
Authority to obtain a satellite picture of the area to
make an analogy with the existing map of the area.
Under the same project equipment for
measuring temperature, humidity and pollution
rates will be installed within three monuments: the
pyramid of Onas and the tombs of Ti and Bitah
Hoteb within a general plan that considers
decreasing the number of visitors in tombs in order
to preserve inscriptions and coloured murals.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Archaeological map of
Saqqara necropolis with Italian help, The Egyptian
Gazette du 27 dcembre 2001, Mushra MSA, Un
projet scientifique en collaboration avec lItalie
pour protger les Antiquits de Saqqra contre les
dangers naturels, al-Ahrm du 24 dcembre).
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Kazakhstan
Le Comit permanent des Antiquits
islamiques et coptes a rejet, lors de sa dernire
runion, la demande prsente par lAmbassade du
Kazakhstan au Caire pour la cration dun fonds
international au nom du sultan al-Zhir BAYBARS.
Ce fonds vise recueillir les dons ncessaires pour
la restauration de la mosque al-Zhir BAYBARS au
Caire. (Luay Mahmd SAD, Muses et
Antiquits, al-Qhira du 30 octobre).
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Pays arabes
Un stage pour la formation lemploi de la
technologie informatique moderne dans la
prservation des Antiquits sera tenu au Conseil
Suprieur des Antiquits du 24 septembre au 3
octobre prochain. Ledit stage qui se tient sous les
auspices du Secrtaire gnral du CSA avec la
participation de 25 pays arabes, parmi lesquels
juillet-dcembre 2001
3
figurent lgypte, le Kowet, la Syrie, lArabie
Saoudite et la Palestine, comprend des confrences
et des visites des sites historiques et des muses.
Cest ce qua dclar la directrice gnrale de la
formation au CSA, M
me
Amal TEWFIQ. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, Un centre de documentation du
patrimoine civilisationnel en gypte, Le Progrs
gyptien du 23 septembre 2001).
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Russie
Le ministre de lEnseignement suprieur,
Dr Mufd SHIHB, a annonc linauguration en
mars prochain du Centre dtudes gyptiennes
dpendant de lAcadmie russe des Sciences. Le
ministre a prcis que ce Centre sera spcialis dans
les tudes sur lgypte ancienne, la restauration et
la fouille archologique et les recherches
anthropologiques compares. Une base de donnes
sur les Antiquits gyptiennes sera cre, ainsi
quune banque de donnes pour lanalyse
archologique, en plus de la publication scientifique
en arabe et en russe. Au cours dun entretien, le
ministre a examin avec Galina BELOVA, le
directeur du Centre, les modalits de cration du
Centre dans le cadre du Protocole culturel et
scientifique qui unit lgypte et la Russie. Les
activits de ce Centre regroupent les fouilles
archologiques dans la rgion de Mt Rahna, la
collaboration dans les oprations de restauration, la
publication de six ouvrages sur lgypte et la
promulgation daccords de coopration avec des
muses gyptiens. (Coopration gypto-russe dans
les fouilles archologiques, al - Waf d du 18
novembre 2001. Voir galement Un Centre russe
pour les tudes gyptiennes, al-Ahrr du 26
novembre).
Mais trois semaines plus tard, la presse
annonce :
Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprme
des Antiquits, Gballah Al GBALLAH, dclare
quil ne voit aucun inconvnient la cration dun
Centre russe pour la restauration et les fouilles
archologiques en gypte, sous rserve dobtenir
lapprobation du Comit permanent des Antiquits.
Mais contrairement ce qui a t publi dans la
presse, nous navons reu jusqu prsent aucune
proposition de lAcadmie russe des Sciences pour
la cration dun tel Centre. Lexprience russe dans
ce domaine est la bienvenue, tant donn que des
experts russes travaillent effectivement sur certains
chantiers archologiques dans les diffrents
gouvernorats. (Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Un Centre
russe pour la restauration des Antiquits
gyptiennes, al-Ahrr du 6 dcembre).
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Unesco
Lgypte poursuit ses efforts en vue de
mobiliser la communaut internationale et
lensemble du monde arabo-musulman pour
la sauvegarde du patrimoine archologique
et architectural palestinien en gnral, et la
ville de Jrusalem en particulier, contre les
agressions israliennes. Celles-ci prennent
plusieurs formes : substitution des
toponymes arabes par dautres juifs ;
interdiction de restauration des monuments
islamiques, destruction de certains dentre
eux, et annexion pure et simple ; effacement
de lidentit arabe et palestinienne, etc.
HOSNI, a lanc un appel pour la convocation dune
runion urgente de la Commission du Patrimoine
international de lUnesco, afin de prendre une
dcision unique sur les moyens de faire face aux
violations dIsral des patrimoines civilisationnel et
islamique du peuple palestinien. Cette mesure a t
prise par M. HOSNI la suite de la dcision dun
groupuscule dintgristes juifs de poser la premire
pierre symbolique du prsum troisime temple de
Salomon, prs de la mosque Al-Aqsa, a dclar le
Secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprieur des
Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA.
Une invitation similaire sera adresse la
Ligue arabe afin de convoquer une runion au
niveau des pays arabes concerns, savoir : le
Maroc, la Jordanie et lAutorit palestinienne, et ce
conformment aux recommandations de la dernire
runion des chefs des Organismes arabes
dAntiquits, qui tait consacre lexamen de la
possibilit de prsenter un mmorandum au nom
des pays arabes membres de la Ligue, destin
prendre une position srieuse contre les violations
et exactions israliennes des lieux saints dans les
territoires palestiniens occups.
ce propos, le ministre de la Culture a
form une commission urgente de suivi, sous la
prsidence du Secrtaire gnral du CSA, et avec la
participation du directeur gnral des Antiquits
dans le Delta, le Dr Mohamed ABDEL MAKSOUD et
le prsident du secteur des Antiquits islamiques,
M. Abdallah EL-ATTAR. Pour sa part, M. ABDEL
MAKSOUD a dclar que les pratiques dIsral
taient considres comme une dsacralisation des
lieux saints et une atteinte flagrante aux sentiments
des musulmans et aux rsolutions de la
Commission de la protection du patrimoine
international.
Selon lui, lUnesco avait dj rejet la
demande dIsral dannexer, en juin dernier lors
4
dune runion de lUnesco Paris, des Antiquits
appartenant la rgion dAl-Qods ses proprits
culturelles. Ceci reprsente une reconnaissance
par la Commission internationale concerne du
patrimoine culturel du peuple palestinien,
notamment les Lieux saints. (Hassan SAADALLAH,
Runion sur les patrimoines du peuple
palestinien, Le Progrs gyptien du 5 aot 2001.
Voir galement Omayma ABDEL-LATIF, Not
impartial, not scientific, Al-Ahram Weekly du 2
aot ; Tha ABDALLAH, Des efforts gyptien-
marocains pour la protection des Antiquits de
Jrusalem, al-Ahrr du 8 dcembre ; Ibtihl
GHAYS, Les archologues appellent lUnesco
sauver les monuments de Jrusalem, Uktubar du
16 dcembre).
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Polmiques
Opra Ada aux Pyramides
Lorganisation dune nouvelle dition de
lopra Ada sur le Plateau de Gza a t, une
fois de plus, le thtre dun conflit ouvert
entre partisans et adversaires de
lexploitation des sites archologiques des
fins touristiques ou artistiques :
When Giuseppe VERDIs Aida was staged
in 1998 and 1999 at the foot of the Giza pyramids,
the production met with great acclaim. Apart from
1987, 1994 and 1997 when the performances were
held in Luxor, and last year when the production
was canceled, the Giza plateau for more than a
decade has been the site of annual productions that
usually draw thousands of people from all parts of
the world. This years production was timed to
coincide with the centenary of the Italian
composers death on 12 October. To create an
unforgettable spectacle, the production design calls
for a lake to be constructed around the stage and a
miniature 15-metre-high step pyramid, made of
wood-coated steel. These innovations by renowned
Italian open-air opera director Pier Luigi PIZZI were
received with enthusiastic praise from Opera House
officials and Culture Minister Farouk HOSNI, but
they were met with by objections from some
Egyptologists.
Some described them as a threat to the
safety and sanctity of the pyramids area. But
others believe that they might improve the
presentation of the opera and provide an additional
attraction to draw people from around the world.
Our goal is to innovate and create a glamorous
atmosphere against the divine pyramid backdrop.
We are always keen on the safety of archaeological
sites because they are our heritage, HOSNI told Al-
Ahram Weekly. He added that to be on the safe
side, a committee comprising Egyptologists,
engineers, technicians and artists will meet within
days to decide whether to go ahead with the
construction of the lake and the replica of the step
pyramid. Antiquities officials are confident that the
methods they have proposed to safeguard the
monuments would be effective. Gaballa Ali
GABALLA, secretary-general of the Supreme
Council of Antiquities (SCA), affirmed that the lake
would not have a negative impact on the
archaeological site. He explained that the proposed
"lake" would actually be a shallow water-filled
trench, 100 metres-long, 10 metres-wide and five to
10 centimetres deep. It is to be lined with stainless
steel-coated iron sheets to prevent water from
seeping into the surrounding area. The amount of
water in the lake will be much less than the rains
that strike the plateau every winter, said
GABALLA.
Voicing a different opinion, Ahmed EL-
SAWI, an Egyptian antiquities professor, pointed out
that constructing a lake inside the archaeological
area contravenes the antiquities law n
o
117 for 1983,
which stipulates imprisonment as the penalty for
anyone who changes, adds to, or disfigures any
archaeological site. He said that if the plan is
implemented, the Ministry of Culture and the SCA
would be culpable for destroying a priceless
archaeological site. ABDEL-HALIM NOUREDDIN,
dean of the Faculty of Antiquities, Fayyoum
University, believes that it is acceptable to utilise
the area surrounding any ancient site, whether it
contains a pyramid or a temple, for cultural
activities, on condition that the use of the area does
not result in its being damaged. However, he
objected to the plan for the lake. It is a very
dangerous plan that does not contain sufficient
protections against water seepage, NOUREDDIN
added.
The executive producer of this years
production of Aida, Hassan KAMI, believes that a
lake is dramatically relevant to the production and
would greatly enhance two scenes. The first is the
celebration of the Egyptian victory and the second
is a scene in the Third Act where Aida sings for the
Nile to help her in her misery. As for the replica of
the pyramid, Aida and her lover will be buried
inside it at the end of the opera. This time, the
opera will be much more dazzling, KAMI said.
What is all this fuss about, wonders Samir
FARAG, head of the Opera House. Why are
Egyptologists afraid of constructing this lake? It is
a small water channel that will be constructed by
the armed forces who guarantee full control of the
water and the prevention of any leakage.
Zahi HAWASS, director-general of the Giza
Plateau and Bahariya oasis, sent his official
objection to GABALLA last week. In his letter
HAWASS described the proposed lake as a threat to
the sanctity and appearance of the plateau. If water
were to seep from the trench, the northern cemetery
5
of Khufus officials would be destroyed, he said.
HAWASS supported his argument by noting that all
rest-houses on the plateau were removed in order to
safeguard against the possibility of any seepage
from their water supplies. (Nevine EL-AREF,
'Lake' Aida?, Al-Ahram Weekly du 6 septembre
2001. Voir galement Al ABD AL-HD, Un
diffrend entre lOpra et le CSA propos du
creusement dun lac artificial sur le Plateau des
Pyramides, al-Akhbr du 29 aot; Nivn YSN,
Le lac dAda, al-Wafd du 15 septembre).
Il est noter que le conflit entre lOpra du
Caire et le CSA a t dvoil par la presse
fin aot, aprs que les Forces armes
gyptiennes avaient dj ralis 60 % des
travaux damnagement du spectacle
contest ! Le ministre de la Culture renvoie
laffaire devant le Comit permanent des
Antiquits gyptiennes : Nous devons
laisser les experts trancher ces questions-l.
Nous ne sommes pas metteur en scne. Par
consquent, il convient de se taire et
dattendre avant de juger lexprience,
surtout que le ralisateur italien PIZZI est
mondialement connu. Je nai aucun parti
pris, si ce nest celui des ides nouvelles.
Car il est trop facile de prendre des
dcisions qui plaisent tout le monde. Je
refuse, toutefois, ce style (Frq HUSN
transmet le problme dAda au Comit
permanent des Antiquits gyptiennes,
Akhbr al-Yawm du 8 septembre. Voir
galement Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Le
Comit permanent tranche le diffrend
autour du lac artificiel de lopra Ada, al-
Ahrr du 14 septembre).
Mais les attentats du 11 septembre 2001 aux
tats-Unis et linvasion de lAfghanistan ont
eu le dernier mot. Lopra de VERDI a t
annul, malgr les quelques millions de
Livres gyptiennes dpenses en dcor et en
campagnes publicitaires internationales
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Muse gyptien
Dans le cadre des travaux de ramnagement
du Muse gyptien du Caire, le Ministre de
la Culture dcide de recouvrir tous les socles
du Muse avec du marbre. Vives
controverses :
Recouvrir tous les socles du Muse
gyptien avec du marbre, cest le projet qui suscite
actuellement une grande polmique au ministre de
la Culture. Lopposition vient de ceux qui sont les
plus concerns: les gyptologues et mme le
directeur du Muse, Mamdouh AL-DAMATI.
Entam dans le plus grand secret il y a quelques
mois, le projet a suscit lmotion, au vu surtout de
son tape exprimentale qui vient de se terminer et
portant sur les frises des murs dune des salles. Je
refuse catgoriquement ce projet, sinsurge le
directeur actuel du Muse, Mamdouh AL-DAMATI.
Pour lui, ce projet est rejeter non seulement du
point de vue esthtique, mais aussi pour les risques
quil ferait courir ldifice mme. Puisque le
marbre constituera une surcharge supplmentaire
sur les fondations Au risque de perdre son poste,
le directeur a envoy cet gard plusieurs lettres de
protestations aux responsables pour suspendre ce
projet. Mais les ordres viennent de plus haut, du
cabinet du ministre Farouk HOSNI. Ce projet a en
effet t sign lors de la priode intrimaire entre
deux directions du muse o des ouvriers ont
dbarqu au mois de mars.
Le sol nest pas trs solide dans plusieurs
endroits du Muse. Il sest presque effondr
certains endroits provoquant des craquelures dans
les socles en bois de certaines statues, dont la
statue colossale dAmenhotep III et son pouse la
reine Tiyi, affirme de son ct une gyptologue
trangre qui prfre garder lanonymat. Raison de
plus pour ne pas admettre le marbre. Des socles en
marbre, cest une ide quon refuse cent pour
cent. Cest contre tous les critres musologiques,
en plus, a donne limpression que nous sommes
dans des toilettes ou dans une caftria un peu
kitsch, ajoute-t-elle.
Les socles utiliss actuellement sont l
depuis 1802, date de la construction du muse, ils
sont conformes aux normes musologiques. Si les
socles en bois sont enrobs de marbre, cela
entravera le dplacement des pices. Un muse
nest pas un espace statique. Il faut que les pices
changent demplacement de temps autre, soit
pour organiser des expositions thmatiques, soit
pour des raisons dactualit, ajoute-t-elle. Le
budget prvu pour cette opration est de 5 7
millions de LE. Du gaspillage, selon les
opposants. Une telle somme aurait suffi la
restauration de beaucoup de pices qui sont dans
un tat lamentable, lance encore lgyptologue.
Pour sa part, le secrtaire gnral du Haut
Conseil des Antiquits (HCA), Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, nest pas au courant de laffaire. Je
vais me rendre au muse pour vrifier exactement
de quoi il sagit. Le ministre de la Culture, Farouk
HOSNI , qui a donn le feu vert aux travaux,
reconnat que lamnagement en cours nest pas
un projet idal mais au moins le muse deviendra
plus propre et plus beau. En ce qui concerne le
poids du marbre et les risques quil prsente, le
ministre argumente que le projet est entre les
mains de spcialistes, cest eux de trancher une
telle question, ajoute-t-il.
6
De son ct, Aymane ABDEL-MONEIM,
conseiller auprs du ministre de la Culture,
explique quil y a deux oprations en cours. La
premire est la restauration des fissures qui se
trouvent dans les dpts du muse et qui va coter
2,5 millions de L.E. et la deuxime consiste
recouvrir les socles et le parterre du second tage de
marbre avec un cot de 43 millions de L.E. Le sol
du muse au deuxime tage est en mosaque
recouvert dune couche synthtique. Sil avre que
le marbre est plus lourd que la mosaque, on va
arrter les travaux. On ne peut pas prendre une
telle responsabilit, alors que pour les socles, cest
une dcision dfinitive, assure le conseiller du
ministre.
Certes, le ct esthtique au Muse
gyptien est loin dtre la hauteur, que ce soit au
niveau de lclairage, du nettoyage, de la
conservation ou de lexposition mme, or, on voit
mal ce que le marbre apportera comme solution ou
amlioration. Voire, il constitue dun accord quasi
commun une touche de laideur apporte ce muse
qui, comme le revendiquent les spcialistes, a
besoin dun plan damnagement bien conu et
mieux pens. (Hala FARES, Sous le signe de la
controverse, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 11 juillet 2001).
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Tlphrique dAswn
Si lide dinstaller un tlphrique Aswn
tait dans lair depuis un certain temps dj,
ce nest quen juillet 2001 que la presse
commence en parler dune faon plus
prcise :
Le gouvernorat dAswn t udi e
actuellement une proposition prsente par un
groupe dinvestisseurs arabes visant limplantation
de tlphriques dans les villes dAswn et dAbou
Simbel. Il sagit dun des nouveaux projets
touristiques dans la rgion du temple de Kalbsha et
du jardin botanique Aswn. En plus dun autre
tlphrique, qui devrait relier laroport dAbou
Simbel aux temples de Ramss II et de Nfertari.
(Sad GAML AL-DN, Tlphrique entre les
temples archologiques Abou Simbel et
Aswn, al-Ahrr du 4 juillet 2001).
Notons que ce mme investisseur Kowetien
avait auparavant propos sans succs
linstallation dun tlphrique sur lle de
Philae. Mais les bateliers sy taient
farouchement opposs. Allch par la
promesse de cration de nouveaux emplois,
le gouvernorat dAswn accueille
favorablement cette nouvelle proposition. En
revanche, le Conseil Suprme des Antiquits
sen dmarque. En effet, lors de sa runion
du 5 dcembre 2001, le Comit permanent
des Antiquits gyptiennes a rejet
lunanimit ce projet de tlphrique entre
les deux rives dAswn :
des Antiquits, Dr Gballah Al GBALLAH, a
affirm lors de la runion de la Commission
suprieure avoir ordonn de traduire le directeur
des Antiquits dAswn, Al AL-AKHFAN, devant
une commission denqute. Celui-ci avait
outrepass ses prrogatives en accordant un accord
de principe sur le projet du tlphrique dAswn
prsent par un investisseur Kowetien et rejet par
le CSA. Laval du directeur des Antiquits
dAswn a, en effet, embarrass et le ministre de
la Culture et le CSA. (Rz al-Ysuf du 29
dcembre. Voir galement Mushra MSA, La
ville dAswn deviendra-t-elle un parc dattractions
ou un ple archologique international ?, al -
Ahrm du 18 novembre ; Le Comit permanent
refuse lunanimit le projet de tlphrique,
Akhbr al-Yawm du 8 dcembre).
En effet, nombreux seront les dtracteurs de
ce projet touristique :
() Mais le Haut Conseil des Antiquits a
refus lide arguant quAssouan devait prserver
son patrimoine, son environnement naturel et ne pas
difier des tablissements en bton. Une position
soutenue par le ministre de lEnvironnement.
Nous ne sommes pas contre les projets
dinvestissement en gypte, surtout sils mnent
la croissance des ressources et ouvrent de
nouvelles portes pour la main-duvre. Cependant,
ceux-ci ne devraient jamais tres raliss aux
dpens des Antiquits et du patrimoine gyptiens.
Cette phrase de bon sens sort de la bouche de Dr
Gaballah Ali, Secrtaire gnral du Haut Conseil
des Antiquits. La loi sur la protection des
Antiquits interdit dailleurs les constructions sur
les sites antiques et il existe des rgles strictes en
cas dinstallation proximit.
Le doyen de la facult dAntiquits de
lUniversit du Caire se montre affirmatif. Chaque
projet touristique doit avoir un seul but, dclare-t-
il: protger les Antiquits pour lesquelles les
touristes viennent en gypte. Il doit pargner non
seulement le monument mais aussi le milieu qui
lentoure. Les gens viennent chez nous pour jouir
du monument au sein de son environnement
naturel tout changement daspect reprsente une
violation des droits du touriste et une dfiguration
de lhistoire.
De son ct, le directeur gnral des
Antiquits de Guizeh, le Dr Zahi HAWASS, sest
oppos catgoriquement au projet du tlphrique.
Jai dj refus lanne dernire lexcution du
projet dans la rgion des pyramides de Guizeh, car
nous ne voulions pas davantage de cette pollution,
7
multiplie par le nuage noir, qui menace nos
Antiquits. Selon lui, il existe une limite de
scurit pour chaque monument. Il est interdit de
crer des activits lintrieur de cette limite mme
si cest une activit touristique telle quun
restaurant. Je dtermine la limite de scurit
une surface entre 1 et 5 kilomtres autour du
monument.
Un autre responsable des Antiquits estime
que la rgion dAssouan doit tre rapidement
transforme en rserve naturelle pour contrer tous
ceux qui essayent de la dfigurer. Un tlphrique
dfigurerait la rgion antique dAssouan mme sil
ne touche pas les gravures des pierres, souligne-t-
il. Le passage dun tlphrique dans cette zone
influerait ngativement sur le panorama et sur la
rgion antique surtout quil se trouverait 250
mtres au nord du tombeau de lAgha Khan et
400 mtres louest des cimetires. Il influerait
aussi sur la beaut des sites antiques dautant que sa
dernire station est prvue tout prs des spultures
des nobles.
Le vice-doyen de la facult de Tourisme,
le Dr Ali OMAR, trouve de toute faon que cela
nest pas forcment viable au niveau conomique.
Nous navons pas besoin dinvestir dans de tels
projets. En prenant en considration le prix du
billet de la visite plus celui du billet du
tlphrique, je me demande si les gens le
prendront. Et mme si les rendements
sannonaient importants, la protection de la
nature et de la rgion ncessite le sacrifice de ce
projet, continue-t-il. a suffit, nous avons dj
les hauts btiments qui entourent les monuments du
Caire. Les touristes trouvent du plaisir se
promener Assouan par bateau. Ils utilisent sans
doute des genres de tlphriques encore plus
modernes dans leurs pays. Quand ils viennent en
gypte, ils prfrent un trajet au milieu des
Antiquits gyptiennes pour imaginer comment
lancien gyptien arrivait du ct ouest et
comment, la suite de ce long chemin, il entamait
la construction de cimetires et les temples.
Pour sa part , l e prsi dent de
lAdministration centrale pour la protection de la
nature au ministre de lEnvironnement, le Dr
Moustafa FOUDA, a annonc le veto du ministre
sur ce projet de tlphrique la suite de
discussions et dtudes dtailles labores par les
experts de lenvironnement. Ce projet de
tlphrique doit traverser les rserves naturelles
que sont les les dAssouan Salouga et Ghazal
ainsi que les les nilotiques. Il est interdit
dinstaller des activits susceptibles de dtruire ce
milieu, a-t-il conclu. (Alia ABOU EL-EZZ, Le
tlphrique menace le patrimoine dAssouan, Le
Progrs gyptien du 6 dcembre 2001. Voir
galement Islm AFF, Le tlphrique menace le
patrimoine dAswn !, Akhbr al-Yawm du 24
novembre).
-
- -
Temples dAbu Simbel
Lrection dune clture de 1,70 m autour
des temples dAbu Simbel suscite
lindignation des professionnels du tourisme
et des propritaires des bateaux de croisires
qui mouillent aux pieds du temple de
Ramss II. Sur fond de scandale politico-
financier, cest toujours le mme dilemme :
impact du tourisme de masse sur les
Antiquits et difficult de mettre au point un
projet de dveloppement de ces rgions
hautement touristiques :
It all started with the wall: a 1.7-metre-
high iron and cement fence snaking around the Abu
Simbel temple complex overlooking Lake Nasser.
Completed only three weeks ago, the wall hasnt
won much praise for its aesthetic qualities. The
word "ugly" seems to spring to the lips of luxury
cruise-ship owners, tour operators and guides when
expounding on the structure.
It may seem like a small issue, but
aesthetics are everything for Egypts booming
tourism industry. The wall has launched a furious
debate over issues ranging from security, to
preservation, to cruise operators cheating the
government on ticket costs. The Ministry of Culture
firmly maintains that the wall will ultimately
protect both the monument and the people who visit
it, but those who have much to lose from the
erection of the fence accuse the government bodies
behind the ministrys LE9 million development
project at Abu Simbel of threatening business on
Lake Nasser and defiling the sanctity of the
complex. An affronted Ministry of Culture went on
to retort that the cruise boats, by anchoring directly
in front of the temples, are both spoiling the superb
vista and damaging the rocks against the shore.
The ministry also shot a final accusation at
angry cruise operators: by docking on the shore in
front of the temple, tour operators have been getting
away with not paying the temple fees. Passengers
simply disembark and walk straight to the temple.
The ministry also claims that those spending the
night on boats parked outside the temple complex
are treated to a free performance of Abu Simbels
Sound and Light show, once again depriving the
government of the revenue from ticket sales.
Minister of Culture Farouk HOSNI told Al-
Ahram Weekly that the fence would help tighten
security over such a vast site. Mobile and fixed
cameras installed along the fence will keep the
whole area under close surveillance and this will
prevent illegal entry, said HOSNI. To stress his
point that numerous visitors at Abu Simbel were
8
not paying customers, HOSNI cited the example of a
police report on one of the vessels, which bought
tickets for 40 persons and then proceeded to admit
83.
The businessmen behind these tours,
however, tell a different story and they too,
provide their own documents. We have all the
documents proving that we pay all entrance fees, as
well as all the necessary fees for the Sound and
Light show, yet they [the Ministry of Culture] are
calling us thieves, fumes Moustafa EL-GUINDY,
owner of Eugenie and Kasr Ibrim, the first cruise
boats to be launched on Lake Nasser questions this:
If we are thieves, then their employees are also
thieves, because they allow tourists to enter without
the proper tickets. And even if this is the case, will a
fence solve this problem?
Cruise operators are reeling from what
they claim is an about-face by the government in its
position on Lake Nasser cruises. Many describe the
current position adopted by the Ministry of Culture
as a death certificate for their businesses. EL-
GUI NDY recounts that when he first suggested
launching a cruise on Lake Nasser a decade ago, all
the governmental bodies supported him, starting
from the president on down to current Minister of
Culture HOSNI and former Minister of Tourism
Fouad SULTAN. I have written approval from
Farouk HOSNI permitting me to anchor in front of
the temple, says EL-GUINDY. I also have written
approvals from previous secretary-generals of the
Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA): Abdel-
Halim NOUREDDIN, Ali HASSAN and current
Secretary-General Gaballa Ali GABALLA. Why, after
all these years, are they now saying they
disapprove?
On the issue of the Sound and Light show,
EL-GUINDY is particularly indignant. He says that
he and a number of other investors made an
agreement with the shows officials to pay the full
price of a ticket for every one of their passengers,
whether they watched the show or not. It is
important to mention that about 95 per cent of the
income of the [Sound and Light] show comes from
cruise boats. To drive his point home, EL-GUINDY
noted that travellers who come by bus or plane
rarely stay overnight at Abu Simbel.
EL-GUINDYs argument is backed up by
Mohamed SHAFIQ, managing director of the Sound
and Light Company. I do not have any problems
with the cruise ships owners; they pay for Sound
and Light tickets for all their passengers, even if
few of them actually watch the show from the ships
deck. SHAFIQ reiterated that almost all of the
estimated 500 spectators who take in the Sound and
Light show at Abu Simbel daily come from the
cruise boats. Unfortunately for visitors in general
flights and hydrofoils to Abu Simbel are only
scheduled in the morning. There is not one flight
at night, and even the newly opened road between
Aswan and Abu Simbel is closed at night, groaned
SHAFIQ.
By the time the Aswan High Dam was
completed in 1971, the whole of Nubia was
inundated in water what became Lake Nasser.
Fourteen of the great temples of Nubia were
successfully transferred to higher ground for their
preservation, the greatest feat of all being the
transfer of the Abu Simbel temple complex, built
by Ramses II, which originally sat on the bank of
the Nile some 300 kilometres south of Aswan. The
creation of Lake Nasser sent many of these temples
into oblivion, as they were difficult to reach. The
advent of Lake Nasser cruise ships in 1990,
spearheaded by EL-GUINDY, allowed Abu Simbel
to become a key tourist attraction in Upper Egypt.
Nubia was not on the beaten track until I launched
the Lake Nasser cruise, says EL-GUINDY. All the
temples were inaccessible and nobody thought of
visiting them. There were no entrance fees for the
Nubian temples. The lake, as a tourist attraction,
was neglected for about 30 years. When I thought
of the Lake Nasser cruise, people said I was mad
and was going to lose my money. Now these
temples have become important and are a source of
good money for the country. Last year alone I paid
about LE5.5 million in entrance fees for the Nubian
sites on the lake for my two cruise ships.
The government originally professed that
erecting a wall around the temple complex was a
way of addressing security concerns and controlling
the people who enter the complex. One day we
[investors] woke up to find a cement fence
surrounding the temples of Abu Simbel. When we
asked about the reason, we were told that new
electronic fences would be built around all the
ancient sites of Egypt as a part of a security plan,
recalls EL-GUINDY. Officials said that in Abu
Simbel there could be an attack from the lake. But
when we saw that the fence in Abu Simbel was
destroying the scenery of the place, we started to
complain.
At the time, Simon LAXTON, managing
director of Thomas Cook Holidays, sent a letter to
Egyptian officials inquiring about the reasons
behind the construction of the fence at Abu Simbel.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the
Weekly, detailed LAXTONs concerns over why the
fence was built and warns that tourism will suffer
because of the project. It is with amazement and
disbelief that I have received some very sad news
about Abu Simbel. I find it hard to believe reports
that a cement wall has been built around the
enclosure of the temples of Abu Simbel. I
understood that this is to protect the tourists from
an attack from the water. The whole concept of
building a wall around the temple area to protect
tourists is, I feel, very worrying. The government
has been continuously issuing assurances that the
9
terrorist problem is finally under control and that
[terrorism] poses no risk to tourism in Egypt. Is
this, therefore, not so? It would seem that there is,
once again, a great risk and perhaps one would
review our current commitment, LAXTON wrote.
Later, the letter addresses the issue of
cruise boats docking at the temples shore. There
is news that cruise ships will not be allowed to
anchor in front of Abu Simbel temples. If this is the
case, why should we even go through all of this
hassle to visit these sites? Why should we pay for
the son et lumiere and include it in our
brochures?... In order to be frank with a country
that considers tourism a main source of income, I
believe that the government should reassess its
stance and support our efforts in this situation,
because this act will minimise our efforts and will
negatively affect tourism.
EL-GUINDY says that when government
officials felt that their security measures might have
an impact on tourism revenue, they changed their
story and said that the fence was being built to
deter the destruction caused by cruise ships. The
controversy has exasperated everyone involved, but
it is nowhere near resolution. Gaballa Ali GABALLA
says that the whole debate is blown out of
proportion, noting that passengers on cruises still
have an clear view of the temples. The fence is
constructed on a lower level than the ships last
floor and deck. It is only 1.7 metres high; its first 60
centimetres are made of [cement] block ,while the
rest is iron-mesh fence, which allows for an
unobstructed view of both temples.
But the fence is not all that is
controversial. Ayman ABDEL- MONEI M, the
archaeologist responsible of the restoration and
development project at Abu Simbel insists that
these steps are necessary to put a stop to the harm
being caused by the cruise boats. Abu Simbel is an
important historical monument, the sanctity of
which must be upheld. It cannot be treated like a
furnished apartment up for rent, ABDEL-MONEIM
said furiously. He added that if the cruise boats
continue to dock on the original rock of the area, in
three to five years they will by anchoring at Ramses
IIs feet.
Which brings us to the problem of the
docks. Starting in 1993, boats anchored on the rock
right in front of the temple, a practice that has
resulted in the deterioration of rock-face. To
remedy the situation, the minister of culture
explained that in collaboration with the Aswan
governorate, a special dock has been set up for the
cruise boats but they never obey the law.
Down in Abu Simbel and in front of the very
anchors that eat away at the majestic stone, Galal
HAMED, deputy cruise director of the Kasr Ibrim
ship, told the Weekly that vessel owners had refused
to transfer their permanent docks to the newly
erected one not out of stubbornness, but because
the new dock is not safe. HAMED claims the new
spot is not suitable as a place for visitors to
disembark, adding that experts who reviewed the
safety of the new port attested that it is not efficient
for steamers anchoring. The new port was
originally part of Abu Simbels fishing port and it is
argued that its docks are too shallow to hold up the
cruise ships draft. Further, the smell of fish is
rather prevalent a fact tourist operators feel will
not wash down well with their five-star passengers.
There is also a whiff of double standard to
the governments argument. We anchor about 120
metres away from the temples, whereas Nile cruises
between Luxor and Aswan anchor immediately on
the rocks of some of the Nile temples, for example,
at Kom Ombo or the Luxor temples, argues Nagui
ERIAN, owner of the Prince Abbas cruise ship run
by Thomas Cook.
Is the fence and alternative dock at Abu
Simbel an affront to the tourism industry? It
depends on your point of view. The concept of the
cruise itself depends on a stunning view that serves
Abu Simbel as a backdrop to remarkable sunsets
and candlelight dinners. The whole marketing of
the trip depends on this image. All the brochures
and flyers that we distribute depend on the photo of
our cruise ships in front of the temples, EL-
GUINDY notes. But the Ministry of Culture has held
fast to its position. I will only remove the fence if
the cruise ships move far from the temples, said
Farouk HOSNI in no uncertain terms. In response,
some investors feel they may have to pull out. I
sold everything I have in order to make my dream
of cruise ships on Lake Nasser come true, says EL-
GUINDY. I had a cruise ship on the Nile that I sold
to build up my Lake Nasser project and now it
seems that everything is collapsing. The day that I
am removed from the front of [Abu Simbel] is the
day that I will declare my two boats are for sale.
A three-day cruise on Lake Nasser begins
in Aswan: the first night is spent at the Aswan port
and the second day features visits to small Nubian
temples on Lake Nasser relocated during the
building of the High Dam. These include Qertassi,
Beit El-Wali, Wadi El-Sebou, Dakka, Maharraqa,
Amada, Derr and the tomb of Pennut, in addition to
the temple of Kalabsha, the largest Nubian temple.
For these to be visited, cruise ships anchor in the
middle of the lake and use zodiacs. The third night
is the climax of the trip Abu Simbel. As far as
EL-GUINDY is concerned, Without us Nubia will
die.
Which may be at least part of the point of
the development plans for the area to alleviate
the dependency on cruise ships. According to
Hussein MOKHTAR, head of the Information
Authority Office in Abu Simbel, an alternative
docking position for cruise ships is a good decision
10
since it will spur the development of alternative
tourist attractions. It will no longer be 'Good
morning Abu Simbel,' and 'Good-bye Abu Simbel'.
Transporting tourists from the new port to the
temples will give them the opportunity to see the
forgotten city of Abu Simbel, with its Nubian-style
houses and traditional coffee shops. Tourists will
no longer be confined to the inside of their cruise
ships and will be directly connected with the citys
inhabitants. Adel FEKRY, a Spanish tour guide,
agrees, adding, This will enable small businessmen
to open enterprises in the city.
Minister of Tourism Mamdouh EL-
BELTAGUI recently held a meeting with SCA
representatives, security officials, hotel owners and
cruise ship operators to discuss means of
developing the tourist city of Abu Simbel. In the
meeting, EL-BELTAGUI pointed out that a cabinet
decision forbids boats anchoring in front of the Abu
Simbel temples. He also asked the owners of cruise
ships to take steps towards establishing an
alternative dock approved by all the concerned
bodies. He stressed that cruise ships are only
allowed to anchor in front of the Abu Simbel
temples as a temporary measure, until the new dock
is completed.
Accordi ng t o Abdel -Mohayymen
Mohamed SAAD of the Ministry of Tourism-
affiliated Tourist Development Authority (TDA),
investors are happy with this decision and approve
of it a statement categorically denied by EL-
GUINDY, who claims, We did not even attend the
meeting. We boycotted it. EL-GUINDY seems to
think that the Ministry of Tourism is using private
investors to solve their own problems. All of the
hotels of Abu Simbel suffer from very low
occupancy rates. Cruises enjoy occupancy rates
that range from 50 to 60 per cent, while hotels
receive only 5 per cent. To get out of this problem,
it was suggested that a dock for cruise ships be
built in front of a hotel, claims EL-GUINDY. He
again stressed that none of the cruise ship owners
will approve the new dock because of the long walk
between the hotel and the temples 30 to 45
minutes. Nagui ERIAN, who owns the Prince Abbas
cruise ship, is equally furious about this idea. How
can I anchor in front of a competitors hotel? How
can I bring him my guests? He is promoting himself
at our expense.
What a mess, sighs GABALLA, who,
despite all the controversy and discrepancies,
continues to argue that the aim of the development
project is to protect important monuments and
provide excellent services to the sites visitors. He
went on to detail the effort being put into Abu
Simbel, including restoration of the temples
internal reliefs and engravings. A small visitors
centre has also been built at the foot of the temples,
equipped with a lecture and cinema hall where
documentary films on the salvage operation and the
relocation of Nubians to new homes in Egypt and
the Sudan will be screened.
Leaving the bustle of controversy aside,
one enters the temples of Abu Simbel in search of
serenity, only to be disturbed by the loud voices of
tour guides and their clients reverberating against
the ancient walls. Taking in the legends of the
battles fought by Ramses II, one fears that the grand
remains of those legends may not survive the
modern battles of profit, bureaucracy and
conflicting interests. (Nevine EL-AREF and Rehab
SAAD, The wall, Al-Ahram Weekly du 19 juillet
2001).
-
- -
Le Caire fatimide
Les travaux de restauration du Caire
fatimide sont lobjet dcres critiques et
contestations :
La mosque de Gamaleddine AL-
USTADAR ressemble maintenant un jacuzzi. Cest
ce quun envoy de lUnesco, le professeur
Flemming ALOND vient de mentionner dans son
rapport concernant cette mosque rcemment
restaure. Dans un rapport de vingt pages,
Flemming rsume ltat lamentable des travaux de
restauration du Caire fatimide. La mosque AL-
USTADAR ne serait quun exemple parmi dautres.
Le document a t rcemment envoy M
m e
Suzanne MOUBARAK.
En fait, ce nest pas le premier rapport qui
soit adress la premire dame dgypte puisquil
y a quelques mois, une trentaine darchologues,
historiens, professeurs de grandes universits et
crivains lui ont adress une ptition. Parmi eux,
des noms de grande renomme dans les milieux
archologiques comme James ALLAN, professeur
de lart islamique au muse Ashmolean dOxford,
la princesse Wijdan ALI, prsidente de la Socit
jordanienne royale des Beaux-Arts et doyen des
recherches lInstitut jordanien de la diplomatie,
Oleg GRABAR, professeur de lart islamique
lUniversit de Harvard, et Andr RAYMOND,
professeur lUniversit dAix-en-Provence et ex-
directeur de lInstitut du monde arabe Paris.
Lhistoire a commenc quand un crivain
amricain, Caroline WILLIAMS, a visit lgypte
pour prparer la cinquime dition de son livre The
Islamic Monuments in Cairo: a Practical Guide.
Elle a estim que les travaux de restauration du
Caire fatimide sont dsastreux. Ce qui la pouss
rdiger une ptition dans laquelle elle a collect la
signature dune trentaine de personnalits qui
partageaient la mme opinion quelle. Je lai
adresse M
me
Suzanne MOUBARAK parce que je
11
sais quelle accorde un grand intrt la culture et
je lui ai demand une assistance effective,
sexprime Caroline WILLIAMS. Cest en fait le
projet de restauration du Caire fatimide qui est mis
en cause, faute de planification et de restauration.
Celui-ci, selon ses dtracteurs, est bas sur des
principes qui contredisent la charte de Venise de
1964 sur la prservation du patrimoine mondial.
Dans cette ptition, Caroline WILLIAMS dplore
aussi lusage du ciment portland dans la
restauration des mosques dIbn Touloun, de
Qanibay Al-Mohamadi, de Mohamad Al-Kourdi en
plus de la khanqa (couvent) de Chaykhoune et le
complexe du sultan Qalaoun, Qatbay et Qorqomas.
Le principal argument de ce rapport rside
dans la falsification des valeurs artistiques et
historiques. Cest--dire le non-respect de la facture
authentique des btiments historiques. Lautre
problme majeur est celui du niveau de leau
souterraine. ceci sajoute lutilisation de
nouveaux lments et les mauvaises mthodes de
nettoyage qui causent lrosion et par la suite la
destruction. Cette ptition a dnonc de mme
lintervention de socits dentreprises qui ont peu
dexprience dans les arts raffins de la
restauration. En outre, ce rapport dnonce aussi les
violations dont souffre la plupart des monuments
islamiques (empitement dhabitants et dateliers
sur les sites et ses alentours). Celles-ci sont au
nombre de 1064, dont 334 lintrieur mme des
monuments.
Suite cette ptition, lUnesco a envoy le
professeur Flemming ALOND afin de vrifier les
faits. Son rapport ntait pas plus optimiste que la
ptition de WILLIAMS. Il reprend presque les
mmes accusations de Caroline WILLIAMS. Mais il
est vrai aussi que ce rapport a mis en relief
seulement deux travaux de restauration inadquate
celles des mosques de lUstadar et de
Sarghatmach. Le HCA en a profit pour attnuer les
accusations contre les travaux de restauration quil
a mens. Rien que deux monuments sur 50 ont
provoqu des remarques de la part des
responsables de lUnesco se flicite ainsi Aymane
ABDEL-MONEIM, charg du projet de restauration et
de rnovation du Caire historique plac sous la
houlette du minsitre de la Culture et du HCA.
Un expert de lUnesco a conseill dviter
les travaux de restauration trop htifs. Restaurer
47 monuments au cours de cette courte dure (trois
ans), cest vraiment trop rapide, sest exclam un
autre responsable de lUnesco, Francisco
BANDERA. Ce directeur du Centre de lhritage
mondial a donn une confrence de presse la
semaine dernire lOpra du Caire en prsence du
ministre de la Culture, Farouk HOSNI. Ce dernier a
lui aussi reconnu pendant la mme confrence quil
nexiste pas un grand ouvrage sans faute. Mais on
essaye de remdier nos erreurs afin quelles ne
soient pas fatales, surtout quil existe plusieurs
coles de restauration, a-t-il dit. Il se rfrait
lexistence de courants qui plaident pour une
rnovation des sites antiques quand il le faut, tout
en maintenant un aspect du site authentique. La
tendance la mieux dfendue dans la plupart des
milieux tant en gypte que dans le monde, cest de
maintenir tel quel le site en le protgeant. Zahi
HAWAS, directeur du plateau de Guiza, navait-il
pas eu cette boutade: Peut-on ajouter des bras la
Vnus de Milo?.
Pourtant, les experts trangers ne sont pas
les seuls critiquer les travaux de restauration. Le
Dr Haggagui IBRAHIM, professeur de restauration
la facult des Lettres de lUniversit de Tanta,
assure que les restaurations actuelles sont la cause
principale de la dgradation des monuments
islamiques. Sous le clich de la restauration, on
dtruit ldifice authentique et on le substitue par
un autre nouveau. Ceci est contre toute conception
scientifique de restauration, dit-il. Selon lui, le
maintien et la prservation dun monument exigent
quil ne perde pas son caractre authentique. Il faut
ainsi viter lutilisation des matires nuisibles ou
diffrentes des matriaux originaux avec lesquelles
sont construits les monuments. Le Dr HAGGAGUI a
demand aussi de prendre en considration ltat du
monument de lintrieur et daccorder de grands
soins la restauration minutieuse.
Le Dr HAGGAGUI nest pas le seul se
plaindre du niveau de restauration. Mohamad AL-
KAHLAWI, professeur de restauration la facult
dArchologie de lUniversit du Caire, partage les
mmes points de vue. Il ajoute que 27 monuments
au moins se sont effondrs pendant les dernires
annes, faute de restauration adquate et 4 autres
ont compltement disparu: les mosques Qanibay
Al-Rammah et Fatma Al-Nabawiya et les coles
Kamliya et Sadate Al-Saaliba. Quant la mosque
de Saleh Talae et la coupole de la mosque du
sultan Qalaoun, elles sont sur le point de
seffondrer sous leffet de la monte des eaux
s out er r ai nes , assure-t-il. En fait, a p r s
linstallation des rseaux dgouts et de leau
potable au Caire en 1920, le terrain a t affect
cause de linfiltration des eaux avec un
pourcentage de plus de 40 %, avertit le Dr AL-
KAHLAWI. Le spcialiste va jusqu affirmer quil
vaut mieux laisser le monument seffondrer que de
le substituer par un autre. Ce qui se passe ces
jours-ci est une affaire de rnovation et na aucun
rapport avec les normes universelles de la
restauration. Parfois, des parties qui ont t
compltement dtriores sont reconstruites en
utilisant des matires contemporaines comme le
bton arm et le ciment. Cest le cas de la mosque
Amr Ibn Al-Ass o des colonnes en bton arm ont
t installes au lieu des originales qui taient en
brique rouge. Nest-ce pas une falsification des
lments historiques de la plus ancienne mosque
du Caire, se lamente le Dr AL-KAHLAWI.
12
Aymane ABDEL-MONEIM, directeur du
Centre de restauration du Caire historique,
reconnat lexistence de ces dommages, mais
affirme quils ne rsultent pas des travaux actuels.
Ce nest pas de notre faute, ces travaux ont t
entams dans les annes 1980. On essaye de
reconstruire ces colonnes qui staient inclines
pour sauver la mosque. De plus, on ne fait plus de
restauration Amr Ibn Al-Ass. Au contraire, on
limine le ciment, on ne lajoute pas, explique
Aymane. Il nie aussi sa responsabilit quant
leffondrement des monuments dj cits. Lcole
Kamliya par exemple sest effondre en 1880
pendant les travaux du Comit arabe des
Antiquits, et la mosque de Fatma Al-Nabawiya
nest pas enregistre sur la liste du patrimoine.
Le dbat bat son plein. Aussi le Dr Hosni
NOWEISSAR, directeur du Centre de restauration
lUniversit du Caire, assure que plus de 80 % des
monuments islamiques sont trs bien restaurs. Il
donne lexemple de la restauration de Wkalet
Bazaraa et de la mosque dAl-Ghouri comme
prototype de restauration. Il slve contre les
accusations qui disent que le HCA na pas recours
aux experts archologiques et aux cadres
universitaires. Moi-mme, je suis parmi les
consultants du projet.
En fait, le problme rside dans le fait que
les monuments islamiques ont t compltement
ngligs au cours des annes 1960 1980, aux
dpens de ceux pharaoniques. Ainsi, le problme
est devenu de plus en plus compliqu et le ministre
de la Culture fait tout son possible pour sauver un
grand nombre de monuments. Si on a le droit de
dire que lpoque du khdive Abbass HELMI est la
priode faste de la restauration, lpoque que nous
vivons nen est pas moins, renchrit le Dr
NOWEISSAR. On a limpression daller de
contradiction en contradiction.
Le Dr Mokhtar AL-KASSABANI, professeur
de restauration la facult dArchologie, est lui
aussi un ancien contestataire qui semble revenir au
bercail. loccasion du dbat qui avait pour sujet la
restauration de la mosque dIbn Touloun, il sest
rendu sur place et il a reconnu que la restauration
est trs bien faite et cest un exemple qui mrite
dtre suivi. Sils aimaient bien leur patrie, ils
auraient trouv dautres solutions pour sauver les
monuments au lieu de faire ce genre de critiques,
dit de son ct Abdallah AL-ATTAR, directeur du
dpartement des Antiquits islamiques au sein du
HCA. Il se demande: O taient ces militants du
patrimoine aprs le sisme de 1992, quand les
monuments islamiques risquaient de seffondrer et
on navait pas le financement ncessaire pour les
restaurer. Aujourdhui que nous avons largent, on
nous accuse de fausses restaurations. Cest
ridicule, dit furieusement AL-ATTAR. Les uns et
les autres ne font que se renvoyer la balle. (Dalia
FAROUK, Linterminable querelle du Caire
islamique, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 10 octobre 2001.
Voir galement Restauration des Antiquits
islamiques, Le Progrs gyptien du 2 octobre ;
Al AL-QAMMSH, Le ministre de la Culture
ment au nom de lUnesco, al-Ahrr du 9 octobre;
Dalia FAROUK, Trois questions Saleh LAME,
professeur la facult de Polytechnique
dAlexandrie et membre du Conseil international
des monuments et des sites (ICOMOS) qui relve
de lUnesco, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 10 octobre).
Pour sa part, Farouk HOSNI invite toute
personne intresse faire un tour au Caire fatimide
pour vrifier les travaux de restauration qui sont en
cours. Il a mme envoy M
me
MOUBARAK tous les
documents concernant ces travaux avec toutes les
tapes du projet. Il a ajout que cette lettre a pour
origine des intrts personnels. Cest un vrai
complot et nous nallons pas nous soumettre de
tels chantages. Et dajouter Nous avons entre nos
mains toute la vrit documente et je dfie toute
personne qui puisse dire autre chose. (Hala
FARES, Restaurations problmatiques, Al-Ahram
Hebdo du 11 juillet. Voir galement Mahmd
MURD, Lorsque lHistoire sexprime dans Le
Caire historique !, al-Ahrm du 26 aot; Al AL-
QAMMSH, Pourquoi le sauvetage des Antiquits
gyptiennes ne se fait que lorsque la critique vient
de ltranger ?, al-Ahrr du 13 novembre).
Aux yeux des responsables, ces critiques
infondes sont formules par des non-spcialistes et
relvent dun retour lpoque du protectorat
colonialiste. Lon comprend alors que les
archologues et historiens trangers nosent pas
sexprimer ouvertement: Commenting on the ire the
petition has aroused, a French art historian who
requested anonymity noted that because Cairos
Islamic monuments are in frequent use and belong
to the Egypt of today, they cannot be treated like
exhibits in museums. Besides, said the historian,
referring to the fact that the petition has been
widely perceived as unwelcome intervention, it is
extremely impolite to give lessons when they are not
requested and to interfere in the private affairs of
your friends. (Nevine EL-AREF, Monumental
discord, Al-Ahram Weekly du 30 aot 2001. Voir
galement Hilm AL-NIMNIM, Frq HUSN: nous
affrontons une campagne de chantage internationale
!, al-Musawwar du 24 aot).
Attaqu de toutes parts, le ministre de la
Culture en appelle la tenue, le 10
novembre 2001, dun forum international sur
les Antiquits islamiques, sous l'gide de
lUnesco. Mais cet vnement sera report
au 12 fvrier 2002 attentats du 11
novembre obligent. (Muna RAGAB,
Organisation novembre prochain du plus
grand congrs des Antiquits gyptiennes
jamais organis en gypte, al-Ahrm du 8
septembre; Le Caire accueille la plus
grande rencontre internationale autour de la
13
restauration des Antiquits islamiques, al-
Ahrr du 24 dcembre). Bien entendu, les
opposants au ministre et ils sont lgion
approuvent vivement la tenue dun tel
congrs. En plus, certains appellent la
composition dune Commission de
sauvetage compose de spcialistes
gyptiens indpendants du Comit
permanent du CSA. Cette commission
dvaluation aura pour tche de faire toute la
vrit sur les restaurations entreprises
actuellement dans Le Caire fatimide. (Sakna
FUD, Sauvetage du Caire islamique !,
al-Ahrm du 9 aot).
-
- -
Tunnel al-Azhar
Il a fallu trois annes de travail intense et
neuf-cents millions de Livres gyptiennes
pour que le prsident de la Rpublique
inaugure, le 28 septembre 2001, le nouveau
tunnel dal-Azhar. Construite en plein
centre-ville par la compagnie dtat, Arab
Contractors, en partenariat avec plusieurs
entreprises franaises, cette artre de 2,6
kilomtres relie la place de lOpra au
priphrique de Salh SLIM. Objectifs :
soulager un trafic routier fortement
congestionn et rduire la pollution
atmosphrique et ses effets nocifs sur la
sant publique et les monuments du Caire
islamique :
Al-Azhar Tunnel has been touted as a great
technological achievement, featuring sophisticated
design and strenuous safety precautions. A security
system controls the tunnel gates, cameras and
signposts have been installed, and there are traffic
data and fire-control systems. The tunnel is
monitored for flames, smoke, temperature, carbon
dioxide emissions and wind speed. Four ventilation
shafts allow exhaust fumes to escape from the
tunnel and a generator is on hand in case of power
cuts. The control centre boasts all the latest
technology, including a wireless alarm system and
emergency telephone network. The centre is linked
to the nearby civil defence authority and can
summon ambulances immediately, while fire
brigades and police security will be on call around
the clock. Impressed?
The tunnel was built in accordance with
the latest advances in global technology, HAFEZ
boasts, pointing out that digging some 10 to 30
metres underground was no easy task given that
subterranean water begins only one or two metres
down. Nor was it easy to build in such a densely
populated area that also has at least 90 kilometres
of subterranean infrastructure. HAFEZ notes that it
was necessary to test the numerous dilapidated
buildings and the historical edifices surrounding the
tunnel area to ensure that they would withstand the
extensive digging. (Gihan SHAHINE, Test drive,
Al-Ahram Weekly du 4 octobre 2001. Voir
galement Tariq HASSAN-GORDON, Cairo gets a
new tunnel, Middle East Times du 2 novembre).
peine inaugur, ce tunnel dj controvers
nest quune pice du gigantesque puzzle
quest le ramnagement du Caire mdival.
Le dmantlement de lautopont actuel de la
rue al-Azhar considr dsormais comme
doublon et la transformation du quartier
en zone pitonne sinscrivent, logiquement,
dans ce schma urbaniste. Mais cest
justement l que le bt blesse
Archaeologists originally cited concerns
over the long-term effects of the tunnel, saying that
vibrations caused by hundreds of cars passing
through it daily would eventually erode the fragile
ground on which the areas monuments stand,
ultimately threatening collapse. Despite the
Ministry of Tourisms intimate dealings with the
monuments as well as its obvious stake in their
conservation it has never been consulted on the
project. Surprisingly, the ministry was never
involved in the planning for Al-Azhar Tunnel, nor
was it included in the subsequent replanning of the
area, says Adel RADI, head of the Tourist
Development Authority (TDA), an affiliate of the
Ministry of Tourism. The job was given in its
entirety to the ministries of transportation and
construction. We dont have any contribution, he
said.
When work began on the tunnel, an age-
old battle between urban development and
historical conservation erupted. Antiquities
officials, archaeological experts and municipal
officials bickered over the plan until differences
were narrowed enough to bring the tunnel into
being. By connecting Salah Salem Street and Ataba
and Opera Squares, the tunnel will free up the main
streets of Al-Azhar and Al-Muizz, which will be
turned into a pedestrian area. The areas mediaeval
sites have been encroached on before due to
exponential growth within the city centre. The
TDAs RADI explains, When Al-Azhar Street was
established in the 1920s, it divided mediaeval Cairo
into two parts, northern and southern. He adds
that the original planning of medieval Cairo
depended on the existence of what is called a
qasaba (a main commercial road), which used to
extend from Bab Al-Fetouh and Bab Al-Nasr until
Bab Zeweila. This qasaba was divided into two
parts when Al-Azhar Street was formed. Fences
were put up and the qasaba had become two
separate areas, he said.
Leaving traffic concerns aside, RADI notes
that the only way the tunnel will be useful to the
14
tourism industry is if it initiates a larger plan to
once again unify the severed parts of the old city.
By restricting cars from the area, RADI suggests a
radical replanning of the area that would benefit
tourism activities. If the area is left without this
kind of planning, however, then I believe the tunnel
will not serve tourism in the area that much, he
noted.
Though it had its critics, the tunnel has
finally received some high-level sanction. Abdallah
EL-ATTAR, head of Islamic and Coptic antiquities
department at the Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA), argues that the tunnel is a very ambitious
and progressive project, which does not threaten
the archaeological zone the way some people think.
On the contrary, it will relieve the traffic jams in
the area, as well as help to preserve the Islamic
monuments, which extend along both Al-Muezz and
Al-Azhar Streets. EL-ATTAR suggested that the 20-
metre depth of the tunnel will decrease the intensity
of both car vibrations and the emission of carbon
dioxide in the air.
Francisco BANDARI NE , head of the
UNESCOs World Heritage Committee, also
described the tunnel as a real blessing for Cairos
mediaeval city. EL-ATTAR stressed that by creating
a pedestrian area, visitors will be able to enjoy
Islamic architecture that spans the Fatimid period
through to the Ottoman Turks at a leisurely stroll.
Of course, how the visitors will actually get there is
still not clear to tourist operators wondering where
their tour buses are supposed to park. Security
arrangements covering tourists making long-
distance walks throughout the area still need to be
seen to. In the meantime, EL-ATTAR, believes that
all real threats to antiquities have been successfully
dealt with. He pointed out that only at three points
during the time of construction was there any
danger. First, when the digging commenced at
ground level; second, during the extensive digging
work under the monuments; and finally, when
workers unearthed the eastern part of Salaheddin
El-Ayyubis wall, with its four military towers.
Construction was brought to a halt at this stage and
it was decided that the multi-storey park planned
for this area would be built further down the road.
Thankfully, the iron scaffoldings erected
around such monuments as Abul-Dahab and Al-
Ghuri complexes, Khan Al-Khorazati, the Al-
Ashrafiya madrasa, Sabi l Kossa Senan and
mosques like Al-Kekhiya, Al-Qadi Yehia and
Murad Basha remained a precautionary measure.
There were even some pleasant surprises along the
way. While digging, workers unearthed some clay
artefacts that have since been put on display at the
Islamic Museum in Bab Al-Khalq. One problem
that emerged was the ugly shape of the ventilation
shafts installed in front of Al-Azhar mosque. In an
attempt to solve this problem, all shafts have been
covered with mashrabiya woodwork, although the
effect is dubious. (Nevine EL-AREF and Rehab
SAAD, Erstwhile considerations, Al - Ahram
Weekly du 4 octobre 2001)
Doutant de lefficacit du nouveau tunnel,
de nombreuses voix se sont leves contre le
dmantlement de lautopont de la rue al-
Azhar entr en service en janvier 1983. Se
basant sur les catastrophes vites de
justesse et sur les accidents survenus au
cours des premires semaines de
fonctionnement du tunnel, Muhammad AB
ALAM recommande de prserver ce pont
mtallique comme alternative en cas
durgence (Qua-t-il donc fait cet
autopont ? , al-Akhbr du 10 dcembre).
Al SABR, professeur la facult de
Polytechnique de lUniversit du Caire, ne
pense pas que le dmontage de lautopont
soit une chose bnfique ( Les ponts dal-
Azhar et Le Caire fatimide , al-Ahrr du 5
novembre). Abd al-Azz Ahmad ABD AL-
AZZ souligne limpossibilit technique de
retirer les piles et les radiers de lautopont
sans affecter le corps mme du tunnel. Pour
lui, une telle initiative provoquerait de
surcrot la paralysie totale des activits
commerciales et de service dans le quartier
( Transformation de la rue al-Azhar en
zone pitonne : les inconvnients ! , Ruz al-
Ysuf du 1
er
dcembre).
Enfin, Sakna FUD suggre de ddier
lautopont uniquement aux pitons et
linstar du Pont des Arts Paris dy
transfrer les bouquinistes dal-Azbakiyya et
les boutiquiers somms de quitter les lieux
( Le pont al-Azhar et Le Caire
islamique , al-Ahrm du 1
er
novembre). L,
on touche un autre volet vivement dcri du
projet. Celui de vouloir systmatiquement
vider les lieux, une fois restaurs, de leurs
propres occupants, jugs irresponsables et
indsirables. Exit les habitants place aux
touristes :
Ces changements sinscrivent dans le cadre
dun plan gnral de dveloppement du quartier
historique du Caire fatimide. Lanc en 1999, la
suite dun appel du chef de ltat, ce plan consiste
restaurer les difices historiques (Al-Azhar, Al-
Hussein, Ghouriya, etc.) et surtout transformer
compltement le visage du quartier pour en faire un
site touristique et culturel denvergure.
Quelques jours avant lapplication de la
dcision du gouverneur, le chaos rgne sur cet axe.
Le pont nest utilis que par un nombre trs limit
de voitures. Le tunnel dmarre, mais avec mfiance
de la part des automobilistes. La plupart dentre eux
prfrent effectivement arriver rue Al-Azhar
partir de la place Ataba. Rsultat : des
embouteillages et un chaos total. Les petites
15
camionnettes qui livrent des marchandises aux
grands magasins de tissus qui caractrisent cette rue
ne trouvent pas dendroit o sarrter. Des officiers
de la circulation sont l tout au long de la rue pour
tenter de rsoudre les problmes dencombrement,
notamment pendant le mois de Ramadan. Fais un
petit tour et reviens dans une demi-heure jusqu ce
que tout soit prt, ordonne dsespr un
commerant qui tait venu acheter des tissus par
lots dAl-Azhar, au chauffeur de camionnette qui
lui transporte les tissus.
Un grand contraste saute aux yeux entre
lencombrement chaotique de la rue et ses magasins
dserts. La plupart des commerants sont installs
devant leurs magasins en train dobserver les
passants et le va-et-vient des voitures. Nous
navons rien dautre faire. Notre commerce est
presque mort cause de la crise conomique et des
nouvelles taxes, lance nonchalamment un vendeur.
Hag Essam SAD, commerant, renchrit: Tout
cela na pas suffit au gouvernement. Maintenant, ils
ont pris la dcision de transformer la rue Al-Azhar
en zone pitonne pour nous dtruire
compltement. Hag SAD estime que les dernires
dcisions du gouverneur tueront lactivit
commerciale dans la rue Al-Azhar au profit du
tourisme. Les gens auront du mal venir jusqu
chez nous quand la rue sera interdite aux voitures.
Le gouverneur a dcid de permettre aux camions
qui nous apportent les tissus dentrer dans la rue
tous les jours, de minuit jusqu 9 heures du matin
uniquement. Cest injuste, sinsurge Hag SAD.
Hag SLIM, propritaire du magasin d ct,
explique que cela les obligera travailler 24 heures
sur 24 ou bien ne travailler que le soir. Si Al-
Azhar est en premier lieu un quartier touristique,
cest aussi un quartier commerant. Et, nous
refusons que le gouvernement donne la priorit
une activit au dtriment de lautre, insiste Hag
SLIM.
Al-Azhar, ce quartier qui ntait autre que
la capitale de lgypte au temps des Fatimides, est
effectivement un quartier commerant clbre
surtout par son commerce du tissu. Pour protger
leur commerce, les propritaires des magasins de la
rue Al-Azhar se sont adresss la Chambre de
commerce qui, son tour, a tent de ngocier avec
le gouvernorat du Caire afin de rpondre aux
demandes des commerants. Une dlgation de la
Chambre de commerce prside par Hag Mahmoud
AL-ARABI, lui-mme commerant dans le quartier
de Moski non loin dAl-Azhar, a propos aux
responsables du gouvernorat de laisser passer les
camions transportant les tissus dans la rue dAl-
Azhar nimporte quel moment de la journe tout
en imposant aux propritaires des magasins une
certaine taxe pour le passage des vhicules. Les
responsables ont refus notre demande. Et, le
lendemain de nos discussions, les journaux ont
publi des dclarations du gouverneur selon
lesquelles il appelait les commerants dAl-Azhar
rester tranquilles et affirmait que le gouvernorat
nous trouvera dautres endroits pour nos
entrepts, lche Hag SAD. Selon lui, cest une
manuvre de la part des responsables. Ils veulent
faire comprendre par ces dclarations que nos
magasins ne sont que des entrepts et se baser sur
ceci pour nous caser dans dautres magasins quils
construisent dans le dsert comme ils ont fait avec
les commerants de Souq Ghaza et de Bein Al-
Sourein quils dplaceront aprs la fte
galement, renchrit un autre commerant.
Nous nous sentons menacs. Jai mme
parl avec un responsable du gouvernorat qui tait
venu discuter avec nous il y a quelques semaines et
il ma carrment dit que le quartier sera
entirement consacr au tourisme. Il nous a
propos de transformer notre activit. Ce nest pas
logique, vais-je transformer mon magasin en un
caf o les touristes viennent pour avoir la chicha?
Dabord, je nai aucune exprience dans ce
domaine et ensuite nous sommes loin des mosques
et du site touristique, les visiteurs ne vont pas
laisser les endroits connus et venir chez nous,
ajoute le mme commerant.
Pour les responsables, toutes les craintes
des commerants nont pas lieu dtre. La rue ne
sera pas dserte comme ils simaginent. Le
gouvernorat fournira des moyens de transport
adquats pour cette nouvelle zone pitonne, mais
qui ne soient pas nfastes aux difices historiques.
En fait, un grand parking a t install place
Darrassa, quelques kilomtres dAl-Azhar, pour
que les visiteurs du quartier puissent trouver un
endroit o garer. De mme, le gouvernorat lancera
la vente des vhicules qui fonctionnent lnergie
lectrique pour transporter les visiteurs de la rue Al-
Azhar. Ces vhicules seront lous aux jeunes qui
peuvent se les procurer laide de crdits facilits
de la Banque Nasser. Tout ceci pour garantir que le
commerce ne soit pas affect par la fermeture de la
rue tout en protgeant les monuments.
Soheir HAWAS, urbaniste, affirme que la
dcision du gouvernorat du Caire nest pas
critiquer. mon avis, quelles que soient les
consquences conomiques de cette dcision, il
fallait tout prix sauver le patrimoine de cette
rgion des gaz dchappement, des vibrations et des
embouteillages, dit-elle. Et dajouter: Ce qui a
t fait au Caire fatimide aurait d tre fait depuis
longtemps. Ce systme est trs rpandu en
Occident. Munich par exemple, il y a une zone
pleine ddifices historiques tout comme Al-Azhar.
Elle est transforme en zone pitonne. Lurbaniste
affirme que les commerants ne seront pas affects.
Ces protestations sont normales, selon elle, car les
gens ne sont pas encore habitus ce nouveau
systme. Mais je trouve que le fait de charger et
dcharger les articles partir de minuit jusqu 9
heures du matin ne sera pas en rien nuisible pour
eux. Le temps et lexprience mme les
16
convaincront de la possibilit de sorganiser de
cette nouvelle manire, estime Soheir HAWAS.
Dailleurs, ce systme est dj appliqu
dans un lieu non loin de la rue Al-Azhar, savoir,
rue Al-Sagha (la rue des orfvres) sans aucun
problme. Transformer la rue Al-Azhar en zone
pitonne peut donc sinscrire dans le cadre des
changements russis qua connus dernirement la
capitale. (Yolande YOUSSEF, Priorit la
protection du patrimoine, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 5
dcembre. Voir galement Abd al-Muhsin
SALMA, Lautopont embarrassant dal-Azhar ! ,
al-Ahrm du 6 dcembre).
Mais les projets de prservation concernent-
ils uniquement les vieilles pierres ? Cautre
sur une jambe de bois, rtorque al-Ahram
Weekly. Cel ui -ci soul i gne que l a
conservation nest quun moyen et non un
but en soi. Par consquent, il faut tenir
compte des besoins des communauts
socioculturelles et conomiques qui y
vivent :
Before actually undertaking conservation
work, we need to ask: what do we conserve, and
why? The purpose of conservation, as stated in the
ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments
and Sites) New Zealand Charter of 1992, is to care
for places with value for the cultural heritage
their structures, materials, and meaning. The
importance of cultural meaning, however, is often
overlooked by urban conservation projects in Cairo.
Culture cannot be reduced to historical remains, and
cannot be protected only by the restoration of
monuments or the streetscape. The ICOMOS
Washington Charter (1987) for the conservation of
historic towns and urban areas emphasises this
point, stating that the conservation of historic towns
should be an integral part of a coherent policy of
economic and social development and urban and
regional planning. Superficial beautification,
obviously, is not enough. We may call it
revitalisation, but it is merely museumisation; and
this is a grave threat to Cairos historical areas,
which still pulsate with the activities of everyday
life.
We do no good to historical areas by
restoring their monuments and evacuating the
inhabitants. Al-Ghouriya is unimaginable without
the textile trade, which has been there since the 14
th
century, when AL-MAQRIZI mentioned it. Textile
merchants have worked in this area since before the
Ghouri complex was built. Even today, many
families from Cairo (but also from the rural areas)
come to Al-Ghouri to buy bridal trousseaus and
household fabrics. Such a vibrant tradition, which is
an integral part of our non-physical heritage, will be
erased if the textile shops are removed from the
area. Only the restored wall will remain; the
essence of the area will have vanished.
This brings us to our second question: why
do we conserve? The obvious answer is, to
safeguard the heritage. Well, just what is the
heritage? According to the Krakow Charter (2000),
one can only define the way in which the heritage
may be identified. Social plurality entails a great
diversity in the way the community understands the
concept. An idea like that of patrimony cannot be
defined and classified by officials and planners.
Here, the problem is that we lack a system of values
and definitions that could guide urban conservation
projects. That is the conclusion reached by a
symposium and workshop titled Approaches and
Mechanisms of Urban Conservation Projects in
Historic Cairo, held at the Italian cultural centre in
September. Along with the lack of guidelines, the
symposium deplored the absence of appropriate
community involvement an essential element of
comprehensive conservation, as stressed in all
international conservation charters.
This is evident in Mar Girgis, where no
appropriate studies were carried out before heavy
construction machinery was brought in. Subsequent
interventions do not seem to have taken the local
community into account: wooden screens do not
offer the inhabitants enough privacy, and an
amphitheatre is being used as a playground for
goats, while trash is dumped in the flower boxes.
Dangerous cracks have appeared on the walls of the
houses as a result of one of the revitalisation
projects implemented in the area.
In Gamaliyas Al-Darb Al-Asfar, a pilot
restoration project focused on three rare surviving
examples of domestic architecture: the houses of
Al-Seheimi, Khurazati and Mustafa Gaafar. The
area would have required a comprehensive urban
conservation scheme, but the project did not
address the degradation of other houses. The
faades were painted beige and the main sewage
system was overhauled to prevent infiltration. The
project team and some residents established an
NGO to develop the community, but its activities
came to an end a little over a year later. The street
was made into a pedestrian zone a measure
taken automatically as part of any urban upgrading
activities in Cairo but, while families surely
welcome the step, workshop owners and
shopkeepers have complained that it segregates
their work from its wider economic context. Nor
are these people willing to change their activities,
becoming sellers of souvenirs and providers of
tourist services. Tourists do not visit Al-Darb Al-
Asfar as often as they do Sultan Hassan or Khan
Al-Khalili; and now, when the flow of foreign
visitors has all but dried up, there is less incentive
than ever to reconvert. (Ahmed SEDKY, The living
past, Al-Ahram Weekly du 1
er
novembre 2001.
Voir galement Paul SCHEMM, On the road
again, Cairo Times du 27 dcembre).
17
-
- -
Centre de plonges
The underwater museum gives visitors a
chance to dive with the past... and to touch it, says
Ashraf SABRI, speaking to the Cairo Times amidst
the thatched umbrellas and palmettos of his new
specialty dive center. The culmination of a 10-year
dream and an exhaustive trail of red tape,
Alexandra Dive is the first to offer tours of the
submerged ruins to amateur divers. SABRI and his
team of dive instructors are now leading 30 tours a
week to the columns, sphinxes and Greek statuary
clogging Alexandrias harbor floor. Dive trips
begin early in the morning, preceded by a lecture on
the sites historical importance and artifacts. The
group then boards a fully equipped diving boat
accompanied by professional dive instructors and
an official guide from the Organization of
Submerged Antiquities. For those without diving
experience, Alexandra Dive offers a three-day
introductory course to prepare for the trip.
The ruins are extensive, so SABRI and his
team have selected five of the most memorable dive
spots, some requiring two dives to explore. The
most popular site is the shallow waters just off Qait
Bey Fort, which contain more archaeological
treasures than most Egyptian museums. Other tours
visit the ruins of Cleopatras sunken city, where
divers swim through a forest of ancient columns,
sphinxes and royal statues. Amidst this debris is a
downed WWII fighter plane that rests at the bottom
of the harbor as if it came in to land among the
ancient ruins. The plane, surrounded on all sides
by broken columns and statuary, is now home to
fish and octopi.
When you walk in a museum you can only
see one way. In diving you can look up or down,
says SABRI. It is like a living museum with fish.
You can really feel it. SABRI has obtained
permission to partially rebuild a Ptolemaic temple
underwater from its scattered pieces, giving divers a
unique opportunity to weave between the ancient
marble columns
Alexandra dive is the first and for now
the only dive center organizing tours to the sub-
merged ruins. Owner Dr. Ashraf SABRI a
hyperbaric medicine specialist with 15 years of
diving experience, has put together a team of
multilingual dive masters and instructors, many of
whom worked with the archaeological teams during
the original surveys.
It took SABRI over two years to gather the
dozens of permits necessary to open his center, but
he has worked hard to ensure that his visitors will
never face the same bureaucratic hassles. Instead,
all they need is a photocopy of their passport and,
in some cases, a drivers license. Permits are
obtained within 48 hours, but those planning a trip
should book at least a week in advance to ensure a
slot.
If youve never dived before, you will
need to take some lessons. The fully equipped
diving center offers a wide range of courses (PADI.
SSI, CMAS, IDEA) and specialty courses. But
beginners can get their feet wet without having to
dig too deep into their pocketbooks by signing up
for an introductory dove, which costs $30 plus
another $30 for equipment rental.
Regular archaeological dives cost $45
per person (two-dive minimum), but there are
discounts for multiple dives and large groups. For
example, a group of 12 that does three dives in one
day will pay $125 per person. Add another $30
each for equipment rental. If diving just isnt your
thing, you can take a half-day snorkeling trip for
$30 Bring your own snorkel, fin and mask or
prepare to fork out $15 for rentals. Alexandra Dive
also organizes package tours for visitors, including
airport pickup, transportation, accommodation and
food. Regular diving trips include a free lunch and a
cold drink. (Cam SINCLAIR, What lies beneath,
Cairo Times du 20 septembre 2001).
Soulignons que le fondateur de lInstitut
Europen dArchologie Sous-Marine
(IEASM), Franck GODDIO, avait menac de
poursuites judiciaires ce Centre de plonges.
La presse gyptienne a consacr quelques
articles virulents sur ce litige qui porte,
notamment, sur les droits dexploitation des
rsultats des fouilles sous-marines des fins
commerciales. Interrog par Al-Ahram
Hebdo sur les raisons du malentendu qui
loppose lInstitut Europen dArchologie
Sous-Marine (IEASM), lbrhm DARWSH,
directeur gnral de lAdministration des
Antiquits sous-marines Alexandrie
rpond :
Il y a eu des remous aprs que lIEASM de
Frank GODDIO, dont les fouilles ont lieu sous la
supervision du Haut Conseil des Antiquits (HCA),
a lanc un avertissement un centre de plonges
priv qui a exploit dans sa campagne de promotion
des photos dobjets dcouverts par GODDIO,
notamment les pices rvles lors de la campagne
de 1996. Celles-ci ont figur sur les affiches
publicitaires de ce centre. Le diffrend ne
concernait pas notre administration dune manire
directe.
Certes, pour les Franais comme pour
nous, ces photos utilises dans les affiches
publicitaires sont une exclusivit de lIEASM et
sont protges par des droits dauteur. Dautre part,
ce centre a eu recours un montage photos par
18
ordinateur pour faire croire quil sagissait de ses
propres clichs. De plus, il fait la promotion de
visites guides sous mer de sites archologiques
entre le fort de Qatbay et le port, en prtendant que
les plongeurs pourront admirer des milliers de
pices, alors que ce nest pas le cas. Bon nombre de
ces pices ont t retires de leau.
LIEASM devait sadresser au HCA. Et
cest ce dernier de discuter avec le centre. Cest
au HCA de protger les droits de nimporte quelle
mission trangre darchologie qui travaille en
gypte. (A.S., Trois questions lbrahim
DARWICH, directeur gnral de ladministration des
Antiquits sous-marines Alexandrie, Al-Ahram
Hebdo du 3 octobre 2001).
Mais Ashraf Midhat SABR, fondateur
dAlexandra Dive, va jusqu qualifier
publiquement Franck GODDIO de chasseur
de trsors, ne possdant aucun diplme
scientifique dans le domaine des Antiquits
sous-marines ni terrestres. (Muhammad
AL-KLN, Le chasseur de trsors a-t-il le
monopole des ctes dAlexandrie !,
Uktubar du 26 aot 2001 ; Amal AL-
GAYYR, Rixe sous-marine ! al-Ahrm du
28 septembre ; Ashraf Midhat SABR, Le
chasseur de trsors franais et nos
Antiquits submerges !, Ruz al-Ysuf du
29 septembre).
Notons, enfin, quen accordant lexclusivit
photographique certains mdias et chanes
de tlvision trangers, Franck GODDIO sest
attir galement les foudres de la presse
gyptienne. Celle-ci lui reproche de faire du
busi ness t ravers l expl oi t at i on
commerciale des fouilles (images, vidos,
catalogues, etc.) sur le dos des autorits
gyptiennes. (Mirvat AL-HATM,
Abouqr : les Franais dcouvrent et les
gyptiens sabstiennent !, Ruz al-Ysuf du
7 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Tourisme religieux
Following the upgrading of the Religions
Complex in Misr Al Qadima, Ministry of Tourism
has turned to mosques of special significance,
namely in the areas of Al Hussein, Sayeda Zeinab
and Sayeda Nafissa. The development is part of a
national plan to revive religious and cultural
milestones of Egyptian history. According to
Minister of Tourism, Mamdouh AL BELTAGI, the
project expected to cost around LE 9 million is
mainly directed to attract Arabs and Muslims who
usually prefer such kind of religious tourism.
The project takes three courses: the first
which extends from Sayeda Nafissa Mosque to Om
Abbass Sabil (public water fountain) includes the
mausoleum of several of the descendents of prophet
Mohamed in addition to archaeological inns. As Dr
BELTAGI explained the idea was meant to promote
religious tourism at sites other than the traditional
site of Fatimid Cairo. The first course, he said, was
one of the most deserving for visits since it includes
a variety of monuments as the domes of Sultan
Qalawoun, Shagarat Al Dor, the mansion and Sebil
of Cretlia, the Madressa, and Mosque of Shaikhoun
and the Sebil and Kottab of Emir Abdullah
KATUKHDA.
However, the plan of action of the first
course is divided into three parts: existing
buildings, which are in need of restoration,
structures destroyed by the 1992 earthquake, which
would be removed and other structures of which
part is pulled down and other parts still exist, and so
they will be restored. It will be taken into
consideration that the facades of the buildings
existing along the course will follow a similar shape
and will be covered by a kind of stones similar to
that used in the past.
The whole area, will come aesthetically
speaking under an integrated plan that would add
harmony to the overall view. The sewerage and
water networks will be properly fixed and
signboards are to be placed to instruct visitors.
BELTAGI said that there was a suggestion to make
streets at this area vehicle free, during morning rush
hours. He noted that non of the owners of existing
workshops or stores would be forced to change
activities.
Yet it is expected that the change would
gradually take place to cope with the tourist nature
of the place. The minister pointed out that the funds
had already been provided by the Ministry, the
governor of Cairo and the Society of the Heritage
of the Prophets Descendents, which is a private
society having as members a group of businessmen.
According to Dr BELTAGI the door is open for
donors who would like to contribute to the project.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Comprehensive project to
develop religious and cultural milestones in Cairo,
The Egyptian Gazette du 8 novembre 2001,
Muhammad Abd al-Fatth, Mise en place du
projet de ramnagement de litinraire de la
famille du Prophte, Uktubar du 4 novembre. Voir
galement Sahar AL-BAHR, Ramnagement de
litinraire de la famille du Prophte, al-Ahrm du
10 aot).
- - -
Comme les Antiquits pharaoniques, les
monuments coptes prouvent le mme
besoin imprieux de juguler le dferlement
des touristes :
19
The head of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
Pope SHENOUDA III, says he wants to curb visitors
to Egypts monasteries and shield the worlds
oldest monastic tradition from modern spiritual
distractions. In remarks published on July 8 in the
government daily Al Ahram, Pope SHENOUDA said
he hoped to take steps to regulate the visits and
limit the wave of visitors to the various monasteries
in northern and southern Egypt. These steps are
dictated by the need to ensure the tranquility of
holy places so that the priests devote themselves to
spiritual and religious activities, the pope was
quoted as saying.
On some weekends and holidays,
Egyptians and foreign tourists arrive by the busload
at the various monasteries north of Cairo, along the
Nile in southern Egypt and in the eastern desert.
However, visits to monasteries are forbidden during
fasting periods, which amount to 265 days a year.
The interview also came after Copts rioted over a
June 17 Egyptian tabloid newspaper article alleging
that a monk had sex with a married woman in a
monastery. The church filed a libel suit against the
weekly newspaper, Al Nabaa. Both Al Nabaa and
its daily sister publication, Akher Khabar, were
ordered closed by an Egyptian court on July 4.
(Pope Shenouda wants to limit tourism to
monasteries, Middle East Times du 13 juillet
2001).
-
- -
Marathon de Taharqa
More than 200 runners of nearly a dozen
different nationalities set off from near Cairo Friday
to revive an ancient Pharaonic endurance test billed
as a run for peace. They started from the ancient
step pyramid of Saqqara, dating from 2800 BC, 20
kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Cairo on the 100
kilometer (65 mile) run. Their destination was the
pyramid of Hauwara at Fayyoum to the south, built
by the Pharaoh Amenmehat III (1842-1797). The
route passes by the pyramids of Dahshur and
Maidum, respectively 35 kilometers (23 miles) and
80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Cairo.
Tourism Minister Mamduh AL-BELTAGUI
said on television Friday that he wanted to revive
an ancient tradition started by the Pharaoh
Taharqa (690 BC), who trained his soldiers with an
endurance course which passed along this route.
He said the history of the run is written in
hieroglyphics on a limestone stele erected in the
reign of Taharqa and discovered in 1977.
Participants were either residents in Egypt
or foreigners who had come especially for the
occasion, which is hoped to assist a flagging tourist
industry. Tourism in Egypt dropped by 40 to 45
percent in October in the aftermath of the
September 11 attacks in the United States, and US
military retaliation will sharpen the decline in
coming months, BELTAGUI said recently. Tourism
is one of Egypts main sources of revenue, with
record receipts in 2000 of 4.3 billion dollars.
(Pharaonic race attracts more than 200 runners for
peace, Middle East Times du 9 novembre 2001.
Voir galement Lancement aujourdhui du
premier marathon des pharaons, al-Akhbr du 9
novembre; Sad GAML AL-DN, Douze pays
participent au marathon de Taharqa, al-Ahrr du 9
novembre).
-
- -
Monuments classs
Ab Mn
La cit palochrtienne dAbou-Mina
(Saint Mns), qui porte aussi le titre de cit du
marbre, est situe au sud-ouest dAlexandrie, sur la
route de Marsa Matrouh. Elle vient dtre ajoute
par lUnesco la liste des sites en pril. Cest la
monte de la nappe phratique et les eaux de
drainage agricole qui menacent cette cit qui
tmoigne du premier ge chrtien dgypte. Abou-
Mina est dune grande valeur patrimoniale
puisquelle figure sur les listes de lUnesco depuis
1979, parmi les cinq sites antiques gyptiens
prserver en priorit. Il ne sagit pas seulement
dune ville antique au milieu de laquelle se trouvent
lglise et la tombe du martyr saint Mns, mais on
y trouve aussi le grand couvent du saint qui
renferme aussi la dpouille du pape KYROLLOS VI,
prdcesseur de lactuel pape CHNOUDA III,
souligne Mohamad ABDEL-RASSOUL, du Haut
Conseil des Antiquits (HCA) et responsable du
site. Cest lagglomration copte la plus importante
dont on ait dcouvert les ruines jusqu prsent.
En 1905, larchologue allemand Karl
Maria KAUFMANN dcouvrit la tombe de saint
Mns et lglise attenante. Et depuis, les fouilles se
sont poursuivies toujours par des missions
allemandes. La mission de lInstitut allemand
darchologie, dirige par Peter GROSSMANN,
continue oprer sur le site. Ce site religieux
remonte au III
e
sicle. En 297, on construisit la
chapelle du tombeau du saint, puis des lments se
sont ajouts jusqu 408. Entre 395 et 408,
lempereur ARCADIUS a bti lglise la plus
importante de la ville et la plus grande dgypte.
Ses dimensions en tmoignent : 67 m de longueur
sur 32 m de largeur. Elle est construite en marbre.
La cit est connue par sa beaut architecturale et
par son caractre historique. Elle fait lobjet de
dvotion de la part des coptes. Cest une vritable
ville avec ses rues souterraines et ses colonnes
byzantines en marbre construites pendant les
poques grco-romaines et copte. Les archologues
20
la surnomment la cit du marbre, tant donn la
grande quantit utilise de ce matriau.
Le problme de la monte dangereuse des
eaux est bien ancien, mais il a culmin depuis 4 ans,
rvle ABDEL-RASSOUL. Cest un projet de mise en
valeur de terres agricoles voisines men partir de
1986 qui est lorigine des dtriorations subies par
Abou-Mina. La mission du HCA et celle de
lInstitut allemand du Caire ont tent plusieurs
reprises de prserver cette cit en pompant leau
souterraine.
De plus, on ne peut pas ngliger le rle des
visiteurs dont les graffitis et les vux inscrits sur
les murs et les colonnes constituent une autre
source de dommages. Abou-Mina est surtout
frquent deux fois par ans, le 9 mars pour la
commmoration de la mort du pape KYROLLOS, et
le 28 novembre, jour du saint Mns. Des milliers
de plerins venaient lors de ces deux occasions. Les
visites ont t interdites. Cependant les plerins
cont i nuent arri ver et si nt rodui sent
clandestinement sur le site, ajoute le responsable
du HCA.
Malgr les efforts de sauvetage, le sol est
compltement satur par leau, ce qui cause chaque
jour un nouvel effondrement du site. Pour viter
la disparition du site, le HCA avait creus des
canaux de drainage, mais cela na servi rien,
conclut ABDEL-RASSOUL. Les responsables ne
dsesprent cependant pas et envisagent de recourir
des experts en hydraulique et en eau souterraine.
Il serait temps (Sarah GAMIL, Un saint noy
dans les eaux, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 19 dcembre
2001. Voir galement Amal A L-GAYYR, La
rserve dAbu Mn noye sous les eaux !, al-
Ahrm du 9 novembre).
-
- -
Mosque Muhammad al-Fuq
HOSNI, a accept denregistrer la mosque dEl-
Foqa dans la ville de Foua de la province de Kafr
El-Cheikh sur la liste des Antiquits islamiques et
coptes. M. Farouk HOSNI a dclar que ladite
mosque remonte au XII
e
sicle de lHgire (XVIII
e
sicle) et elle est connue par ce nom en raison de
lexistence du mausole du cheikh Mohamed EL-
FOQA, une personne religieuse vnre.
Le Secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprieur
des Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA, a
dclar que la mosque stend sur une superficie
rectangulaire rpartie en 3 salles avec au milieu
deux ranges de pylnes. la droite du mihrab se
trouve la tribune fabrique en bois au-dessus de
laquelle il y a une inscription indiquant le nom du
fondateur de la mosque et la date de sa
construction en lan 1198 de lHgire.
Le prsident du Secteur des Antiquits
islamiques, M. Abdallah EL-ATTAR, a dclar que
le minaret de la mosque se situe au milieu de la
faade nord-ouest et se compose dune base sous
forme dun carr surplomb par une btisse
octogonale dans laquelle il y a des fentes. Le
sommet du minaret a une forme pyramidale. Ce
minaret est considr comme lun des plus rares du
XVIII
e
sicle, tant donn quil est le seul dans la
ville de Foua avoir un sommet pyramidal comme
les minarets de lpoque ottomane. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, Une mosque de Foua sur la liste des
Antiquits islamiques, Le Progrs gyptien du 8
juillet 2001. Voir galement Tha ABD AL-
RAHMN, Sauvet age d une mosque
archologique vieille de 224 annes, al-Ahrr du
15 juillet).
-
- -
Mosque al-Dr
HOSNI, a accept denregistrer la mosque dEl-Diri
Beni Soueif sur la liste des Antiquits islamiques.
Il a dclar que ladite mosque a t construite en
1825 aprs J.-C. par une personne vnre
dnomme El-Hammam Darouiche Bek EL-DIRI.
Le Secrtaire gnral du Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA, a dclar
que la mosque se situe dans la rue El-Diri dans la
ville de Bni Soueif, et en raison de limportance
historique et architecturale de cette mosque, une
requte pour lenregistrer comme Antiquit a t
prsente au ministre de la Culture. Ce dernier a
accept la requte et a donn lordre de prendre les
mesures ncessaires pour lentretenir et la restaurer.
Et dajouter que la mosque stend sur
une superficie rectangulaire rpartie en trois
divisions comprenant des pylnes en marbre
surplombs par des reliefs pointus. La porte de la
mosque deux battants est fabrique en bois. Elle
comporte des gravures sous forme de vgtaux et
de dessins gomtriques. Le mehrab a une forme
circulaire dans laquelle il y a deux pylnes
fusionns en marbre. Sur le mehrab, il y a des
dessins de vgtaux. Il y a une ancienne chaire pour
le prdicateur et une nouvelle qui a t installe.
islamiques et coptes, M. Abdallah EL-ATTAR, a
dclar que le minaret de la mosque est considr
comme un chef-duvre architectural, tant donn
quil se trouve au milieu de la faade nord-ouest. Il
se compose dune base sous forme dun carr, une
forme octogonale et ensuite une forme circulaire
pour le muezzi n surplombe par une forme
21
cylindrique et ensuite une autre forme circulaire au-
dessus de laquelle se trouve le sommet du minaret
ayant une forme ovale et est surplombe par un
croissant en cuivre. M. EL-ATTAR a soulign que ce
minaret se caractrise par des dessins gomtriques
et des gravures de vgtaux sculpts. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, Enregistrement de mosques sur la
liste des Antiquits, Le Progrs gyptien du 12
aot 2001. Voir galement Tha ABD AL-RAHMN,
Classement monument islamique dune mosque
vieille de 176 ans, al-Ahrr du 17 aot).
-
- -
Mosque Mustafa Kmil al-Ghamrw
HOSNI, a accept denregistrer la mosque dEl-
Ghamraoui bni Soueif sur la liste des Antiquits
islamiques, et ce en raison de son importance
historique, tant donn quelle a t construite en
1666. Cest ce qua dclar le Secrtaire gnral du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali
GABALLA, avant dajouter que cette mosque a t
construite par Moustafa Kamel EL-GHAMRAOUI en
1316 de lhgire dans la rue Ahmed Orabi Bni
Soueif. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Enregistrement de
mosques sur la liste des Antiquits, Le Progrs
gyptien du 12 aot 2001).
Following the registration of Al Ghamrawi
Mosque in Beni Sueif as an Islamic monument,
several steps have been taken to help preserve the
landmark. A detailed map of the mosque and its
annexes showing their in and outside contours are
to be outlined. Moreover, the mosques precincts
has been determined by a distance of 50 metres
from all sides. A memo has been also referred to
the Restoration Department of the SCA to have the
mosque painted, specifying certain parts, which
need restoration. Agencies concerned at the
Ministry of Tourism and travel companies have
been also addressed to include the mosque on tour
visits to the governorate of Beni Sueif.
The mosque, which dates back to 1896 AD
is rich in ornaments, relief sculpture and wood cut
designs. Al Ghamrawi mosque situated in the heart
of the capital of the governorate was established by
Mustafa Bey Kamel AL GHAMRAWI who was
among the first to contribute to the establishment of
Cairo University in 1906. The wooden pulpit of the
mosque is magnificent for its geometric designs.
The mosque on the whole is unique since it does
not have a single column which is so rare in the
architecture of mosques. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Al
Ghamrawi Mosque to be put on tourist map of Beni
Sueif, The Egyptian Gazette du 15 novembre. Voir
galement Basna ZAKARIY, Reconnaissance de
limportance historique de la mosque al-
Ghamrw, al-Akhbr du 11 novembre).
-
- -
Mosque & sabl Nazl Hnim
Le ministre de la Culture et prsident du
CSA, Frq HUSN, a entrin lenregistrement sur
la liste des monuments islamiques de la mosque,
du sabl (fontaine) et du quttb (cole coranique) de
NZL Hnim, la mre du roi FRQ, situs Duqq
sur la corniche du Nil. Le prsident du secteur des
Antiquits islamiques et coptes, Abdallh AL-
ATTR, a prcis que cette mosque, fonde en
1912, renferme des motifs gomtriques, des
colonnes, des arches et des votes. (Al ABD AL-
HD, Enregistrement de la mosque et du sabl de
NZL Hnim, al-Akhbr du 28 aot 2001. Voir
galement Ashraf MFD, Classement monument
historique de la mosque et du sabl de NZL
Duqq, al-Ahrm du 28 aot).
-
- -
Mausole Abdallh b. Hishm al-Kans
The Standing Antiquities Committee has
decided to retain the mausoleum of Sedi Abdallah
IBN HISHAM AL K ANASSI situated at Gamalia
district bout 25 metres from the northern wall of old
Cairo. The ad-hoc committee assigned with
determining the precincts of old Cairo had outlined
a 20 metre precincts and that the buildings opposite
the wall would not be higher than the wall itself.
The committee has therefore agreed to
retain the mosque as it goes with the line of the
street while the street itself functions as a natural
precinct. Head of the Islamic and Coptic
Antiquities, Dr Abdallah AL ATTAR said that IBN
HISHAM was born in Cairo in 708 Hijra and was
buried in the sufists cemetery outside Al Nasser
gate. IBN HISHAM received secular education at Al
Azhar and was known for his eloquence,
intelligence and humbleness. IBN HISHAM joined
the sufist sect and was versatile in Arabic grammar.
He was matchless in his knowledge of the rules of
grammar. Dr AL ATTAR added that IBN HISHAM had
written about 125 books the most famous perhaps is
Al Tazkara (Prescription) which falls in 15
volumes. (IBN HISHAMs mausoleum in Gamalia
to be retained, The Egyptian Gazette du 13
septembre 2001 ; Mushra MSA, Prservation du
mausole dIbn Hishm dans le quartier de
Gammliyya, al-Ahrm du 11 septembre).
-
- -
Mausole Ab Hasra
22
Au cours des vingt dernires annes, les
commissions du CSA avaient class une
quinzaine de monuments juifs sur la liste du
patrimoine archologique gyptien, sans que
cela pose de vritables problmes. Toutefois,
la dcision du Comit permanent, en date du
21 dcembre 1999, de rajouter le mausole
dAb Hasra sur cette mme liste du
patrimoine national soulve une vive
controverse. Celle-ci illustre parfaitement
linterfrence des considrations politico-
religieuses dans le travail purement
archologique :
Une dcision du Tribunal administratif
invalidant le statut de monument historique du
mausole juif dAbou-Hassira a suscit une volte-
face du ministre de la Culture qui interjette appel.
Le mausole dAbou-Hassira et les tombes qui
lentourent nont aucune valeur patrimoniale ou
religieuse pour les gyptiens, ce verdict du
Tribunal administratif dAlexandrie vient annuler le
statut de site historique et touristique de la tombe
du rabbin Yaacov ABOU-HASSIRA, confr
seulement une semaine avant, par une dcision du
ministre de la Culture.
Ce mausole qui se trouve au village de
Damitouh, prs de Damanhour, accueille chaque
anne plusieurs milliers de juifs de France, du
Maroc et dIsral qui sy rendent du 26 dcembre
au 2 janvier en plerinage. Ce plerinage marqu
entre autres par une bndiction de fruits et de
bouteilles dalcool suscite une large polmique
depuis plusieurs annes. Un avocat de Damanhour
mne depuis cinq ans une campagne tambour
battant pour la dmolition du site. Des journaux se
sont joints la campagne, dnonant non seulement
des pratiques licencieuses au cours de la visite qui
choque les habitants du village, mais parlant aussi
dune invasion culturelle et dune tentative
inspire par Isral pour sapproprier ce lieu. Le
ressentiment lgard dIsral ayant augment au
cours des derniers mois suite llntifada qui a
commenc le 28 septembre 2000, des secteurs de
lopinion acceptaient mal ce plerinage. Le
jugement de la cour vient donner raison aux
dtracteurs du plerinage tolr jusqu prsent par
le gouvernement en guise de manifestation
touristique.
La dcision de la justice vient heurter de
plein fouet le ministre de la Culture et le Haut
Conseil des Antiquits (HCA) qui avaient inscrit le
site sur la liste du patrimoine, quelques jours aprs
que Moustapha RASLANE et un autre avocat,
Ahmad ATTIYA, eurent intent un procs pour
annuler la clbration annuelle. Ce mausole a
plus de 120 ans et le HCA ne fait pas de distinction
religieuse entre les monuments, a soulign
Gaballah A. GABALLAH, secrtaire gnral du
HCA. Celui-ci rappelle que la loi gyptienne
considre que tout difice qui a plus de cent ans est
considr comme monument historique et doit tre
plac sous la tutelle du conseil.
Pour le tribunal, le ministre de la Culture a
pris cette dcision pour confrer un caractre
lgal aux clbrations annuelles qui portent atteinte
aux sentiments des musulmans et des coptes. Dans
les attendus du jugement, la Cour abonde dans le
sens dune explication de ce qui doit tre considr
comme patrimoine, refusant ainsi les arguments du
ministre de la Culture et estimant que tout ce qui
est en rapport avec le judasme ne peut tre
considr comme des vestiges gyptiens.
Le HCA, en revanche, nest pas prs
daccepter la dcision de la cour. Il a dcid
dinterjeter appel, soulignant que le mausole est un
monument historique, selon la loi 117 des
Antiquits. Voire, cet enregistrement sur la liste
du patrimoine accorde pleine latitude au
gouvernement pour exercer sa souverainet sur le
site, empchant quil ne soit vendu quel quen soit
le prix, a-t-on indiqu auprs du ministre. Tout
porte croire que le ministre de la Culture tente de
dsamorcer une ventuelle retombe politique de
cette affaire. Il se considre responsable du
mausole et non des clbrations qui sont du
ressort dautres responsables, faisant allusion aux
responsables politiques ou de scurit, selon les
observateurs.
LAmbassade dIsral au Caire, cite par
lagence Reuters, avait fait savoir quelle verrait
trs mal linterdiction aux juifs daccder au site
et que pour le moment elle na reu aucune
notification officielle. 15 monuments juifs sont
enregistrs en gypte, indique de son ct
Abdallah AL-ATTAR, directeur du Dpartement des
monuments islamiques et coptes au sein du HCA,
soulignant quil nest gure question pour le HCA
de les abandonner ou de mettre en doute leur valeur
patrimoniale. GABALLAH de son ct rappelle
quil existe toujours une communaut juive en
gypte. (Hala FARES, Polmique sur ABOU-
HASSIRA, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 12 septembre 2001.
Voir galement Al AL-QAMMSH, Vive Abu
Hasra !, al-Ahrr du 11 septembre ; Shabn
KHALFA, Fin de la lgende dAbu Hasra, al-
Ahrr du 13 septembre ; Amil KHAN, Court
rejects Jewish shrine as cultural site, Middle East
Times du 14 septembre).
Bien entendu, les Israliens, considrent le
verdict de la justice gyptienne comme une
entrave la libert de culte et une violation
manifeste du trait de paix signs par
lgypte et Isral en 1979. Toutefois, les
nationalistes gyptiens vont plus loin. Ils
exigent carrment la translation des restes
dAbu Hasra :
() Ironically, lawyers who spearheaded
the campaign against the festival of Abu Hasira are
23
only partly satisfied with the court ruling. Ahmed
Mohammed ATTEYA, a lawyer who took part in the
campaign, says that they will file an appeal against
the courts refusal to remove the remains of Abu
Hasira from the site. The battle is not yet over. The
court turned down a request to move the remains
on the grounds that the Sharia [Islamic Law] bans
exhuming tombs. Yet, there are many political
aspects that should be taken into consideration like
several rulings issued by Israeli courts that have
led to violations at Islamic holy sites, he said.
ATTEYA referred to an Israeli court approving an
extremist Jewish groups erection of a symbolic
temple near a Muslim holy shrine in the occupied
East Jerusalem as an example of this.
Besides, the Ministry of Culture is
planning to appeal against the ruling - the battle is
far from over, the lawyer told al-Ahram. ATTEYA
is planning to refer the case to the Administrative
Court, whereas Mustafa RASLAN, another lawyer
involved in the campaign to ban the festival, thinks
they should use ordinary judiciary channels. With
the help of a group of lawyers in Beheira, Ill fight
on to get a final ruling to move Abu Hasiras
remains. Israelis use only the festival as an excuse
for frequently visiting the area, ATTEYA said.
Unless they take a firm stand, he said, Israelis will
just go further. Some Israelis are already claiming
that Moses tomb is located in Kashtir village in
Sharkiya province, he said. The [Egyptian-
Israeli] peace treaty never allowed Jews to go on
pilgrimage to the site. Even when a Jewish
community was living in Egypt, they never visited
it. I have many eyewitnesses who are willing to
tell the court about the immoral practices of the
Jewish pilgrims to the site, ATTEYA concluded.
(Controversy over Abu Hasira tomb rages on,
The Egyptian Gazette du 16 septembre. Voir
galement Ahmad AL-NAGM, Ab Hasra, un
mausole quelconque de 50 m
2
que le CSA
sentte vouloir classer, al-Musawwar du 21
septembre).
-
- -
Sabl-kuttb Ahmad al-Iryn
islamiques et coptes a approuv le classement sur la
liste du patrimoine islamique du sabl (fontaine) et
kuttb (cole coranique) dAhmad AL-IRYN, situ
dans la rue Bb al-Bahr, dans le quartier dal-
Azhar. (Luay Mahmd SAD, Muses et
Antiquits, al-Qhira du 13 novembre).
-
- -
Tell Shaykh Sad
Le Tell Shaykh Sad situ dans le village
al-Nasyma Manzala, dans le gouvernorat de
Daqahliyya, vient dtre class sur la liste du
patrimoine islamique et copte, aprs la dcouverte
de nombreux indices archologiques. Dornavant, il
est soumis la loi n117 pour lanne 1983 pour la
protection des Antiquits. (Luay Mahmd SAD,
Muses et Antiquits, al-Qhira du 11 dcembre
2001).
-
- -
Village al-Qasr
Le ministre de la Culture, Frq HUSN, a
approuv le classement sur la liste du Patrimoine
mondial de la ville dal-Qasr, situe Dakhla dans
la Nouvelle Valle. Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil
Suprme des Antiquits, Dr Gballah Al
GBALLAH, a dclar que le CSA avait soumis
lUnesco une liste de dix-huit sites archologiques,
dont al-Qasr qui date de 1700 ans rajouter
la liste du Patrimoine de lhumanit. Ils pourront
ainsi bnficier des soins de lUnesco en matire de
restauration et de prservation. Au cours des deux
dernires annes, de nombreux btiments dal-Qasr
ont fait lobjet de travaux de restauration qui se
poursuivent encore.
Lors de son passage au Caire, le prsident
de la Commission du Patrimoine mondiale,
Francesco BANDARINE, avait invit le ministre de
la Culture augmenter le nombre de sites
archologiques gyptiens classs patrimoine
mondial. En effet, les cinq sites classs
actuellement ne correspondent pas la richesse du
patrimoine et de lhistoire de lgypte. (Tha ABD
AL-RAHMN, Classement de la ville archologique
dal-Qasr sur la liste de lUnesco, al-Ahrr du 14
octobre 2001).
-
- -
Momies
New scientific analysis of mummies has
discovered that ancient Egyptian embalmers
followed trends in body preservation and probably
altered their mummification recipes in line with
supply and demand. Chemists from the University
of Bristol in western England were given scraps of
material from 13 mummies spanning 2,300 years of
Egyptian history. The samples were subjected to
gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to
separate their molecules and identify a chemical
signature. This was then matched against a library
of diagnostic markers a telltale molecule in a
natural substance that can resist degradation over
thousands of years.
24
The scientists found that the embalmers
used a far wider range of substances to dry out and
preserve the body than anyone had realized. It was
already known, thanks to previous chemical
analysis and the writings of ancient historians, that
embalming recipes included natron (a salt native to
Egypt), juniper oil, camphor oil, palm wine, myrrh,
coniferous resin and gum resin as well as beeswax.
To that can now be added resin from the pistachio
tree, coniferous pitch, plant oils and animal fats and
possibly balsam, too. Widespread use of plant
and animal fats suggests the embalmers were
aware, like oil painters in Western Europe would be
thousands of years later, that these unsaturated oils
had special properties, the researchers say.
The oils would dry quickly and their
molecules would form up in a dense cross-linked
network. Like a shrink-wrap film, this polymerized
layer would stabilize the fragile cloth enveloping
the mummy and provide a barrier sealant against
microbes. As time went by, beeswax and conifer
became increasingly popular, presumably because
they caught on among Pharaonic funeral directors,
who discovered their anti-microbial and sealant
qualities.
The research, published in the October 24
issue of the weekly British science journal Nature,
was carried out by Richard EVERSHED and Stephen
BUCKLEY of the universitys Biogeochemistry
Research Center. The wide variety and composition
of ingredients could be a result of economics (the
cost and availability of materials), changing
fashions, and/or the preferences of particular
embalming guilds, suggests Sarah WISSEMAN, an
archeologist at the University of Illinois.
Market forces, for instance, could make
specific kinds of fragrant oils more expensive,
which means that only the rich could afford them,
ordering the embalmer to buy them so as to impress
their friends and relatives. Mummification was an
essential part of ancient Egyptian beliefs. No one, it
was thought, could enter the afterlife unless the
vital part of the spirit, the ka, could return to the
body. That meant the corpse had to be protected
from decay and preserved in a recognizable, lifelike
form. A fascinating glimpse into the ancient world,
mummies are now enjoying the benefits of non-
invasive techniques, such as DNA, X-rays,
ultrasound, 3-D scanners and chemical analysis,
that require only minute samples or none at all. In
the latest study, less than 0.1 mg of material was
taken from each mummy. AFP (Egyptian
mummies followed fashion, Middle East Times du
28 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Animal Mummies Project
Le Muse gyptien du Caire a entam un
projet pour la restauration des momies des animaux,
mais le manque de financement fait obstacle.
Adoptez une momie danimal ce nest pas une
boutade, mais un appel trs srieux lanc par
Salima EKRAM, professeur dgyptologie IAUC
(Universit Amricaine du Caire). Non,
lgyptologue ne voulait pas dire que ces momies
seraient emportes par les adoptants, mais que
ceux-ci financent titre permanent leur
conservation. Lide lui est venue au moment de
lquipement de la salle des momies danimaux au
Muse du Caire. Les fonds manquaient et il fallait
des dons pour assurer la prservation de ces
momies qui font partie du patrimoine pharaonique
autant que les momies humaines.
En fait, la liste des momies des animaux ne
cesse de sallonger, mesure que lon dcouvre de
nouveaux cimetires. Or, le Muse gyptien du
Caire possde une intressante collection de ces
momies: des singes, des crocodiles, des faucons,
des reptiles, les restes de la momie dun cheval, la
fraction dune chvre Mais ces animaux ne sont
pas tous momifis de la mme faon que celle des
corps humains. Ce sont souvent les animaux
caractre divin qui taient dposs dans des
sarcophages comme les tres humains, explique le
Dr Nasri ISKANDAR, directeur du Centre de la
conservation des Antiquits gyptiennes et clbre
expert des momies.
Certes, on peut observer dautres animaux
qui sont simplement enrouls dans un morceau fin
de tissu, sans aucun genre de momification. La
plupart de ces tres non humains sont accompagns
de paniers et de coffrets o taient dposs leurs
organes. Nasri ISKANDAR confirme que les
entrepts du Muse gyptien du Caire abritent tout
autant de trsors, beaucoup plus que ceux en
exposition. Hlas, bon nombre de ces momies
animales sont sujettes la dgradation progressive.
Les pices exposes sont celles qui sont les mieux
conserves.
Dautres encore se trouvent dans des
tombes ou dans les entrepts du Haut Conseil des
Antiquits (HCA). Le Muse agricole du Caire,
Doqqi, renferme lui aussi une collection importante
des momies non humaines. Do la ncessit de la
cration, surtout au Muse gyptien du Caire, dune
salle bien quipe pour les momies danimaux
lexemple de la salle des momies royales.
Malheureusement lide dadoption na pas march.
Seules deux ou trois personnes se sont prsentes et
il ne se trouve pas dgyptiens parmi eux. Mais les
gyptologues ne dsesprent pas, ils poursuivent
leurs travaux pour achever la nouvelle salle
destine aux animaux avec les moyens du bord en
attendant dautres amateurs.
Dailleurs, il est prvu dexposer ces
animaux dune manire attrayante. Cette
25
modernisation simpose parce quon a constat que
les visiteurs qui se rendent dans la salle des momies
royales, sont fascins galement par la momie dun
singe expose dans un couloir non loin de la salle
des momies humaines, rvle Nasri ISKANDAR. Il
sagit galement de mettre en valeur les tapes de la
momification animale comme cest dj le cas pour
celle des momies royales. Lobjectif est de
prsenter les aspects de la civilisation gyptienne et
non de crer uniquement un muse dhorreurs ou
de curiosits, ajoute ISKANDAR.
Un catalogue comprenant les diffrentes
momies danimaux devant faire lobjet de
conservation est en voie de prparation, il est
destin au public et doit tre publi dans les six
mois. (Des momies adopter, Al-Ahram Hebdo
du 4 juillet 2001).
-
- -
-
2. Muses
Alexandrie & Nord-Ouest
Muse de Marn al-Alamayn
Le ministre de la Culture a dcid la
cration dbut 2002 du muse de Marn al-
Alamayn dans la rgion archologique situe 98
km de lautoroute Alexandrie-Matrh. Cette rgion
regroupe les vestiges dune ville et dun port
dpoque romaine, en plus dune srie de tombes
archologiques exceptionnelles. (Tha ABD AL-
RAHMN, Cration dun muse archologique
Marn, al-Ahrr du 9 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Muse de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina
La mise en place du muse archologique
de la Bibliotheca Alexandrina entre dans sa phase
finale, en prvision de son inauguration prochaine.
Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprme des
Antiquits, Gballah Al GBALLAH, y a effectu
une visite dinspection des travaux en cours. Il a
dclar que 839 pices antiques sont dj parvenues
au muse et 205 autres y sont attendues. Les 1044
pices qui constituent le fonds du muse
appartiennent aux diffrentes poques historiques :
pharaoniques, coptes et islamiques Lors de la
dernire runion, 97 mille Livres gyptiennes ont
t alloues pour lachvement des dcorations et
du systme dexposition musologique. La
scurisation lectronique du muse est assure par
une trs haute autorit. Vu son emplacement au
cur de la Bibliotheca Alexandrine, une
importance particulire est accorde ce muse, qui
sera le reprsentant officiel des muses gyptiens
Alexandrie. (Ashraf UWAYS, Mille pices
archologiques exposes dans le muse de la
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, al - Qhi r a du 20
novembre 2001. Voir galement Amal AL-GAYYR,
La collection du muse de la Bibliotheca
Alexandrina senrichit de 250 pices antiques, al-
Ahrm du 30 septembre).
Lpouse du prsident de la Rpublique,
M
me
Suzanne MUBRAK, a offert la Bibliotheca
Alexandrina deux pices de monnaie en or datant
du rgne dAlexandre le Grand. Sur la face des
pices est grav le portrait dAlexandre, sur le dos
on voit lempereur ail. Cest le gouverneur
dAlexandrie qui avait autrefois offert ces deux
pices M
me
MUBRAK, qui, son tour, les offre
la Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Le directeur de la
Bibliotheca, Dr Isml SIRG AL-DN, a annonc la
cration dun muse des acquisitions et des dons
exceptionnels. La Bibliotheca Alexandrina possde
prsent une collection de monnaies parmi les plus
rares au monde. (Muhammad RASLN, Suzanne
MUBRAK offre la Bibliotheca Alexandrina deux
pices de monnaie datant dAlexandre le Grand,
al-Ahrm du 16 octobre).
-
- -
Muse de la Mosaque
Ahmad ABD AL-FATTH, responsable du
projet du muse de la Mosaque
Alexandrie, explique en quoi consiste ce
nouveau projet :
Le muse de la mosaque sera le deuxime
dans le monde arabe, le premier se trouvant
Tunis. Mais le ntre sera plus moderne. Ce muse
renfermera les pices de mosaque les plus
magnifiques remontant lpoque grco-romaine. Il
sagit de fragments de sol, dont certains ont t
dcouverts il y a un sicle et demi dans la ville
dAlexandrie et mme Charqiya dans le Delta et
au Sina. Ces mosaques faisaient partie des
temples, des palais, des villas et des bains romains.
Le muse regroupera ainsi diffrents styles de lart
de la mosaque cette poque. Il y aura de superbes
tableaux reprsentant des lgendes et aussi des
scnes de la vie quotidienne.
Il y a un an que nous travaillons sous la
direction dAdel MOKHTAR, responsable du
dpartement des muses au ministre de la Culture,
pour achever les tapes de construction du muse
26
dans le quartier de Bab Charq Alexandrie sur une
surface de 1000 m
2
. La construction est termine.
Aujourdhui, nous passons ltape de
lamnagement.
Nous travaillons darrache-pied pour
achever nos travaux afin de pouvoir linaugurer la
mme date que la Bibliothque dAlexandrie, cest-
-dire en avril prochain. Jusqu prsent, on a
accompli peu prs 75 % du travail. Nous
souhaitons que les visiteurs de ce muse soient les
mmes que ceux de la Bibliothque. Les deux
institutions se compltent en quelque sorte et avec
le Muse grco-romain on aura ainsi lun des
meilleurs panoramas de cette poque. (Samar
ZARE, Trois questions Ahmad ABDEL-FATTAH,
directeur du muse grco-romain et responsable du
projet du muse de la mosaque Alexandrie, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 21 novembre 2001).
Several mosaic panels are currently being
restored in preparation for the museum which is to
display some 40 pieces unearthed in Alexandria.
According to Mr ABDUL FATAH the oldest piece
found in Alexandria is one bearing the picture of a
fisherman holding a spear and flanked by a number
of legendary animals. The panel, he said, was found
at Champollion street downtown Alexandria at the
turn of the 20
th
century during the implementation
of a sewerage project. There are also two
distinguished pieces of the Gladiator and The Dog
found at the site of Bibliothica Alexandrina, which
used to be the royal quarter at the Graeco-Roman
age. The two panels might have been part of the
floor of a royal palace, said Mr ABDUL FATAH. The
mosaic panels could thus give an idea about the
legendary city, part of which exists above the
ground while the major part still exists underwater
and underground carrying with it secrets of bygone
ages. (Sammar A. EZZAT, First mosaic museum to
be established in Alex. Soon, The Egyptian
Gazette du 27 dcembre; Amal AL-GAYYR, Les
mosaques racontent lhistoire ancienne
dAlexandrie, al-Ahrm du 23 dcembre).
-
- -
Muse de plein air de Bb Sharq
The ad-hoc committee formed to choose
the artifacts to be displayed at the open museum
constituting a major part of Mahka of Alexandria
(Alexandria Narrative) at Bab Sharq, has completed
its task. The committee has selected 32 outstanding
pieces made of stone whether granite, black basalt
or marble in order to go with the nature of the
place. Among the important pieces are statue of the
god of the Nile lying in relaxation, a statue of
goddess Hathur, huge utensils, a collection of
Roman fountains, a rare sarcophagus with botanic
patterns, Roman and Greek muses and a rare piece
that pertains to the age of Ramsis II taking the
shape of a threshold two metres wide and a metre
high with hieroglyphic writings.
According to Director of the Graeco-
Roman Museum Ahmed ABDUL FATAH the pieces
were picked from the museum and from
archaeological sites as Pompay pillar and Al
Anfushi. The pieces will be distributed in an artistic
way in an area of 6000 square metres, making it a
main attraction since it is the first open museum in
the seaport city. Mr ABDUL FATAH said that the
pieces will be put on display once the antiquities
police station at the open museum site is prepared.
The site will also include a mosaic museum, the
first of its kind in the Middle East and an alabaster
tomb believed to be part of the royal cemetery in
the Roman and Greek ages. Some recent research
claim that this cemetery includes the tomb of
Alexander the Macedonian. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
First open museum at Bab Sharq in Alex. to be
opened soon, The Egyptian Gazette du 18 octobre
2001; Amal AL-GAYYR, Slection de 32 pices
antiques qui seront exposes dans le jardin
musologique de Bb Sharq, al-Ahrm du 16
octobre).
-
- -
Muse des Antiquits sous-marines
Egyptian officials are now proceeding with
plans to turn the two archaeological sites into the
worlds first underwater archaeological museum,
effectively allowing tourists to view the artifacts
without removing them from their watery resting-
place. Instead of taking the artifacts up, we will
take people down, says Gaballah Ali GABALLAH,
head of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA).
Opening the submerged ruins to scuba divers is the
first stage of the innovative museum project, which
GABALLAH says may eventually include the use of
glass-bottom boats and special submersibles.
UNESCO endorsed the project in 1998,
but warned it could not succeed unless the harbors
sewage problem was first addressed. In addition to
health hazards, sewage reduces visibility and its
sedimentation fouls the artifacts, says Muhammad
MOUS TAF A, an antiquities inspector at the
Department of Underwater Archaeology. But
thanks to our new governor, the water is much
better.
Earlier this year, proactive Alexandria
governor Abdel Salam MAHGOUB ordered the
relocation of most of the harbors motorized fishing
fleet to Abu Qir, 30 kilometers away. In May, he
came through on a long-overdue promise to close
permanently three main sewage tunnels leading to
the harbor and divert them to a new treatment
27
facility in nearby Mariout. In recent months, water
visibility has improved substantially, and the
government is now allowing supervised diving
groups to visit the harbor sites. Officials expect the
underwater museum will quickly become one of
Egypts top tourist attractions
The SCA has more radical plans. It hopes
to eventually build a network of transparent tunnels
on the sea floor that would allow visitors to walk
among the submerged ruins. A museum of this type
would be a novelty and Egypt could be a pioneer,
explains GABALLAH, who has suggested running
Plexiglas tubes from land or a floating platform.
While no estimates of the cost of such an
undertaking have been given, GABALLAH insists It
would be much cheaper than lifting the
monuments.
An underwater tube network would require
extensive planning and security arrangements to
reduce risks of leaks or terrorist attacks. Egypts
tourism industry was devastated by an armed attack
on a tour party at a temple near Luxor in 1997.
There are also environmental factors to consider.
The current can be very strong. Heavy seas last
year were almost enough to collapse Fort Qait
Bey, warns GABALLAB, who fears powerful
currents could threaten the integrity of an
underwater tube network. We would first need to
create a protective breakwater.
Feasibility studies are still underway. For
now, divers can swim among the ancient ruins of
Cleopatras sunken city and the Seventh Wonder of
the World. If everything works out, tourists
strolling through transparent tubes on the sea floor
will one day be able to visit these sunken treasures
without even getting their feet wet. (Cam SINCLAIR,
What lies beneath, Cairo Times du 20 septembre
2001).
-
- -
Sharqiyya
Muse de Tell Bast
Tell Basta, la dernire capitale de lgypte
au temps du Nouvel Empire, se situe 80
kilomtres lest du Caire. Juste cet
emplacement, le Haut Conseil des Antiquits
(HCA) est en train damnager un muse ciel
ouvert. Le projet nest pas totalement termin, mais
les visiteurs peuvent dj sy rendre. En effet, la
rgion est trs riche en Antiquits, 4 de ses villes
ayant t successivement des capitales de lgypte
ancienne. Tell Al-Dabaa ltait lpoque des
Hyksos, la rgion de Qantir tait le sige du
gouvernement lpoque de Ramss II (XIX
e
dynastie), San Al-Hagar (Tanis) tait la capitale au
temps de la XXI
e
dynastie et enfin il y a eu Tell
Basta.
Et pourtant, dans ce gouvernorat, il
nexiste quun seul muse, trs pauvre en
Antiquits et qui nexpose que la rvolution
dAhmad ORABI en 1882. Cest pour cette raison
que le HCA a suggr de crer un muse ouvert
dans la rgion dsertique de Tell Basta, vitant
ainsi dentraver la vue panoramique de la rgion
antique et de renouer avec son aspect initial,
explique Ibrahim SOLIMAN, directeur des antiquits
de Tell Basta. Ce muse renferme essentiellement
un jardin, faisant office de muse o sont exposes
des statues de Ramss II, de Ramss VI, des
plaques en calcaire du Nouvel Empire sur
lesquelles sont sculptes les gloires de Ramss II
lors de batailles militaires, de grands sarcophages
similaires ceux qui se trouvent au Srapeum
Saqqara. Ces derniers taient utiliss pour enterrer
les taureaux sacrs
En plus des travaux dclairage et
darborisation qui seffectueront dans la phase
dfinitive de ce projet, un pont en bois sera
construit entre le jardin et le grand temple de Bastet
pour faciliter la circulation et la visite de la rgion,
dj mentionne sur la carte touristique de lgypte.
Elle reoit environ un ou deux groupes de touristes,
surtout en hiver. Le budget total pour ce projet va
atteindre les 3 millions de L.E. (Dalia FAROUK,
Sur les traces de quatre capitales pharaoniques,
Al-Ahram Hebdo du 8 aot 2001. Voir galement
Sammar A. EZZAT, First open museum at Tal
Basta in Sharqia, The Egyptian Gazette du 30
aot; Mushra MSA, Cration du plus moderne
jardin musologique Sharqiyya, al-Ahrm du 29
novembre).
Ce projet de jardin musologique, dont le
cot estim slve trois millions de Livres
gyptiennes, a suscit quelques critiques
dans la presse. Le chef du Dpartement de
restauration de la facult dArchologie,
Muhammad ABD AL-HD et le Dr Abd al-
Halm NR AL-DN, ex-secrtaire gnral du
CSA, entre autres, ont condamn cette
initiative. Quant au Dr Mahmd Umar
Muhammad SILM, professeur darchologie
et de civilisation gyptienne lInstitut
suprieur des civilisations du Proche-Orient
ancien de lUniversit de Zaqzq, il accuse
le CSA de saccager Tell Bast. En effet, il
dnonce le btonnage du site pour
lamnagement de parking, de caftria, de
toilettes, dalles, de poteaux lectriques et
de dpendances de la police du Tourisme ;
lutilisation de gros engins pour la
ralisation de ces travaux sur des secteurs
vierges, qui nont pas encore t fouills ; la
cration dun jardin et la plantation darbres
dont larrosage menace les Antiquits
enfouies (Une atteinte la loi sur la
28
protection des Antiquits, al-Ahrm du 15
septembre).
Soulignons que depuis 1978 le Dr Mahmd
SILM a dirig la mission archologique de
fouilles de Tell Bast. Le 25 juillet 1998, sa
mission a t suspendue par le Comit
permanent pour infractions graves (vols
prsums, mauvaises restaurations, sortie
illicite dchantillons pour analyse
ltranger, etc.). Le chantier a t alors
confi aux Allemands. Mais depuis cette
date, le Dr SILM a intent deux procs
contre le CSA. Ce qui explique, sans doute,
les critiques assez violentes quil formule.
Sur le diffrend entre le Dr SILM et le CSA,
voir tif AL-KLN et Samh SAMR, Un
professeur lUniversit de Zaqzq envoie
aux t at s-Uni s des chant i l l ons
archologiques sans lautorisation des
services de scurit !, Ruz al-Ysuf du 14
juillet ; Mahmd Silm UMAR, Des
rivalits et non des infractions, Ruz al-
Ysuf du 4 aot ; Ihb AL-HADAR, Procs
contre le dveloppement de Tell Bast,
Akhbr al-Adab du 14 octobre).
-
- -
Le Caire
Muse gyptien
Ds sa nomination la tte du Muse
gyptien en fvrier 2001, Mamdh AL-
DAMT entreprend un vaste programme de
modernisation de cette institution
centenaire :
The energetic and ambitious new director-
general of the Egyptian Museum, Mamdouh EL-
DAMATI, is planning to resuscitate many former
museum projects which have been left on ice for
the last three years. He also hopes to implement
innovations of his own. EL-DAMATI also plans to
reach out to the interested public. To develop the
skills and knowledge of Egyptian archaeologists,
the museum is organising a series of Sunday
lectures focusing on a different aspect of ancient
society each week. We shall also focus on other
topics, he says.
Within the next two months, the museum
should be on the Internet. This facility will enable
students and scholars from all over the world to
carry out research without necessarily making their
way to Egypt or visiting the museum. EL-DAMATI
says the Internet catalogue will provide a photo
album of every object in the museum, with full
details of size, material, historical details, the site at
which each piece was found and any other relevant
information. Each photo will be numbered, and it
will be possible for a viewer to purchase the right
to reproduce it for a small fee through the Internet.
Since each object is photographed from all angles,
the navigator can decide which angle is the most
suitable for his or her purposes as a work of art,
for example, or in order to read the texts. If more
information is required this will be provided on
request for an additional fee.
In the early 1950s, before the revolution, a
general catalogue on the Egyptian Museum gave
regular details of new additions. This long-
neglected project will now be reactivated. It will
not be in the form of a single catalogue, but several,
each devoted to a single subject. For example
ushwepti figures, sarcophagi, mummies, offering
tables, reliefs, etc., EL-DAMATI says. He says that
in view of the immense popularity of the
Mausoleum of the Mummies, another mummy hall
is being prepared to display those mummies, some
of them royal, which are still in storage. The hall
exhibiting animal mummies will be rearranged, he
adds. A hall on the upper level of the museum
devoted to the exhibition of sarcophagi, closed for
the last 30 years, will be reopened. EL-DAMATI
says: The hall will be cleaned and repainted, the
tiling restored, and all the sarcophagi cleaned and
suitably prepared for exhibition.
These are ambitious plans, but not too
ambitious for a man who has a vision of turning the
Egyptian Museum into a meeting place for scholars
while at the same time catering to the interests of
children and providing facilities for the disabled.
We intend to produce a bulletin outlining museum
news and giving details of the planned lecture
series, the new director says. For children, we
want to produce a monthly brochure describing
specific pieces which will be of special interest. As
for the disabled, for the first time in the history of
the museum [which was founded by MARIETTE
nearly a century ago], plans are being made to
provide some 50 to 70 replicas of masterpieces for
hands-on "viewing" by the blind. The chosen pieces
will cover highlights of ancient Egyptian history. A
Braille catalogue is coming out very soon, EL-
DAMATI says. (Nevine EL-AREF, New century,
new ventures, Al-Ahram Weekly du 18 octobre
2001).
- - -
loccasion du 100
me
anniversaire de
linauguration du Muse gyptien le 16 novembre
2002 prochain, le Conseil suprieur des Antiquits
organisera une grande crmonie mondiale qui
correspondra limportance de cet vnement.
Cest ce qua dclar le Secrtaire gnral du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali
GABALLA, avant dajouter que les festivits
commenceront par la tenue dune confrence
internationale de 2 jours portant sur lart, le
29
dveloppement des muses et de ses pices
exposes, avec la participation de 400 chercheurs
des divers pays du monde travers leurs
contributions au dveloppement du travail dans les
muses et lexamen des recherches sur lart de
lexposition dans les muses et la relation qui existe
entre le muse et la socit. Le Dr GABALLA a
indiqu qu cette occasion seront inaugurs le
troisime tage du Muse, la deuxime salle des
momies royales, la salle des sarcophages royaux et
le Centre de documentation et dinformations.
(Hassan SAADALLAH, Confrence mondiale
loccasion du centenaire du Muse gyptien, Le
Progrs gyptien du 16 septembre 2001. Voir
galement Sad GAML AL-DN, Crmonie
internationale pour le centenaire du Muse
gyptien, al-Ahrr du 1
er
septembre).
-
- -
Grand Muse gyptien
At the end of September, the Ministry of
Culture will launch an international competition to
design a new museum on a new site two and a half
kilometres north of the Giza plateau, near the midan
at the intersection the Cairo-Fayoum and the Cairo-
Alexandria roads. The launch comes two years after
completion of a US$1,5 million feasibility study
financed by the Italian government and executed by
an international team of experts. The five-year
study period took into consideration every aspect of
the project, from environmental impact to the
museums internal design. The antiquities to be
exhibited were also taken into account. Building a
state-of-the-art antiquities museum in this specific
location, where the pyramids of Giza stand as a
dramatic backdrop, will create the best
environment to display our priceless treasures,
Minister of Culture Farouk HOSNI says. There will
be more space, better lighting and more
information to do justice to our priceless heritage.
HOSNI said such international organisations as the
World Bank, the Museums International Union, the
International Union for Architecture, the Arab
Development Fund and the Unesco had expressed
their desire to contribute to the museum
construction, which will be carried out in three
phases at a cost of US$400 million.
The museum will be planned to provide all
necessary facilities to cope with the large number of
visitors anticipated, and to serve as a fully-
computerised information centre for Egyptologists.
Aside from its displays, the museum will have
Internet links with other international museums.
There will also be extensive restaurant and
shopping facilities. This project is the best
possible solution to preserving our artifacts,
Mohamed SALEH, the new projects archaeological
supervisor, said. He described the turn-of-the-last-
century Cairo museum in Tahrir Square as suffering
from stress both inside and out. It stands, with its
neo-classical style, in Cairos busiest square,
exposed to pollution and the vibration of Cairos
most crowded traffic zone, he said.
Gaballa Ali GABALLA, general secretary of
the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the new
museum would not be another storehouse but
rather a refined selection of carefully-displayed
masterpieces. The 117-feddan museum will
exhibit 160,000 objects from various ancient
Egyptian historical periods ranging from the
prehistoric to the early Roman. Among the special
items to be put on display will be selected objects
from the tomb of Tutankhamun, the funerary
furniture of Khufus mother, Hetepheres found
intact in her small pyramid at Giza objects
belonging to Yuya and Thuya, grandparents of the
Pharaoh Akhenaten, and to the nobleman
Senedjem, royal mummies from Thebes, and the
Tanis treasures. Because the museum will be
located near to the pyramid plateau, a special
section will naturally be devoted to Old Kingdom
artifacts.
SALEH said that major thematic display
routes would be provided. The first would be the
land of Egypt, showing the Nile water, earth and
swamps, the desert and the oases. The second
would detail kingship and the state, showing the
succeeding dynasties, temple rituals, war and
building activities. The third would cover the
Pharaonic religion by showing the various deities,
the revolutionary era of Akhenaten and the Amarna
period, animal cults and funerary beliefs. The
fourth and fifth themes would cover ancient society,
with houses, implements of daily life, sports, music,
dance, arts and crafts. In addition to the artifacts
which illustrate these themes, there will be models
of tombs and temples, maps, and videos showing
the Egyptian environment and location of
archaeological sites. There will also be
comprehensive diagrams of comparative
chronology. The museum will have laboratories
for scientific research, conservation, restoration
and photography. It will establish an
archaeological library where Egyptian pieces from
other museum are exhibited, and there will be a
publication and media centre with books,
videotapes and CD ROMs, SALEH said. Finally,
one of the aims of the museum will be to raise
archaeological awareness among Egyptian
children by giving space to childrens activities.
(Nevine EL-AREF, Modern showcase for ancient
history, Al-Ahram Weekly du 20 septembre 2001.
Voir galement Ashraf MUFD, Clbration
internationale le mois prochain de la pose de la
premire pierre du plus grand muse au monde,
al-Ahrm du 9 novembre).
Si tout le monde saccorde sur les carences
de lactuel Muse gyptien et sur la
30
ncessit den crer un autre, lEgyptian
Mail dnonce, toutefois, le gaspillage de
sommes faramineuses dans des tudes de
faisabilit qui nont finalement servi rien.
Greffs sur le budget de ltat, les fonds
gigantesques qui seront engloutis dans ce
projet top ambitieux pourraient mieux tre
employs ailleurs :
The ambitious project to build the worlds
biggest Egyptian antiquities museum will be
officially inaugurated next week, with the laying of
the foundation stone near the Giza Pyramids. The
New Egyptian Museum will eventually house the
largest collection of Pharaonic relics under one roof
in the world, including the solid-gold death mask of
Tutankhamun. We have spent eight years planning
this museum and we estimate that it will take
another five to build. When it is finished, it will be
the most spectacular and modern museum for
Pharaonic antiquities anywhere in the world,
Ayman ABDEL-MONEIM, director of the Ministry of
Cultures archaeological office, proudly told British
newspaper The Sunday Times.
For decades, many thousands of Egypts
priceless antiquities have been rotting away in the
vaults of the countrys overcrowded and under-
funded (current) Egyptian Museum in the heart of
downtown Cairo. The century-old museum in
Tahrir Square has long been criticised by
Egyptologists for causing irreversible damage to the
fragile relics, because of poor-quality strip lighting
and a shocking lack of any sort of temperature
regulation.
According to The Sunday Times, the tales
of the damage done in the chaotic museum have
passed into legend, ranging from cleaners washing
the antiquities in abrasive detergents to get rid of
the dust to ancient items being lost for decades in
the depths of the vaults. Other large, heavy,
valuable relics have even been known to sink
through the soft floor of the museums basement,
only to be retrieved again with the greatest of
difficulty !
With room to display only a fraction of all
the local treasures it has in storage, the Tahrir
Square museum has long been ripe for overhaul.
However, after a three-year feasibility study,
funded by a 21.25 million donation from the Italian
Government, it was finally decided to build a
completely new museum on a different site.
Until now, there have never been the
resources available to build a new museum that
would actually do justice to the wonderful
antiquities that we have in Egypt. With building
costs estimated at around 2215 million (about
LE1.3 billion), funding for the project will come
from corporate sponsorship, charitable donations
and the Egyptian Government, which is expected to
foot one-third of the final bill. The museum will
eventually house more than 120,000 antiquities
from the 4
th
millennium BC until the fall of the
Roman Empire. Every single piece found in
Tutankhamuns tomb (some 3,500 objects) will be
displayed for the first time ever.
But the US$64,000 question which must
be answered is just how a government badly
battered by the repercussions of the 11 September
tragedy is going to stump up the money for the
project. The Cabinet has minimised the scale of
projects to be carried out in the incumbent five-year
plan. Most of these projects, classified as
development, are intended to provide badly
needed new infrastructure and jobs. Why are these
vital projects being deferred so that the new
museum can have precedence? Nobody has clear-
cut answers to these two questions! However, if
you do happen to know, please send your answers
on a postcard to Egyptian Mail. (The extravagance
of an indebted government, Egyptian Mail du 22
dcembre 2001).
-
- -
Muse de la Civilisation
Le responsable du Fonds de sauvegarde des
Antiquits de la Nubie, Kaml BARAKT,
fait le point sur lavancement du projet du
Muse national de la Civilisation
gyptienne :
Jai accompagn le Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, le secrtaire gnral du Haut Conseil
des Antiquits (HCA), en France. Nous nous
sommes mis daccord avec les responsables de
lUnesco sur la dernire maquette du projet ainsi
que la date du dbut de la ralisation. En fait, le
muse en construction qui sera install Fostat
renfermera environ 70,000 pices reprsentant les
diffrentes poques de la civilisation gyptienne
depuis la prhistoire et lpoque pharaonique en
passant par les poques chrtienne, islamique et
moderne. Le projet qui cotera environ 150
millions de L.E. sera excut dans quelques mois
sur une surface de 22 feddans.
On a choisi prcisment cet endroit parce
que cest l o se trouvent les racines historiques de
lancienne capitale de lgypte: Foustat. Un tel
tablissement serait en harmonie avec laspect
architectural et historique du Vieux-Caire, un des
quartiers les plus importants du point de vue
historique, religieux et touristique. Il renferme la
plus ancienne mosque de lAfrique (mosque Amr
Ibn Al-Ass), la plus ancienne glise dgypte, Al-
Moallaqa ou la Suspendue et la plus vieille
synagogue, celle de Ben Ezra. De haut, on peut
avoir une vue panoramique sur les Pyramides de
31
Guiza et le canal dAn Al-Sira. Cest aussi et
depuis toujours le haut lieu qui a vu la naissance de
lartisanat traditionnel du Caire. De quoi faire de
cette zone un lieu oecumnique, au vrai sens du
terme. Auparavant on pensait ldifier prs de
lOpra du Caire. Mais on a prfr Fostat pour des
raisons historiques et parce quil y a plus despace.
(Amira SAMI R, Trois questions Kamal
BARAKAT, responsable du Fonds de sauvegarde des
Antiquits de la Nubie, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 18
juillet 2001).
-
- -
Muse de la Nation
The Museum of Beit Al Uma (House of the
Nation) which has been restored and provided with
the latest display facilities will be officially
reopened next month. The museum which used to
be the residence of the national leader of the 1919
revolution Saad ZAGLOUL displays a wide variety
of his personal belongings.
According to Dr Ahmed NAWAR head of
the Fine Art Sector, the restoration operation would
entitle the museum to function as a cultural centre
where symposia are to be held dealing with various
artistic, political and cultural topics. The upgrading
comes under the policy adopted by the Ministry of
Culture to turn museums into enlightenment centres
in addition to their original function of preserving
the memory of the nation.
The Restoration Centre of the Fine Art
Sector has restored all contents of the museum
including 13 paintings, 75 photographs, 19 paper
panels in addition to four statues of Saad ZAGLOUL.
The museum displays 369 silver and metal items.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Beit Al Uma Museum
expected to be reopened in new year, The
Egyptian Gazette du 27 dcembre 2001; The
nations home, Al-Ahram Weekly du 27
dcembre).
-
- -
Muse de la Rvolution
Autrefois appel Club des sports nautiques
du roi FRQ, devenu par la suite
Quartier gnral de la Rvolution de
juillet, ce btiment de 3200 m
2
, situ au
bord du Nil en face de lOpra du Caire,
deviendra dans moins de deux ans le Muse
des leaders de la Rvolution de juillet. Cot
de lopration : quarante millions de Livres
gyptiennes :
A presidential decree has been issued to
complete work on the El-Thawra (Revolution)
Museum in preparation for its inauguration on the
50-year anniversary of the July 1952 Revolution.
President Hosni MUBARAK instructed Minister of
Culture Farouk HOSNI to ensure that the museum,
housed in the former headquarters of the Free
Officers on Gezira Island, is ready for opening
during the Revolutions golden jubilee celebrations.
Executive studies for the museum are complete and
ready for implementation, HOSNI said yesterday. He
added that the museum would depict the history of
the 1952 Revolution and its heroes. (Revolution
Museum due to open in July, The Egyptian
Gazette du 27 dcembre 2001. Voir galement
Wagh AL-SAQQR, Un muse pour les leaders de
la Rvolution de juillet, al-Ahrm du 20 juillet;
Inauguration du Muse de la Rvolution en juillet
prochain, al-Akhbr du 27 dcembre).
-
- -
Muse Umm Kulsm
Le 28 dcembre 2001, Frq HUSN,
accompagn de M
me
Suzanne MUBRAK et
de nombreux autres ministres et
personnalits importantes inaugure un muse
ddi la mmoire de la diva du monde
arabe, UMM KULSM (1898-1975). Cet
vnement artistique mrite dtre signal,
notamment car ce muse dernier cri dun
cot de sept millions de Livres gyptiennes
est amnag dans une annexe du palais
Mnistarl, un joyau architectural du XIX
e
sicle :
First, the Manesterly Palace grounds, a
19
th
-century architectural complex located at the
southern tip of Al-Roda Island, near the Nilometer,
was extensively re-planned and re-tiled. The gate
now opens onto a spacious path lined with bazaar-
style shops selling, among other things, UMM
KULTHOUM tapes as well as Ministry of Culture
publications art books, translations and CDs.
Secondly, as Salwa HERAM, director of the
Manesterly archaeological site, points out, the now
whitewashed stone structure in which the museum
is housed originally a museum of precious
stones owned by the Ministry of Irrigation and
Public Works, which landed in the lap of the
Ministry of Culture by way of the Egyptian
Authority on Antiquities was entirely
refurbished and redesigned for the purpose by a
cutting-edge interior decorator from Italy, Maurizio
DI PAOLO, who incorporated the latest lighting,
display and air-conditioning technologies into the
framework of his plans, thus giving the venue a
zippy postmodern feel.
32
Thirdly, as much of the divas
memorabilia as possible was painstakingly
collected and set out, though until a few days before
the opening no information on what these objects
are, when or where they came from was publicly
available a rather crucial omission that takes
away from an otherwise fascinating experience.
The powers that be seem pleased enough
with the result of their efforts, anyway. This
beautiful location, HOSNI told Al-Ahram Weekly,
is ideal for an UMM KULTHOUM museum. It was
chosen only after long and meticulous deliberation.
As you see the venue occupies a magnificent
archaeological site on the bank of the River Nile,
he added, a subject to which UMM KULTHOUM
devoted many of her songs. Founding the museum,
he explained, was undertaken within the framework
of a more expansive, long-term project to establish
many such venues focusing on the achievement of
the pillars of modern Egyptian culture, like
composer Mohamed ABDEL-WAHAB and poet
Ahmed RAMI , both of whom, incidentally,
collaborated with UMM KULTHOUM. What makes
this possible, HOSNI went on to indicate, is the
availability of funding from the newly formed
Cultural Society, a group of 20 Egyptian and Arab
businessman who, through establishing museums as
well as organising festivals, restoring antiquities
and patronising the arts, hope to make a tangible
contribution to the cultural arena. This, he
concluded, is the first project to be funded by the
Society. The Society, one can safely surmise, works
in close contact with the various arms of the
Ministry, one of which is the Cultural Development
Fund, whose head, Salah SHAQWIR, proved even
more enthusiastic. To me, he told the Weekly,
the opening of the UMM KULTHOUM museum is a
dream come true.
The pleasure of sauntering through the
Manesterly Palace grounds is indeed almost dream-
like in its intensity. A stunning, pagoda-like
structure, it is adjoined by an enormous terrace, the
lower part of which, jutting out directly into the
water, will be turned into a cafeteria. Further from
the main building, a small garden lies directly in
front of the museum, with a small statue insinuating
musical notation and bearing the divas name at the
centre of the garden. From this angle, the view of
the bank is sadly obstructed by a gaudy commercial
boat-restaurant; yet the quietude of the space and
the sense of vitality with which the Ministrys work
injects it parts of the grounds seem to be still
under construction make up for this aesthetic
imperfection. They make up, too, for the loss of
UMM KULTHOUMs residential villa, an equally
interesting piece of architecture in Zamalek, which
was replaced by a high-rise hotel that bears the
divas name. Walking into the museum, therefore,
one is already well-disposed towards its contents.
And the postmodern atmosphere aside, many of
them live up to ones expectations. Guided by poet
Ahmed ANTAR, the museum director, the viewer
has, in addition, access to information on some of
the divas various possessions and implements,
well-protected and appropriately lit in their state-of-
the-arts glass displays; comprehensive, well-
organised information will, one hopes, be available
to the public on the opening of the museum.
The first thing one sees is the divas red
charpe hanging above her sunglasses an
installation, almost, that brings one image of UMM
KULTHOUM vividly to mind. Of the three sets of
shoes and purses on display opposite, however,
only one pair matches the purse with which it is
placed. And the eight galabeya-style dresses down
the corridor represent neither the range nor the
elegance of UMM KULTHOUMs customary attire.
Several photo-collages look by turns like a family
album and stills from a biographical documentary.
One large picture portrays UMM KULTHOUM with
the older performer and casino-owner Badia
MASABNI; another shows her playing with an
orphan girl; a third comprises the image evoked by
her charpe and sunglasses: these are busy and racy
compositions, worthy of the high-powered artistic
gestures of the second millennium, certainly, but a
little too rushed for the pace of the divas times a
paradoxical trait that seems to be set every aspect of
the museum, the discrepancy between the slow-
paced and sedate aura that surrounds UMM
KULTHOUM and Paolos postmodern panache. All
I knew is that I liked her music, Paolo explained,
without understanding the words. But I didnt
agree to design the interior until I found out about
her status here in Egypt. Indeed it often seems as
though Paolo, while feeling for UMM KULTHOUM,
remains unaware of the social and cultural registers
to which she responded as a public figure; the
framework in which her belongings are shown
invokes none of her classicism, grandeur or
grassroots decency.
Objects on display range from UMM
KULTHOUMs diplomatic passport (a mark of
distinction with which very few performers have
been blessed) to the 1934 contract she signed with
the Egyptian radio corporation and transcriptions of
her song lyrics in the handwriting of Ahmed
SHAWQI and Bairam EL-TOUNSI. There are framed
photos that once hung on the walls of her villa,
recording equipment she owned, medals and
trophies she earned and letters she received from
heads of state and other figures of magnitude. All
these items, ANTAR explains, were collected from
her relatives, who had possession of such trophies
as the Nile Medal, presented to her by King
FAROUK in 1946, and the Order of Merit given by
President Gamal ABDEL-NASSER in 1960. Other
objects came from aficionados: Elwi FARID, the
owner of a tourist agency, for example, contributed
160 original recordings of her music. The wave-like
surface of one wall and here Paulos mark is
evident again doubles as a screen on which
33
footage of the diva can be screened, accompanied
by the sound of her songs. A small library offers
nearly all that has been written about her in Arabic,
while affording viewers the opportunity to enjoy
digitalised audiovisual material relating to her
career her many recorded concerts, for example.
But perhaps the highlight of the exhibit is UMM
KULTHOUMs pocket-size notebooks, in which she
managed her budget and brushed up on her French
vocabulary. A lone, unidentified oud looks unfit for
use, though: either it is still being made, or it has
endured a serious act of vengeance.
The opening celebration, HOSNI has said,
will set the pattern for cultural activities at the
Manesterly Palace grounds: a special evening
evoking the original atmosphere of UMM
KULTHOUMs own concerts, especially in the early
stages of her career. Even if this holds true,
however, and regardless of its many merits, the
venue around which such activities are to be
organised remains far from evoking any such
atmosphere. (Youssef RAKHA and Nevine EL-
AREF, Umm Kulthoum superstar, Al -Ahram
Weekly du 27 dcembre 2001. Voir galement Al
ABD AL-HD & Zaynab MUSTAFA, Suzanne
MUBRAK inaugure ce soir le muse de lAstre-de-
lOrient, al-Akhbr du 28 dcembre ; Husm ABD
AL-HD, UMM KULSM est de retour dans le
palais Mnistarl, Ruz al-Ysuf du 29 dcembre ;
Mgda MHANN & Muna RAGAB, Suzanne
MUBRAK inaugure le muse de lAstre-de-lOrient
au plais Mnistarl, al-Ahrm du 29 dcembre ;
Amra KHAWSIK, Le muse UMM KULSM voit
la lumire , Uktubar du 30 dcembre).
-
- -
Miny
Muse Atonien
Lide de cration dun Muse atonien est
ne en 1979, lors de la signature de la
convention de jumelage de Heldezhim et de
Miny. Bien que le CSA ait consacr six
millions de Livres gyptiennes pour ce
projet, vingt-deux ans plus tard, rien na t
encore fait ! Les obstacles furent nombreux :
lourdeurs bureaucratiques, choix dun
emplacement, conception architecturale, etc.
Mais nouveau ce projet gypto-allemand
revient lordre du jour :
M. Farouk HOSNI, ministre de la Culture et
prsident du Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, a
accept de mettre le mois prochain en adjudication
internationale pour lexcution presse le nouveau
muse des Antiquits de Minia, construit en
collaboration entre lgypte et le gouvernement
allemand dans le cadre de la fraternit entre la ville
de Minia et Heldezhm.
Le nouveau muse de Minia sera construit
sur la rive est du Nil sur une surface de 25 feddans
et il va tre entour par un grand jardin sur une
surface quivalente. Le muse est construit sous la
forme des pyramides croises et interfrentes pour
reflter les rayons du soleil de toutes les directions
durant la journe en vue den exprimer ladoration
et la foi dAkhenaton le premier qui a appel
adorer un seul Dieu dans lAntiquit. Il a fait du
soleil un symbole de son adoration qui avait pour
site Tel El Amarna qui se trouve actuellement prs
de la ville de Minia.
Le Dr Ali GABALLA a dclar quils ont
dcid de construire le muse sur la rive est du Nil
pour quil soit facile aux touristes de le visiter
durant leurs croisires. Il a ajout que le muse
comportera des milliers de pices anciennes
dcouvertes Minia et la ville de Tel El-Amarn,
qui remontent lre du monothisme, lre
dAhhenaton. En assurant que le muse sera un
centre culturel, antique et touristique pour toute
cette rgion. Il est noter que la construction de ce
muse cotera presque 5 millions de Livres et
durera peu prs 2 ans. (Hassan SAADALLAH,
Construction du muse de Minia, Le Progrs
gyptien du 18 novembre 2001. Voir galement
Haggg AL-HUSAYN, Le projet de construction du
Muse atonien Miny verra-t-il enfin le jour !,
al-Ahrm du 24 novembre ; Muhammad HUSAYN,
Arrt des travaux du Muse Atonien Miny, al-
Ahrr du 28 dcembre).
-
- -
Aswn
Muse de la Nubie
Le muse des Antiquits de Nubie,
Assouan, a remport le prix international Agha
Khan pour larchitecture, dune valeur de 500,000
dollars. Vingt autres muses et institutions taient
candidats. Nous esprons que ce muse de la fille
du soleil (la Nubie en langue pharaonique) sera
digne de cette civilisation comme des contributions
de la Nubie dans lHistoire de lgypte, a lanc
Farouk HOSNI, ministre de la Culture, lheure o
le muse a t inaugur, c'est--dire en 1998. Il ne
croyait pas si bien dire.
Cette institution, un des joyaux du
tourisme et de larchologie Assouan, a reu la
distinction quelle mritait. Cest Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, secrtaire gnral du Haut Conseil des
Antiquits (HCA), qui recevra prochainement le
prix international Agha Khan, dcern tous les trois
ans, lors dune crmonie Alep, en Syrie. Agha
Khan est le chef spirituel de la communaut
musulmane chiite des Ismaliens, qui regroupe prs
de 15 millions de fidles au Pakistan, en Inde, en
Syrie et en Afrique de lEst. Cette association
34
finance de nombreux projets humanitaires et
culturels
Ainsi, les tudes concernant la
ralisation de ce muse ont commenc ds les
annes 1980. Elles ont t menes par les
commissions du HCA, lUnesco et les experts des
universits gyptiennes, explique Ossama ABDEL-
WARS, conservateur du muse. Il ajoute que cest
le grand architecte gyptien, prsent dcd,
Mahmoud AL-HAKIM, qui a conu le plan du
btiment. Il a pris en considration la ncessit
dharmoniser la forme du muse avec la nature
ambiante et le site. Cest pourquoi il a choisi la
forme dune maison nubienne construite en pierre
sableuse. Il ne fallait pas ngliger le climat
particulier la ville dAssouan. Il fallait des
procds particuliers pour soigner les faades afin
dviter la lumire et la chaleur de pntrer
lintrieur. Ce muse, qui est le plus moderne du
Proche-Orient, est construit sur une surface de
50,000 m
2
. La surface des salles dexpositions y
occupe 3000 m
2
, au milieu dun immense jardin.
(Hanaa AL- MKKAOUI , La fille du soleil
rcompense, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 14 novembre
2001. Voir galement Le Muse de la Nubie
Assouan reoit le prix dAgha Khan, Le Progrs
gyptien du 7 octobre; Muwafaq AB AL-NL, Le
plus grand prix architectural au monde dcern au
Muse de la Nubie, al-Ahrm du 12 octobre;
Nevine EL-AREF, Drowned, but triumphant, Al-
Ahram Weekly du 13 dcembre).
The Nubian Museum, which opened in
November 1997, was the first museum in Egypt to
have an educational section. It was selected because
of its success in integrating the past, present and
future by creating in a single building an
educational institution dedicated to Nubian history,
a contemporary focus for the revival of Nubian
culture and a museum designed to promote and
preserve cultural artifacts for the future. (Nubian
Museum wins award, Cairo Times du 8 novembre.
Voir galement Sammar A. EZZAT, Nubia
Museum wins Agha Khan Institute prize for
architectural excellence, The Egyptian Gazette du
18 octobre).
Soulignons, enfin, que la joie procure par
une telle distinction a t quelque peu
trouble par un article paru dans le quotidien
al-Wafd. Le personnel du Muse de la Nubie
y dnonce, entre autres, labsence dun
rglement interne, la prcarit de leur statut,
le refus de la direction de les titulariser, ainsi
que la mdiocrit de leur salaire. Leurs
ptitions adresses au directeur du Fonds de
sauvetage des Antiquits de Nubie, au
ministre de la Culture et mme au Premier
ministre sont restes lettres mortes. (Ahmad
al-Zayyt, Le muse de la Nubie agonise,
al-Wafd du 25 dcembre 2001).
-
- -
Sainte-Catherine
Muse des trsors cachs
Une collection dicnes et de manuscrits
exceptionnels du monastre du Sina est
enfin regroupe dans le cadre dun muse.
Pour fter les 1700 ans de monachisme, ces
festivits concident aussi avec la fte de
Sainte-Catherine, clbre le 7 dcembre :
Le monastre de Sainte-Catherine, situ
1530 m daltitude lombre des monts Safaga,
Catherine et Moussa, est empreint de religiosit.
Cest l o MO S E aurait reu les dix
commandements de Dieu. Et cest au nom dune
des premires martyres de la chrtient en gypte
quil fut difi. Des trsors sy trouvent, dont une
importante collection dicnes et de manuscrits.
Do lide dinstaller dans lenceinte du couvent
dpendant du monastre le muse des Trsors
sacrs.
Cest un difice de 90 m de long et de 75
de large entour dun mur de granit. Autre
particularit du btiment. Il est 250 m au-dessus
du puits de MOSE. Jadis, il servait prserver les
anciens manuscrits, puis dans les annes 1980 il fut
transform en demeure pour lanba (vque) du
monastre. Si le couvent remonte lan 527,
lpoque de lempereur JUSTINIEN, linstallation
consacre aujourdhui au muse, elle, est plus jeune
denviron un sicle et demi. Mais elle na t
annexe par le monastre que vers 1975, indique
Pre EFTHIMIOS, un religieux du monastre.
Mais ldifice ne dtonne pas par rapport
lensemble. Les pierres qui constituent les murs
ressemblent celles des autres btiments de ce
couvent grec orthodoxe. Et mme si les fentres ont
t renouveles par du bois plus moderne, elles ne
semblent pas dplaces. La porte principale du
muse a t construite en mtal et peinte de couleur
verte, par les moines du monastre, exactement
comme lancienne, assure le Pre. De lextrieur,
le tout semble en parfaite harmonie. On na fait, dit-
on, quenlever le tas de poussire qui sy tait
accumul travers les annes.
Une fois franchi la porte, cest la
surprise peut-tre mme le choc. Entre lextrieur
et lintrieur, le contraste est vident. On ne se croit
plus sur un site biblique. Cramiques
ultramodernes, en couleurs grise et verte identiques
celles qui se trouvent dans les grands htels. Et ce
nest pas tout. Les murs sont peints en bleu verdtre
tout fait comme la couleur utilise pour les fonds
des vitrines qui conservent les trsors du monastre
de la jeune Sainte-Catherine qui subit le martyre
Alexandrie. On a utilis des verres trs clairs et
35
anti-reflets, un systme de fibres optiques, pour
contrler lair et la temprature et viter que les
bois et les icnes ne sabment, explique Petro
MORES, le fournisseur des vitrines. Si lexamen du
dossier damnagement des lieux a pris environ 4
ans, il a fallu une anne entire pour installer
lclairage et le systme lectrique. Ceci outre un
dispositif de scurit trs sophistiqu. On a utilis
la technologie de musologie la plus rcente. Il doit
tre le muse le plus moderne en gypte dans lun
des plus anciens endroits au monde pour conserver
une richesse chrtienne unique, a ajout MOROS.
Des boiseries de toute beaut. Quelques
milliers de manuscrits, dicnes, de tissus dune
valeur inestimable. Leurs dates stalent entre
lpoque byzantine au VI
e
sicle et la priode de
liconoclastie au XIII
e
sicle. Cest lisolement du
monastre qui lui a pargn la destruction de ses
trsors lors de la guerre des iconoclastes.
Aujourdhui, nous posons un regard toujours
merveill.
Dans la premire pice des neuf que
contient le muse stalent les icnes byzantines.
Les sujets sont des scnes de lvangile ou
reprsentent des portraits de saints. Une des plus
remarquables reprsente la Vierge Marie tenant
Jsus entre ses bras. Elle est assemble de
mosaques de 1 m
2
pour former une rare pice de 30
x 50 cm. La deuxime pice a t consacre
lhritage de la Vierge Marie et la vie liturgique
figure dans la troisime. Cest ici quon peut
admirer le tissage fin du lin brod en or et en
pierres prcieuses. L sont exposs costumes et
parures des moines qui se succdrent au
monastre, mais aussi des sultans et califes qui les
dfendirent travers les sicles.
Quant Sainte-Catherine, on lui consacra
la quatrime pice et sur les murs du corridor qui
mne la cinquime sont exposes de nombreuses
photos du monastre et des monts qui lentourent. Il
faut franchir un petit arche tout bas pour accder
cette salle. lentre est expose une croix en
cuivre denviron un mtre et plus surprenant encore
un fac-simil du codex Sinaiticus. Enfin, les quatre
autres pices du muse ont t successivement
rserves aux manuscrits et anciens ouvrages
sacerdotaux, au prophte MOHAMAD, lart
mtallique ecclsiastique et aux documents et
photographies. Un charmant muse donc. Mais o
tait cache toute cette richesse?
Elle a toujours t l, au couvent, sous la
poussire. Il tait temps de len sortir, avoue
Petros KOFOPOULOS, larchitecte du muse. Pour
Pre DANIEL, une des plus grandes raisons est que
ldifice subit les phnomnes naturels, un mur peut
scrouler ici, la pluie peut passer par-l, et ces
trsors pourraient ainsi sabmer un jour ou lautre
et avec eux toute une grande partie de lhistoire. Il
y a 50 ans, les icnes et manuscrits taient gards
dans un coin de la bibliothque. Aujourdhui, grce
aux donateurs, les moines ont pu construire ce
muse. Les organisations et les bailleurs de fonds
qui financent veulent aussi voir le fruit de leur
argent. Il faut savoir que certains donnent pour
viter de payer des taxes. (Samar AL-GAMAL,
Une collection sort de loubli, Al-Ahram Hebdo
du 13 dcembre 2001. Voir galement Samr
SHI HTA, Le Muse des trsors de Sainte-
Catherine expose le pacte du Prophte pour
protger les moines du Sina, al-Ahrm du 11
dcembre).
-
- -
-
3. Restaurations, prservation
Alexandrie
gyptiennes a dcid, lors de sa dernire runion
sous la prsidence du Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA,
Secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprieur des
Antiquits, de soumettre la ville dAlexandrie une
loi de protection des monuments. Cette dcision,
qui intervient dans le cadre de la protection des
Antiquits, a t motive par la dcouverte dans le
centre-ville de divers monuments ensevelis, lors des
projets dinvestissements qui y ont t effectus, a
dclar Dr GABALLA.
Il a ajout que le Comit permanent des
Antiquits a accept de soumettre la mme loi
plusieurs autres lieux, tels le centre dAbou El-
Matamir dans la province de Beheira, et les valles
de Taba et Toubeya dans le sud du Sina. Il a
galement soulign que les sites les plus importants
sont ceux de Chouhada, Tel El-Farain et Kom
Abou Sultan.
Pour sa part, Dr Mohamed ABDEL
MAKQSOUD, directeur gnral des Antiquits de la
Basse-gypte, a dclar que le Comit a de mme
accept lannexion de 139 feddans dans la rgion de
Bourg El-Arab aux territoires contenant des
Antiquits. Cette rgion comporte le site trs
important dEl-Masara. (Protection des
monuments de la ville dAlexandrie, Le Progrs
gyptien du 2 septembre 2001).
- - -
Meanwhile the minister of culture has
given directives to Dr GABALLAH to grant
archaeological sites in Alexandria priority in getting
36
restoration funds form the current budget so that the
sites would be ready for receiving visitors during
the inauguration ceremony of Bibliothiqa
Alexandrina. According to Dr Mohamed ABDUL
MAQSOUD, Director of Lower Egypt Antiquities it
is expected that the number of key figures attending
the ceremony would be 3000 people. He said the
decision was necessary to meet the requests of
international TV stations to shoot these sites. The
beautification plan covers many sites including the
Mosaic Museum, The Queen Museum, the Roman
amphitheatre and the archaeological tombs of
Must afa KA M E L . (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Archaeological sites in Alex. To get ready for
dignitaries of Bibliothiqa Alexandrina opening,
The Egyptian Gazette du 5 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Citadelle de Qytby
Le ministre de la Culture et prsident du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, M. Farouk HOSNI,
a effectu une visite de deux jours Alexandrie au
cours de laquelle il a inaugur le projet de
restauration et dentretien de la forteresse de
Qatba qui est excut par le Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits pendant un an. Cest ce qua dclar le
Secrtaire gnral du Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA, avant
dajouter que le ministre de la Culture effectuera au
cours de sa visite une vaste tourne dinspection
dans les sites historiques dAlexandrie, notamment
dans les rgions o des fouilles sont en cours.
Il a indiqu que le projet de rnovation et
de restauration de la forteresse de Qatba est
excut par des experts du Conseil suprieur et
comprend le placement de barrages pour les vagues
dans la rgion entourant la forteresse du ct sud
qui souffrait de lhumidit et des sels. Et dajouter
que la forteresse est devenue prte tre inaugure
et sera ouverte aux visiteurs. (Restauration de la
forteresse de Qatba Alexandrie, Le Progrs
gyptien du 19 aot 2001).
Mais quelques semaines plus tard, les
oprations de restauration de la citadelle de
Qytby vont tre perturbes par
leffondrement des plafonds des deux salles
ouest :
Ce nest pas la premire fois que la
citadelle subit une telle perte. En 1984, avant mme
sa premire restauration, les plafonds des deux
chambres du ct sud se sont effondrs, cest pour
cela quon a commenc nos travaux dans le
btiment par les cts sud et Est qui taient alors
menacs, explique Mohamad ABDEL-AZIZ,
responsabl e de l a zone dAl exandri e.
Malheureusement, ces travaux de restauration
excuts en 1984 et mens par les tudiants des
facults de lUniversit dAlexandrie ont laiss de
mauvaises traces sur la citadelle qui navait pas subi
de restauration depuis 1939. Ces travaux, qui ont
dur 6 mois seulement, ont vraiment endommag
la citadelle. Ctait improvis. Les tudiants, des
volontaires, ont couvert le btiment tout entier
dune couche de ciment, cest pour cela quil a t
difficile dvaluer ltat exact de ldifice avant les
restaurations en cours qui ont commenc en 2000,
ajoute Mohamad ABDEL-AZIZ.
Les travaux ont donc commenc par
llimination de cette couche de ciment et cest l
que ltat dplorable de toutes les parties de la
citadelle sest rvl, assure le responsable. Il
affirme mme que la partie ouest qui sest effondre
il y a quelques jours tait la plus solide. Cest une
course contre la montre parce que nous sommes
face un btiment qui peut scrouler nimporte
quel moment. Cest pour cela quon a consolid
tous les murs et les plafonds avec des poutres en
bois. Les travaux dans la partie Est doivent tre
soigneusement raliss parce quelle est la plus
friable sous leffet des vagues. Dj, elle sest
croule en 1993, explique de son ct Nadi AL-
ADLI, larchitecte responsable du projet de
ramnagement de la citadelle.
Le muse aquatique qui occupe lentre
principale de la citadelle et qui na aucune relation
avec laspect antique du btiment, affecte aussi les
murs internes de la citadelle. Les aquariums
installs sont pleins deau et les suintements
menacent les murs. De plus, ce muse na subi
aucune restauration depuis la date de sa
construction en 1958. Cest en vain que le Haut
Conseil des Antiquits (HCA) a lanc de nombreux
appels pour le transfrer ailleurs. Il reste que cest
lassaut furieux des vagues qui constitue le plus
grand danger pour la citadelle. La Citadelle de
Qatbay est btie sur lle de Phares, un lot
rocheux que les mouvements des vagues
dsagrgent. De gros blocs de pierres et une
passerelle de 8 m de largeur seront tablis tout
autour de la citadelle en guise de protection et,
dautre part, la passerelle servira aux visiteurs et
aux touristes ajoute Mohamad ABDEL-AZIZ.
Pendant les travaux de ramnagement,
une grande citerne deau a t dcouverte et les
fouilles ont lieu actuellement pour pouvoir la
dgager. Aprs les derniers effondrements, le
financement du projet a t port de 4 millions 7
millions de L.E. La fin des travaux, prvue pour
2002, a t reporte avril 2003. (Samar ZARE,
Course contre la montre Qatbay, Al Ahram
Hebdo du 14 novembre 2001. Voir galement Amal
al-Gayyr, Effondrement des chambres
archologiques dans la citadelle dAlexandrie, al-
Ahrm du 2 novembre ; Islm AFF, La citadelle
dAlexandrie dfie les vagues et le Muse de
recherches scientifiques gne les restaurations,
37
Akhbr al-Yawm du 3 novembre ; Ashraf UWAYS,
Retrait de 18,000 m
3
de restauration de la citadelle
de Qytby, al-Qhira du 13 novembre).
-
- -
Phare dAlexandrie
Le gouvernorat dAlexandrie a reu une
proposition belge visant reconstruire le Phare
antique dAlexandrie considr comme lune des
sept merveilles du monde dans son emplacement
dorigine dans le port Est. Le gouvernorat a
transmis cette proposition au ministre de la
Culture, au Conseil Suprme des Antiquits et aux
professeurs de civilisation, afin de lexaminer des
points de vue archologique et architectural.
(Proposition belge pour reconstruire lancien
Phare dAlexandrie, al-Akhbr du 2 aot 2001).
-
- -
Muse grco-romain
The Restoration Department of Alexandria
has started restoring 99 large bronze coins that date
back to the early Ptolemaic Age since the reign of
Ptolemy I to III. The coins are part of the repertoire
of Ptolemaic and Roman coins kept by the Graeco-
Roman Museum at its store-houses. The Museum
had acquired the collection, which was unearthed in
Nagaa Hamadi, Upper Egypt at the beginning of the
20
th
century from the Egyptian Museum in 1942.
The restoration comes with in a study
implemented by Dr Mervat SEIF EDDIN to prepare a
catalogue for two collections with a total of 344
bronze coins. The first set comprises 264 pieces in
good condition of which 16 belong to the Ptolemaic
age. One of the two sides of the coins bear god
Zeus Amon and the other bears a picture of the
double eagle. These coins in particular were in use
during the rule of Ptolemy VI who reigned supreme
from 180 to 145 BC and shared the rule with his
brother Ptolemy VIII from 170 to 164 BC.
According to Amira ABU BAKR, head of
the Restoration Department, most of the coins
pertain to the end of the Roman age. The coins, she
said, were coined in the famous places at the time,
which reached about eleven mints in Alexandria,
Rome, Cartage and others. ABU BAKR commented
that the coins are in very good condition which
means that they have been used for a short while. It
is noteworthy that the Graeco-Roman Museum is
the largest owner of such coins, its rooms and
storehouses include thousands of coins that refer to
Greek and Roman ages. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Graeco-Roman Museum starts restoration of part
of its repertoire of ancient coins, The Egyptian
Gazette du 25 octobre 2001; Amal AL-GAYYR,
Restauration de 80 monnaies en bronze dpoques
ptolmaque et romaine Alexandrie, al-Ahrm
du 22 octobre. Voir galement Sad AB AL-
AY N A Y N , Lhistoire des Arabes et des
musulmans sur les pices de monnaie, khir Sa
du 14 novembre).
- - -
The restoration Department in Alexandria
has started this week a plan to restore ten papyri in
collaboration with an Italian papyri institute. The
papyri scrolls which were kept at the storehouses of
the Graeco-Roman Museum are to be displayed for
the public once restored. The length of the scrolls to
be restored range between 20,30 and 5,5 cm written
in Old Greek and Coptic, said Amira ABU BAKR
Director of the Restoration Department of
Alexandria Museum.
She said the restoration would start by
cleaning each piece then treating it with steam in
order to make it soft and to remove fungi. The
papyri will be kept under new glass panels to
prevent its exposure to air. The papyri to be
restored was part of a repertoire of 758 pieces at the
Graeco-Roman Museum dating back to Pharaonic,
Greek, Roman and Coptic ages, said Dr Mervat
SEIF EDDIN of the Restoration Department. They
include contracts, letters and research topics. The
most significant of the collection, she explained,
was a papyrus of the Coptic Age including a
drawing of a lady. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Italian
specialised institute helps in restoration of 10
papyri scrolls at Graeco-Roman Museum, The
Egyptian Gazette du 8 novembre 2001; Amal AL-
GAYYR , Restauration de vingt papyrus
exceptionnels dans le Muse grco-romain
dAlexandrie, al-Ahrm du 6 novembre).
-
- -
Palais & jardins Antoniadis
Although Antoniades Palace; built on the
model of Versaille Palace in Paris, is considered
among the significant landmarks in Alexandria that
witnessed many historic events, it is still closed
before local and international tourism because of its
need to restoration. Director of Antoniades Gardens
Palace, Ahmed ABDUL LATIF explained that the
palace host the signing ceremony of the 1936
agreement between Cairo and Britain as well as the
first meeting of the Egyptian Olympic Committee.
The Shah of Iran Reda BAHLAWI had also spent his
honeymoon with his Egyptian wife princess Fawzia
in the palace.
38
The Antoniades gardens were established
in the mid 19
th
century and was opened to the
public following the July Revolution. In 1986 a
republican decree was issued transferring the
responsibility of the gardens from Alexandria
governorate to the Ministry of Agriculture. The
administration of the gardens was assigned to Al
Montazah Company for Tourism and Investment,
but upon the termination of the contract the
Horticultural Research Institute was entrusted the
task of running the gardens. However the Minister
of Agriculture, Dr Yussef WALI, has decided to
open the gardens within the context of the
celebrations marking the opening of Alexandria
Library next April. (Antoniades gardens will be
opened for the public after restoration, Th e
Egyptian Gazette du 13 septembre 2001).
Cet intrt subit pour les jardins
Antoniadis vient, en fait, la suite dune
grande campagne de presse lance par le
quotidien dopposition al-Wafd. Celui-ci a
rvl la disparition en 1995 dune statue en
marbre, le vol en 1996 dune tte de Vnus,
ainsi que ltat dplorable des autres statues
exposes d au vandalisme. Le CSA a
commenc par nier les faits. Ensuite, il a
argument que ces statues rpliques du
XIX
e
sicle du statuaire grco-romain ne
peuvent pas tre considres comme des
pices antiques part entire. Enfin, il a
ordonn deux commissions denqute et
dinventaire. (Sfnz MUSTAFA, Le palais
Antoniadis un chef-duvre architectural
nglig !, al-Wafd du 23 aot ; Rizq AL-
TARBSH, La st at ue de Vnus
dcapite !, al-Wafd du 28 aot ; Rizq AL-
TARBSH, Une surprise la tte de
Vnus !, al-Wafd du 3 septembre ; Rizq AL-
TARBSH, Les statues dAntoniadis sont
antiques, al-Wafd du 31 octobre).
-
- -
Jardins al-Shalllt
The archaeological Shallalat (waterfalls)
gardens in Alexandria is a national wealth, which
will be finally upgraded. The development idea is
based on raising the efficiency of the garden and
realising integration between the open green areas
and services rendered to the visitors. The garden,
said Secretary of Alexandria Governorate Ezzat
SH A A B A N was distinguished by having
archaeological monuments as the Jews Fortress
which was so called because it lies in the vicinity of
the Jews tombs.
The fortress is one of the important castles
built by Mohamed ALI pasha near the coast and was
used as quarters for soldiers. In a later stage,
according to SHAABAN, it was used for making
copper utensils, the reason why it is sometimes
referred to as the fortress of copper makers. The
fortress is comprised of five rectangular and two
square storehouses.
Among the archaeological features of the
garden is the western tower of old Alexandria wall
and is considered part of the remains of the eastern
gate known as Rashid gate in the Roman and
Islamic ages. Under the intended project the two
monuments are to be restored and opened before
visitors. They are expected to promote domestic
tourism especially that they will be provided with
sound and light show.
The renovations to be introduced to the
garden including attractions for the young and the
old are to be ready within a few months, said Mr
SHAABAN revealing that the gardens will be
officially opened on April 23 coinciding with the
official inauguration of Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The gardens will thus be included on the tourist
tour of foreign guests attending the opening of the
library. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Shallalat gardens to
be upgraded before opening of Alex library, The
Egyptian Gazette du 13 dcembre 2001. Voir
galement Hann AL-MASR, Projet national pour
dvelopper les jardins archologiques dal-
Shalllt, al-Ahrm du 19 octobre).
-
- -
Delta
Munfiyya
Menufia Governorate is currently
witnessing intensive activities to revive its
antiquities by launching restoration operations and
excavating the old mounds, most of which lie
within the city cordon and on agricultural land. The
Supreme Council for Antiquities is currently
implementing an urgent plan in order to save these
antiquities the detrimental effect of humidity and
underground water. Most of the so far unearthed
antiquities in the governorate belong to the Coptic
and Islamic ages for which an open museum has
been established.
According to Abdallah AL ATTAR some
structures pertaining to the Coptic age were
unearthed at Tel Al Bendaria in addition to a
collection of earthenware utensils, coins and
statues. At Tel Babel structures, water wells, coins
and ceramics were also found. AL ATTAR said that
each excavation team consists of several restorers,
archaeologists, a photographer and a painter as well
as a number of trained labour and technicians. The
unearthed artifacts are restored on spot whenever
possible, said AL ATTAR explaining that severely
39
damaged items are restored at the lab in Al
Bendaria.
According to Mohamed SALAH EDDIN,
Director of Delta Antiquities the latest display
garden is underway at the entrance of Shebin Al
Kom on the Nile corniche. The garden, nearly
complete, will be mainly allocated for huge statues
and other items discovered at the mounds of
menufia. The garden, said SALAH EDDIN was the
third of its kind in the Delta next to those of Rosetta
and Tanta. The garden will be supplied with
pergolas, a library and a movie screen for featuring
documentary films on monuments.
The largest mosque in Menufia belonging
to Prince of Armies Mohamed SHEBL has also been
restored. It is related that SHEBL was leader of the
army and had led a battle against the Romans who
found refuge in Niqios Fortress and the Muslims
army won the battle, but SHEBL was killed. He also
said that a rare collection of icons at the church of
Mar Gergis in Tokh, the oldest church in the
governorate has been restored. (Menufia steps up
care of its ancient monuments, The Egyptian
Gazette du 13 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Tanis
The development of the archaeological
sites of San Al Hagar (Tanis) at the govemorate of
Sharkia, one of the richest sites in obelisks, is a new
project initiated by the Supreme Council for
Antiquities. Under the project Amon temple is to be
restored to its former condition. The two obelisks
which are now lying to the ground will be erected
on the right and left side of the first pylon. The two
obelisks are exposed to damage due to salty land
and humidity, which are eating up the inscriptions
and the stones themselves. The loss of these
obelisks would never be compensated. It is well-
known that the two obelisks have an irresistible
glamour for tourists. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Plan to
develop Sann al-Hagar area, home of famous Amon
Temple, The Egyptian Gazette du 13 dcembre
2001, Mushra MSA, Nouveau projet pour
prserver le patrimoine archologique de Sn al-
Hagar, al-Ahrm du 4 dcembre).
-
- -
Bahbt al-Hagar
For thirty yeas the temple of Bir Hebt has
been waiting for a soothing hand to breathe life
anew into its stone walls scattered on an area of five
feddans. The temple has retained for 2200 years
state secrets within the untouched tombs of priests
that lie under a huge mound at the end of the
temple. The temple and the tombs embrace details
of daily life of the people when Bir Hebt was the
capital of the 12 provinces of Lower Egypt. The
temple is no less fascinating than the temples of
Nubia and Philae and Abu Simbel which were
dismantled and reinstalled under an international
campaign in the 60s. About 90 per cent of the
temple including the ceiling and columns are
present on the site, most of the stones retained its
magnificent inscriptions and bright drawings. But
scientists have so far failed to determine the reason
for its collapse. However, considering the heavy
weight of the stones, about 15 tons each, the reason
is probably attributed to an earthquake or sweeping
floods.
Several committees were set up to make
field visits to determine the plan of action. The
French Institute for Archaeology registered the
inscriptions whereas the Antiquities Authority has
numbered the stones and translated the inscriptions
to facilitate reinstalling of the temple. But
preliminary steps taken in this connection went in
vain with a shift in interest to landmarks in Cairo
and Upper Egypt. The municipality of the northern
governorate of Gharbia where the temple is located
proved to be equally indifferent showing laxity in
transferring tombs held on the ancient tombs of the
priests
The Secretary General of the Supreme
Council for Antiquities Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH
said that the council is planning to invite
international organisations to finance excavations at
the site of the priests tombs and restore the temple,
a project which needs a huge sum. The problem of
the temple has taken more time than it should be in
order to be solved, said Head of Samanud City
Monir BADAWI. The main obstacle, however, is the
peoples objection to transferring the dead to
another site, which is about 12 feddans in area.
They claimed that the chosen spot is among the
most fertile land in the village of Bahbit Al Hagar.
However, the SCA and the governorate are making
efforts to revive the project which will be of much
benefit to the governorate. But a well-designed
campaign has to be launched to review the issue of
the temple at international conferences to seek
required funds, said BADAWI.
The project is of special significance as the
tombs are likely to reveal the secrets of the 30
dynasty considering that priests had a say in royal
decisions. In ancient Egypt, as archaeologist Dr
Ahmed HAMAM said, clergymen played an
important role in the state system. Without
removing the modern cemetery, the revival of the
temple will remain ink on paper, he said to an
Arabic paper. He also added that erosion has left its
stamp on the stones lying in the open air for
decades. In time it would be impossible to restore
40
the ancient structure, he said, wondering if we have
to wait another 30 years to see the project
accomplished. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Bir Hebt
temple in Gharbia waits action to get it back to
life, The Egyptian Gazette du 16 aot 2001).
-
- -
Le Caire
Mosque al-Bahlawn
The SCA will soon start a restoration plan
to save the minaret of Aidmer Al Bahlawan at Al
Hussein area from collapsing. The mosque that
dates back to the Mameluke age was established by
a well-off merchant. During regular examination of
monuments in Al Hussein area, Secretary General
of the SCA noticed that the minaret of the mosque
slants by 58 mm from the vertical axis and is thus
liable to collapse in the case of any ground disorder.
The minaret rises about 21.38 metres from the
ground level and about 15 metres above the
mosque. According to Dr GABALLAH the
restoration will be implemented on phases to
support and fix the minaret and restore colours and
patterns around it and on the walls and ceiling of
the mosque itself. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Effort to
save minaret from Mameluke age, The Egyptian
Gazette du 20 septembre 2001. Voir galement
Abd al-Azz A L-NAHHS, Sauvetage de la
mosque AL-BAHLAWN avant leffondrement de
son minaret, al-Wafd du 2 septembre; Tha ABD
AL-RAHMN, Sauvet age dune mosque
archologique al-Husayn, al-Ahrr du 2
septembre).
-
- -
Mosque Asar al-nab
La mosque Asar al-Nab, situe en bord
du Nil au Vieux-Caire, fait actuellement lobjet de
restauration denvergure. Il sagit de la deuxime
phase du projet global de restauration de cette
mosque, entrepris il y a cinq ans. Limportance de
cette mosque rside dans une pierre portant la
trace dune empreinte de pieds : relique attribue au
prophte MUHAMMAD. (Luay Mahmd SAD,
Muses et Antiquits, al-Qhira du 30 octobre).
-
- -
Mosque Ahmad Ibn Tln
Malgr les critiques acerbes, les
restaurations de la mosque IBN TLN vont
bon train. Linauguration de ce projet, dun
cot total de 8,6 millions de Livres
gyptiennes, est prvue pour la fin de
lanne 2001:
If the Mosque of Amr lbn Al Ass is the
oldest in Egypt, the Mosque of Ahmed lbn Tolun is
considered the pearl of archaeological mosques.
The mosque actually represents the symbol of Al
Qatai, the capital of Islamic Egypt. Its 162.35 x
161.5 metre area makes it one of the biggest
mosques in the country. The architecture of the
mosque is unique since most of its decorations
follow the Samaran style. When Ahmed IBN TOLUN
came from Samaraa to become governor of Egypt
he was influenced by the architecture of the
Abbasid. According to Head of Islamic and Coptic
Antiquities sector, Abdallah AL ATTAR the mosque,
where restoration is in full swing, would regain its
glamour as the only surviving landmark from Ibn
Toluns city. Built entirely of stone with an exterior
staircase the minaret of Ibn Tolun is considered a
rare piece that have never appeared in any other
mosque in Egypt. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Excavations going on to unearth Salah Eddin wall
surrounding old Cairo, The Egyptian Gazette du
23 aot 2001. Voir galement Al ABD AL-HD,
Le projet de la mosque dIbn Tln: restauration
ou destruction ?, al-Akhbr du 9 aot).
-
- -
Mosque Amr Ibn al-s
La mosque dAmr IBN EL-AS fait de nos
jours lobjet de larges oprations de restauration.
Cette mosque, qui est ge de 1400 ans, constitue
lune des mosques les plus considrables en
gypte. Dailleurs, la mosque dAmr IBN EL-AS
ntait pas uniquement un lieu de prire, mais de
mme une sorte duniversit o les grands savants
en religion tenaient des cercles dtude. Ctait en
21 de lHgire, soit en 642 aprs Jsus-Christ, que
Amr IBN EL-AS avait fait construire une mosque
de 33 x 50 bras, et qui porte son nom, au sein de la
ville de Fostat, capitale de lgypte cette poque.
Dailleurs appele lancienne mosque ou
mosque dAmr, la mosque dAmr IBN EL-AS a
fait lobjet de maintes restaurations au cours des
sicles.
En 92 de lHgire, soit 710 aprs Jsus-
Christ, la mosque a t dmolie en vue de llargir:
il lui a t annex une partie de la maison dAmr
IBN EL- AS, et une autre de celle de son fils
Abdallah. La mosque tait dabord constitue de
13 portes. Mais Saleh IBN ALI lui a ajout une porte
en 133 de lHgire, soit en 750 aprs Jsus-Christ.
Outre les maints largissements dont cette mosque
a fait lobjet lpoque de Moussa IBN ISSA
Hachmite (175 de lHgire-791 aprs Jsus-
Christ), puis lpoque dHaroun EL-RACHID, (212
41
de lHgire-827 aprs Jsus-Christ). Cest au cours
de cette dernire poque que lespace de la
mosque dAmr IBN EL-AS a t double, et o les
fentres de son ct ouest ont t ornes par des
bas-reliefs gravs sur le bois. Quant la dernire
restauration, elle date de 1212 de lHgire, ou en
dautres termes, lpoque de MOURAD Bey.
Cest seulement en date du 11/7/1999
quon a pens de nouveau restaurer cette
ancienne mosque, ide qui a t dailleurs
attaque violemment, car on avait lintention de
remplacer les anciennes colonnes de la mosque par
de nouvelles colonnes. Selon Mahmoud MAHGOUB,
directeur gnral des antiquits de lAncien Caire et
de Fostat, le Centre du gnie des Antiquits a
dmontr que certaines colonnes de la mosque
dAmr IBN EL-AS taient fragiles et devaient tre
remplaces par dautres plus fortes. Dautant plus
que la mosque dAmr IBN EL- AS nest pas
uniquement un monument antique visit par des
touristes gyptiens et trangers, mais constitue en
outre un lieu de prire frquent toujours par des
milliers de musulmans. Tout responsable ne pouvait
pas en fait laisser passer sous silence la fragilit
dune colonne fragile, surtout si elle constitue lune
des colonnes sur laquelle est base la salle de
prire.
Il est noter qu lpoque de MOURAD
Bey, la salle de prire sest effondre totalement.
Aussi a-t-il donn lordre de reconstruire ce hall.
Toutefois, les ingnieurs lont reconstruit dune
manire contraire son image originelle, ce qui a
men la fermeture de la plupart des fentres de la
mosque, qui avaient pour but de permettre lair
et aux rayons solaires de pntrer dans la mosque.
Cette faute technique a en outre fragilis le
btiment, surtout que les ingnieurs ont t obligs
douvrir trois baies dans le plafond pour jouer le
rle de fentres.
Depuis une vingtaine dannes, des projets
de restauration navaient pour but que de restaurer
apparemment, et uniquement apparemment, la
mosque dAmr. Ainsi le ministre de la Culture, le
Dr Farouk HOSNI, ainsi que le Secrtaire gnral du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, le Dr GABALLAH,
ont dcid de charger un centre scientifique
spcifi, savoir, le Centre du gnie lUniversit
du Caire, de la restauration de la mosque dAmr
IBN EL-AS. Restauration qui exige en effet une
restructuration du hall de prire de la mosque.
(Walaa EL-TAZY, Restructuration de la mosque
dAmr IBN EL-AS, Le Progrs gyptien du 16
octobre 2001).
-
- -
Mosque Gaml al-Dn al-Astdr
After three years of strenuous efforts the
famous Astadar Mosque in Gamalia has been
resurrected following a LE 6 million restoration
plan. The mosque was in a precarious position due
to high underground water levels which saturated
the walls. The restoration took longer than normal
because of a new method applied to preserve the
Islamic landmark. Abdallah AL ATTAR, Head of the
Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Sector said that
structural defects in the walls and foundations were
reinforced for two years to enable it to withstand
the pressures of time before any work could take
place. Restorers were also keen to use similar
materials to the original to retain its archaeological
features.
In order to restore the mosque to its
previous 810 Hjira year style, restorers referred to
old photographs, illustrations and documents to
determine methods that would match the original,
especially as the mosque is the only surviving
structure dedicated to Gamal Eddin ASTADAR who
came to Cairo in the 770 Hajira. He occupied
several posts before becoming Minister of Finance.
ASTADAR began to build the complex in 810. It
included a sabil (public water fountain), a mosque,
an inn and a wikala (modern shopping centre)
which took one year.
We were faced with several obstacles
said AL ATTAR. Various encroachments in the
vicinity had to be removed and their owners
compensated. The mosque was surrounded by an
iron fence and the surrounding streets which also
include a number of islamic masterpieces such as
the recently restored Wikalet Bazar and Al Aqmar
Mosque were made use of as a natural precinct. The
facades of houses within the vicinity were painted
and decorated with mashrabias (lattice windows) to
blend in with the areas Islamic architecture. AL
ATTAR said that the northern and southern facades
of the mosque were among its most distinguishable
features. They are ornamented with botanic patterns
and Quranic texts while above the copper doors
there are red, white and black marble arches and
small arabesque windows.
The interior consists of a rectangular
shaped court surrounded by four iwans (corners). In
the four corners there are four doors each leading to
a different part of the mosque. The eastern door
opens onto a corridor leading to the main door,
while the western door leads to the place of
ablution, and the northern to the sabil and annexed
kottab (holly Qunan-teaching school). (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Mosque rejuvenated to its former glory,
The Egyptian Gazette du 19 juillet 2001. Voir
galement Hishm ATIYY, Inauguration de la
mosque AL- ASTDR aprs trois annes de
restauration, Akhbr al-Yawm du 7 juillet;
Mshra MSA, Embellissement de la madrasa
AL-ASTDR Gamliyya, al-Ahrm du 10 juillet;
42
Imd HIGB, Sauvetage de la mosque AL-
ASTDR, al-Ahrm du 13 juillet).
-
- -
Mosque al-Kurd
Le Conseil Suprme des Antiquits a
dcid de faire appel aux experts franais pour la
restauration des antiquits dal-Khiymiyya qui
regroupent la mosque AL-KURD menace la
suite du tremblement de terre de 1992. Le secrtaire
gnral du CSA, Dr Gballah Al GBALLAH, a
prcis que le recours aux experts franais vise
tancher les murs de cette mosque en leur injectant
une matire empchant lhumidit. Procd que
matrise parfaitement les Franais.
islamiques et coptes, Abdallah AL-ATTR, a
annonc que la restauration minutieuse de la
mosque concernerait les portails en bois, les
parties dtriores du mihrb et la qibla. Cette
restauration sinscrit dans le cadre du projet du
Caire historique. Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Des
experts franais pour restaurer les Antiquits dal-
Khiymiyya, al-Ahrr du 19 aot 2001).
-
- -
Mosque et madrasa al-Ghr
Among the invaluable archaeological
treasures in the Fatimid Cairo are the mosque and
school of al-Ghori, one of the greatest Memluke
sultans who ruled the country in the early sixteenth
century and left behind many archaeological sites.
The al-Ghori buildings are now at the heart of a
heated debate after the completion of their
restoration works. Opponents of the scheme,
including a large number of archaeologists and
experts, said the mosque-madrasa (school) had not
been restored, but instead underwent a renovation
project which damaged its historical value.
They added that the project, carried out by
inexperienced workers, had caused damage to the
buildings foundation that now threatens them with
collapse. The projects critics went one step further
to threaten to bring legal action against those
responsible for this sabotage.
On the other hand, the Supreme Council
for Antiquities (SCA) and the Arab Contractors, a
government construction company which carried
out the restoration work, defended the project as
an achievement according to international
standards of restorations. They blamed
underground water for the problems threatening the
building. The controversy has spilled over beyond
the national boundaries. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO), which listed many places in Old Cairo
as heritage preservation areas, plans to send an
inspection team to Cairo later this month.
The controversial project dates back to the
year 1992, when the monument was gravely
damaged by a major earthquake that hit Cairo. The
Egyptian company was assigned to restore the
endangered site and it signed a deal with an Italian
company, specialising in foundations, to take part
in the scheme. The Italian company used new and
expensive methods and the projects total cost
reached LE 36 million.
Soon after its opening last November,
experts noticed cracks in the building. When they
closely examined the restoration works, they
noticed the use of modern building materials which
they said undermined the historical value of the
building. Critics say that the al-Ghori buildings
ordeal was a mere example of the gloomy future
awaiting Egypts historical sites. The problem is
that restoration work tenders are usually given to
companies that present the best offers regardless of
their experience in this vital field, said Mohammed
ABDEL HADI, chief of the Restoration Department
at Cairo Universitys Faculty of Archaeology. One
company was given the task of conserving 11
monuments while another one was given 12 sites,
he told Rose al-Youssef weekly. They had neither
experience nor a clear strategy to carry out the
project, he said.
ABDEL HADI called on the authorities
concerned to adopt a scientific approach in
dealing with endangered monuments. This is the
first step towards saving these sites. The restoration
work of al-Ghori monument was carried out
haphazardly. The original marble, mosaic and even
some ancient stones were replaced. This is not
restoration, but renovation, said ABDEL HADI Yet
it is not a mistake by the company. Those who
assigned an inexperienced company to carry out
such a delicate work should be held responsible,
he noted.
His colleague Mohammed EL-KAHLAWI, a
professor of Islamic archaeology, said that
construction companies should not be tasked with
such projects. The company used cement and other
modern building materials which have increased
fractures in the building. These cracks threaten the
monument with collapse. The project was not
properly planned or studied. Millions of pounds
from public funds have been squandered. Even the
paints they used disfigured the building, he said.
Saleh LAAMI, one of the countrys top
Islamic architecture experts and a member of the
International Council for Monuments, warned
43
against more fractures in the building. The method
used in the project should have never been
employed in such a monument. It has further
burdened the ancient foundations and this may
bring about the buildings collapse he told the
magazine.
Mohammed BAKR, the SCAs former
chief, said that the mosque-school of Sultan al-
Ghori had been built in a unique way. N o
materials other than big stones had been used in
the building, he said. When the earthquake
damaged the building in 1992, it was given to the
Arab contractors for restoration. No SCA approval
was granted before the assignment, he said. The
company should be questioned for the new
fractures and the use of modern construction
material. The company should be obliged to repair
this damage.
But Abdullah EL-ATTAR, in charge of the
Islamic and Coptic Monuments at the SCA,
dismissed accusations against the project as idle.
The specialised conservation works had been
carried out by the SCA experts and restorers, he
said, adding that the work of construction
companies focused on injecting materials to
reinforce the old and shaky foundation. Cracks are
caused by under-ground water, which is a common
problem threatening the majority of Cairo Islamic
monument.
EL- ATTAR added that the foundation
reinforcement works cost up to LE12 million. In
the past, some blunders did happen. But now we
only deal with companies that have previous
experience in similar projects, he said. He added
that the majority of Islamic monuments had been
given to specialists for overhaulings. I challenge
all detractors of the project to prove their
accusations, he said, accusing critics of stirring up
uproar to enjoy media limelight.
Imam HAMMOUDA, in charge of
restoration works in the Arab Contractors company,
played down the fractures. The fractures which
appeared on the walls of the building resulted from
slamming the doors of the building. We are
currently working to handle this problem, he said.
He added that other problems had been caused by
the rising levels of underground water. The Ghori
mosque-school project is an example of a top-level
restoration work. The Ministry of Culture
thoroughly inspected the project before receiving it
and there was no objection at all he said. (Sammar
A. EZZAT, Experts cross swords over conservation
of Old Cairo building, The Egyptian Gazette du 14
aot 2001, tif AL-KLN & Samh SAMR, Y a-
t-il des erreurs dans la restauration de la mosque
AL-GHR ?, Ruz al-Ysuf du 28 juillet).
-
- -
Maison Ibrhm al-Sinnr
des Antiquits, Gballah Al GBALLAH, a
annonc que le CSA entreprend actuellement
lamnagement des environs de la maison AL-
SINNR, situe dans le quartier de Sayyida Zaynab,
en vue de son inauguration par le ministre de la
Culture, Frq HUNS. Quatre longues annes furent
ncessaires pour parachever la restauration de cette
maison historique, avec la collaboration du
restaurateur franais Bernard MAUR [sic].
islamiques et coptes, Abdallah AL-ATTR, a
prcis que les restaurations ont t effectues dans
le respect de tous les lments architecturaux qui
regroupent de grandes mashrabiyya-s, une
banquette, une fontaine en marbre, un hall et une
srie de chambres. Le problme des eaux
souterraines qui menaaient srieusement cette
maison a t dfinitivement rsolu. Ashraf MUFD,
Fin de la restauration de la maison AL-SINNR,
sige des savants de la Description de lgypte,
al-Ahrm du 8 aot 2001. Voir galement Al
ABD AL-HD, Suzanne MUBRAK inaugurera en
octobre prochain la maison A L-SINNR, al-
Akhbr du 15 aot).
Soulignons que le projet de restauration de
la maison AL-SINNR a t critiqu par la
presse nationaliste pour qui cette demeure
bourgeoise incarne linvasion de lgypte
par les troupes napoloniennes. Mais les
responsables du CSA se sont empresss
nier tout lien entre les deux faits. Pour eux,
la maison AL-SINNR renvoie plutt aux
savants de la fameuse Description de
lgypte. (Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Le
CSA : aucun lien entre la restauration de la
maison AL-SI NNR et lexpdition de
BONAPARTE, al-Ahrr du 9 aot).
-
- -
Sabl Muhammad Al
La cour du sabil (fontaine aux ablutions)
Mohamad ALI, rue Al-Moz, au cur du Caire
fatimide, regorge darchologues et de plongeurs.
Des quipements sont partout: ceux de la plonge,
des crans de projection. Les grands projecteurs
transforment le site en un plateau de tournage o les
plongeurs sont les acteurs et les archologues les
ralisateurs. La rfection du site exige que lon
explore les citernes se trouvant dans le sous-sol du
btiment une profondeur de 10 12 mtres. Au
44
dpart, lexistence de ces citernes ntait pas
connue. La monte des eaux souterraines a exig
des fouilles du sous-sol. Cest alors que ces
rservoirs ont t rvls. Leur prsence a
compliqu la situation. Avec de tels rservoirs,
tout le btiment tait fragilis et risquait de
seffondrer nimporte quel moment, explique
Aymane ABDEL-MONEIM, directeur du Centre de la
rnovation du Caire historique. Il fallait donc
explorer ces citernes pour tudier leffet de leau
sur les murs et les fondations de ldifice. Do
lide de recourir des plongeurs.
Avant de procder ces fouilles sub-
aquatiques, Sayed AL-QASSABI, consultant du
grand projet du dveloppement du Caire historique,
a dcid de comparer ce sabil un autre, de la
mme poque, afin de ne pas oprer laveuglette.
Ce fut le s a b i l Al-Slehdar. On a pu ainsi
dterminer o se trouve louverture de la citerne.
Les premiers rsultats ont rvl que cette eau date
de la priode de la construction du sabil. Une partie
de leau a t vacue. Et il a t dcid que
lvacuation aurait lieu graduellement pour viter
dendommager le site. Cest par la suite que la
restauration en bonne et due forme commencera. Il
ny a pas de date prcise pour commencer les
restaurations, il faut attendre que leau soit pompe
compltement. Les fondations sont assez affectes
et toute mesure htive risque de provoquer
leffondrement de ldifice. (Dalia FAROUK &
Samar ZARE, Dans les eaux du Sabil Mohamad
ALI, Al Ahram Hebdo du 7 novembre 2001. Voir
galement Al ABD AL-HD, Des plongeurs
pour sauver le sabl de Muhammad AL pacha
Nahhsn !, al-Akhbr du 22 aot).
Interrog sur les prparatifs spciaux qua
exig lexploration du rservoir deau du
sabl Muhammad AL, Triq AL-GOHAR,
membre de la Fdration gyptienne des
plongeurs, prcise :
Tout dabord, les plongeurs ont beaucoup
discut avec les archologues responsables de la
restauration pour savoir exactement quels sont les
renseignements dont ils ont besoin. Il fallait garantir
une mthode de contact entre le plongeur et
larchologue lors de la plonge, une forte source
de lumire et une corde paisse pour pouvoir tirer le
plongeur nimporte quel moment, car la plupart
du temps le souterrain des monuments comprend de
nombreux petits couloirs dans lesquels le plongeur
peut se perdre. Et pour plus de scurit, les
plongeurs descendent dans leau deux deux. la
premire plonge, jtais vraiment surpris de la
somptuosit de ce rservoir. Il ressemblait en fait
un vrai palais avec des murs tout tapisss de marbre
ainsi que des colonnes et des arcs. Il nous a fallu 2
mois pour terminer tout ce que les archologues
voulaient savoir concernant le rservoir. (Dalia
FAROUK & Samar ZARE, Trois questions
lingnieur Tareq AL-GOHARI, Al Ahram Hebdo
du 7 novembre).
-
- -
Palais Muhammad Al
Established in the period from 1808 to
1821 Mohamed ALI Palace in Shubra is one of the
rarest and most splendid royal palaces in Egypt.
The palace is currently under restoration and is to
be completed in a years time. The palace, the
oldest surviving building in Shubra, was built in
stages. Al Gabalaya palace was added in 1886
while the Saqia tower was annexed in 1811.
However, the tower and the rest of the palace
buildings were separated by a wall whose remains
are still existent.
The whole area of the palace reaches about
11,000 feddans most of which were gardens
including rare plants. But the palace is now
suffering from many encroachments, which will be
only removed by a Republican decree. Throughout
the years the palace, which had once witnessed
royal luxury was occupied in a later stage by
several official bodies. Since the rule of FUAD I
until 1958 the palace was allocated for the national
guard. According to a Republican decree in 1958
the buildings and the gardens were allocated for the
Faculty of Agronomy of Ain Shams University.
The faculty laid hands on the premises in 1962 and
started to add more buildings, which regretfully
ensued the removal of a fine collection of plants.
However the situation was officially
redressed when a Republican decree was issued in
1978 to hand over the place to the Antiquities
Authority. But up till now the modem buildings
added on the site, which outdid their life span still
exist. The ongoing restoration at the palace indeed
need to be reinforced by a decree to bring down
those structures marring the site.
Meanwhile, archaeologists undertaking
restoration have discovered a number of interfering
halls, the one leading to the other beneath the
Gabalaya Palace annexed to Mohamed ALI Palace.
The Gabalaya Palace was built on a man-made
mound that is eight metres above the current ground
level of the garden.
According to archaeological inspector,
Mohamed ABDUL LATIF, the history of the palace is
revealed from a text translated from Turkish. The
palace which takes a pyramidal shape has two
flights of stairs, but the western side was the one
mainly in use because it was opposite the palace of
the Wali which was later on removed in order to
establish Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Mohamed ALI Palace in
45
Shubra looks forwards for high level decision to rid
it of encroachments, The Egyptian Gazette du 9
aot 2001; Mushra MSA, Ncessit dun dcret
prsidentiel pour sauver le palais Muhammad
AL, al-Ahrm du 2 aot).
-
- -
Kuttb Qytby
dil ABD AL-SATTR, directeur des
Antiquits de la zone sud du Caire, explique
la politique du CSA qui vise rutiliser les
monuments restaurs des fins culturelles,
selon leur nature et lenvironnement o ils se
trouvent :
Une grande bibliothque consacre aux
patrimoines islamique et copte sera inaugure
prochainement lintrieur du kottab (cole
coranique) de Qatbay. Il sagira dune branche de
la grande Bibliothque du Caire. lorigine, cet
difice servait apprendre le Coran et autres
sciences religieuses aux enfants. Il a t bti la fin
de la priode mamelouke en 1467. Nous
maintenons donc sa vocation culturelle. Par ailleurs,
il servira de bibliothque dans un quartier qui en est
dpourvu. Il comblera ainsi une lacune.
La bibliothque renfermera des livres
spcialiss dans les divers domaines de
connaissance. Toutefois, elle mettra laccent sur
lhistoire et le patrimoine islamique et copte. Il
sagira aussi dune bibliothque trs moderne avec
ordinateurs et Internet pour faciliter la tche des
chercheurs et des tudiants en art et en architecture.
Malheureusement, il est difficile de gnraliser
cette ide, car chaque btiment ancien a sa nature et
son environnement.
Il ne faut pas sarrter la restauration
dun difice historique puis labandonner son sort.
En profitant de ces monuments, on les conserve
mieux. Cest le HCA qui dcide dailleurs, suite
une tude exhaustive, de lexploitation approprie
dun difice donn. (Howaida SALAH, Trois
questions Adel ABDEL-SATTAR, directeur des
Antiquits de la zone sud du Caire, Al-Ahram
Hebdo du 29 aot 2001).
Le Fonds de Dveloppement culturel du
ministre de la Culture a cr un site arabe
dapprentissage du cinma et de la tlvision
lintrieur du sabl-kuttb QYTBY, situ dans la
rue al-Salba. Ce site est le premier en son genre
s i nt r esser t out es l es sci ences
cinmatographiques et tlvisuelles : criture de
scnarios, ralisation, dcors, etc. Ce site gratuit est
oprationnel 24 heures sur 24. (Luay Mahmd
SAD, cole du cinma et de la tlvision
lintrieur du sabl Qytby, al-Qhira du 30
octobre).
-
- -
Bb al-Azab
Work will be resumed at Bab Al Azab
upgrading project under which the area is to be
turned into a tourist attraction. Bab Al Azab, which
occupies an area of 17 feddans embraces a number
of historic mansions and archaeological sites of
which 6 only are registered. According to Dr
Gaballah Ali GABALLAH, Secretary General of the
Supreme Council for Antiquities, the project to be
implemented over three years includes a restoration
centre, an Islamic art museum, traditional
handicraft centres and convention halls.
He noted, however, that the idea of
establishing a hotel, which was faced with a row of
protests on the part of experts to the point of taking
the issue to court, has been cancelled. Under the
same project, he explained, several monuments are
to be restored as the gate of Azab, the mosque of
Ahmed KATAKHDA, the Mohamed ALI foundry,
remains of Al Ablaq Palace and a dome pertaining
to the Ottoman age. He pointed out that random
structures used by the Ottoman and British armies
as barracks, mechanic workshops and storehouses
of supplies are to be abolished. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Plan to resume work at Bab Al Azab area to turn it
into tourist attraction, The Egyptian Gazette du 25
octobre 2001. Voir galement Tha ABD AL-
RAHMN, Dbut du ramnagement de la rgion
de Bb al-Azab dans la Citadelle, al-Ahrr du 22
octobre; Ashraf MUFD, Un centre de restauration,
un muse dart islamique et un centre dartisanat
traditionnel dans la rgion de Bb al-Azba, al-
Ahrm du 22 octobre).
-
- -
Muraille ayyoubide du Caire
Meanwhile executive steps have been
taken to restore another important feature of Islamic
Cairo i.e the eastern Salah Eddin wall surrounding
old Cairo, according to Secretary General of the
Supreme Council for Antiquities Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH. Excavations that started in 1995 in the
two sites of Darrassa and Bab Al Wazir resulted in
unearthing 1500 metres of the wall. The excavation
is carried out side by side with the restoration of the
part already existent. Dr Abdallah AL ATTAR said
that data on all parts of the wall showing damaged
segments is available on computer. Stones and
materials used in building the wall like mortar have
been analysed in order to use similar materials, he
46
explained. Italian expertise is sought in this project
to preserve the archaeological nature of the
monument that belongs to the Ayubid age.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Excavations going on to
unearth Salah Eddin wall surrounding old Cairo,
The Egyptian Gazette du 23 aot 2001).
-
- -
Aqueduc de la Citadelle
Lanc le 8 mai 2000, le projet de sauvetage
de laqueduc du Caire se poursuit sur fond
de polmique. Les autorits parlent de
restauration dans les rgles de lart ; les
critiques de rnovation pure et simple
Quant au gouvernorat, il prne sans en
avoir vraiment les moyens la
dlocalisation des tanneries, usines de colle,
fabriques de meuble et autres ateliers vers la
rgion al-Rbayk sur lautoroute de Suez.
Ces oprations coteuses et impopulaires
vont de pair avec le transfert des habitants et
des squatters vers dautres logements au
Muqattam, malgr le dsaccord des experts
de lUnesco. Cette rgion fortement
engorge et pollue de 109 feddans
stendant au Sud de laqueduc est appele
devenir une zone touristique, culturelle,
commerciale et de loisir. Les architectes
urbanistes du gouvernorat parlent Des
Champs-lyses au cur du Caire :
Le Dr Abdel Rehim CHHATA, gouverneur
du Caire, a dclar que la restauration de lancien
aqueduc est actuellement en cours et cest le
ministre de la Culture qui se charge de cela tout en
lui consacrant 38 millions de Livres gyptiennes.
Le prochain plan englobera en fait le transfert des
tanneries du Caire ancien vers la rgion prs de la
ville de Badr ainsi que la nouvelle planification de
la rgion de tel point satisfaire tous les besoins
des habitants.
Ltat a consacr 850 millions de Livres
gyptiennes en vue de moderniser Le Caire
historique et de restaurer ses monuments, a-t-il
annonc tout en ajoutant quune coordination existe
dj entre le ministre de la Culture, le gouvernorat
et enfin le Conseil suprieur des Antiquits et ceci,
pour parvenir promouvoir les rgions historiques
en gypte. Tous les monuments islamiques ont t
enregistrs sur lordinateur du gouvernorat ce qui
facilite la tche de recueillir les informations
relatives chaque monument nimporte quel
moment, a-t-il raffirm.
Dautre part, le gouverneur du Caire a
indiqu que 31 monuments sur 51 ont t jusqu
lors totalement restaurs dans cette mme rgion.
De mme, le ministre labore actuellement un plan
qui consiste transporter toutes les activits
contribuant polluer lenvironnement El-Azhar et
les transformer en effet en des activits susceptibles
aller de pair avec cette rgion touristique. Le but
de construire les deux tunnels dEl-Azhar rside
dans le fait de protger les monuments et de les
sauvegarder contre la pollution. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, La restauration de lancien aqueduc
du Caire est en cours, Le Progrs gyptien du 2
dcembre 2001. Voir galement Suhayr GHANNM,
Des Champs-lyses au cur du Caire, al-
Ahrm du 13 juillet; Al ABD AL-HD, Les
empitements encerclent le projet de restauration de
laqueduc du Caire, al-Akhbr du 6 dcembre).
-
- -
Patrimoine architectural du XIX
e
-XX
e
sicles
Le Dr Salh ZAK, restaurateur et doyen de
la facult dIngnierie lUniversit Misr
International, explique les objectifs de
lAssociation quil prside pour la
restauration des anciennes maisons du
Caire :
Cette initiative a commenc en 1996. Il
sagit de restaurer des demeures prives qui ont une
valeur architecturale importante et qui ne font pas
partie des monuments historiques dont se chargent
les institutions officielles comme le Haut Conseil
des Antiquits (HCA). Le Caire historique nest pas
fait seulement de palais. Il est form plus de 80 %
de maisons. Celles-ci sont dans un tat totalement
dtrior, ce qui attnue beaucoup la beaut de la
ville. De plus, on a dcouvert quil y a de belles
maisons qui sont sur le point de seffondrer.
Malheureusement, les habitants et propritaires de
ces maisons sont des gens trs pauvres qui nont
pas du tout les moyens de les restaurer de sorte que
parfois ces maisons croulent sur leur tte. De plus,
avec la disparition de ces maisons remontant au
XIX
e
sicle et au dbut du XX
e
sicle, une priode
trs importante de lhistoire de larchitecture
gyptienne va disparatre.
Nous avons restaur cinq maisons qui ont
une grande importance architecturale dans le
quartier de la Citadelle. Ces maisons pourront
maintenant vivre plus de 100 ans. On a eu des
problmes financiers quon a russi rsoudre
grce laide de lInstitut Goethe et du Centre de
recherches amricain. Il fallait aussi convaincre les
propritaires et les habitants de nous laisser
travailler. Au dbut, la grande majorit de ces
propritaires croyaient que nous allions transformer
leurs maisons en monuments historiques ou
muses. Et quils seraient donc expulss. Mais avec
la russite de notre premire exprience, nous avons
gagn la confiance des habitants. Cependant, nous
avons normment de difficults administratives.
47
Ltat ne nous aide pas pour les diffrentes
formalits exiges pour restaurer une maison, dont
les autorisations obtenir ou autres.
Dans la plupart des pays du monde ce sont
non seulement la demeure, mais aussi tout son
environnement qui sont pris en charge. Mais au
Caire on nglige malheureusement des milliers de
maisons qui ont une architecture caractristique. Le
nombre ddifices enregistrs ne dpasse pas les
600. Ce qui accrot la difficult dun suivi pour
maintenir les restaurations et viter de nouvelles
dtriorations. Notre Association forme de
professeurs, darchitectes et dtudiants na pas les
moyens dun tel suivi. Et mme nous attendons une
assistance pour dautres restaurations envisages.
(Aliaa AL-KORACHI, Trois questions Dr Salah
ZAKI, restaurateur et doyen de la facult
dIngnierie lUniversit Misr International, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 22 aot 2001. Voir galement
Abr AL-DAMARN, Le trsor architectural sous
protection, al-Ahrm du 20 aot).
-
- -
Pont Ab al-Il
Abul Ella bridge was one of the landmarks
of Cairo that used to link the posh district of
Zamalek to the popular area of Boulaq Abul Ella.
The iron-made bridge, which was built in the period
between 1908 and 1913 was dismantled at the end
of the 90s of the 20
th
century to be replaced by
another more modern one to serve the ever
increasing traffic. The bridge was unique in its
design and it was believed to be designed by
Gostave EIFFEL who built Eiffel Tower. But it has
been lately proved that a French company had
designed and built the bridge.
Dr Fathi SALEH Director of the National
Centre for Documentation of Cultural Heritage
suggests the establishment of an archive centre for
architectural and engineering blueprints taking the
300 blueprints of Abul Ella bridge found at the
French company as the nucleus for the centre. Dr
SALEH explains that while assuming his post in
Paris as the Cultural Counsellor in the Egyptian
Embassy, the Arab Contractors, the company
assigned to disjoin the bridge to build the new one
asked him to find any information about the bridge.
The only piece of information obtained was the
name of the designing company which was located
at Lille, an industrial area famous for the
manufacture of metal structures. But the company
had been already amalgamated in larger institution
taking a different name.
Paying a visit to the archives of the
company, it turned out that it included not only the
blueprints of Abul Ella bridge, but also those of
Zamalek bridge, Kasr El Nile bridge, Al Galaa
bridge, Al Mansura and the second stage of Seka Al
Hadid Bridge at Imbaba, said Dr SALEH. The
archive of the company stationed in Leon included
hundreds of blueprints with sizes ranging between
50 x 70cm and 1 x 1.5m signed by Egyptian
officials at the time. The designs dated back to the
first and second decades. But the lions share of
these blueprints belonged to Abul Ella bridge, said
Dr SALEH. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Blueprints of
defunct Abul Ella Bridge may be nucleus of
proposed engineering archive centre, The Egyptian
Gazette du 27 dcembre 2001, Mushra MSA,
300 planches du pont Abu al-Il retracent la
mmoire architecturale de lgypte, al-Ahrm du
20 dcembre).
-
- -
Gza
Plateau des Pyramides
() Quant au grand projet de
dveloppement [du Plateau de Gza], il est excut
par une entreprise de btiment gyptienne qui
soccupe dinstaller des nouvelles entres et sorties
pour le site des cts sud et nord. Un grand parking
pour les bus touristiques est amnag, et les
chameaux et les chevaux seront interdits daccs.
Cest un projet qui est programm en trois phases.
La premire portera sur la partie nord, avec
des portes daccs style pharaonique et diverses
entres pour diffrents groupes. La deuxime
consistera amnager une srie de restaurants pour
servir les touristes. La troisime phase consistera
installer un espace avec salles de confrences et
lieux de spectacles, ainsi quun muse pour les
barques solaires avec une prsentation originale. Le
tout se terminera en 2003. (Sarah GAMIL, Trois
questions Abdel-Hamid QOTB, directeur gnral
de ladministration technique du site des pyramides
Guiza, Al Ahram Hebdo du 7 novembre 2001).
-
- -
Tombes des nobles
The three newly-restored tombs of
noblemen are located within the western cemetery
of Khufus pyramid which contains tombs of
officials during the Pharaohs reign as well as other
tombs dating from the fourth to the eighth
dynasties. Although these tombs may be poor in
decoration, they are rich in architectural features,
said Gaballa Ali GABALLA, secretary-general of the
Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). The tombs,
which comprise large chambers with rock-hewn
pillars, have impressive facades more akin to those
found in temples, said GABALLA.
48
The first tomb belongs to Dua En Re, son
of King Khafre and half-brother and minister of
King Menkaure. The most impressive scene
decorating the tombs wall features the deceased
crawling on the ground followed by two groups of
people one group carries an altar and the other
prepares animals for slaughter.
The second tomb belongs to Imry, Khufus
priest and administrative overseer of the royal
court. Zahi HAWASS, director-general of Giza
plateau and Bahariya oasis, explained that its walls
are decorated with a number of vividly-coloured
paintings depicting the tombs owner with his
family in scenes of daily life.
The third tomb belongs to Neferbau Petah,
an overseer of the royal estates. It dates to the
middle of the fifth dynasty of the Old Kingdom and
its western wall is decorated with a statue of the
tombs owner. Scenes depicting the harvest are the
most beautiful of the drawings in the tomb, said
HAWASS. According to GABALLA, the restoration
work on the three tombs included cleaning and
reinforcing walls and installing lighting and
ventilation systems. New ceilings and roofs have
been added as well as wooden floor coverings.
(Nevine EL-AREF, Treasures on display, Al -
Ahram Weekly du 12 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Pyramide de Khephren
After 18 months of restoration, Khafres
pyramid has been reopened to the public and so are
the tombs of three noblmen. Another stage of the
long-term restoration project for the Giza plateau
has been completed. Khafres pyramid, the second
largest of the three Great Pyramids at Giza, is back
in the limelight along with three tombs of noblemen
lying to the west of Khufus pyramid. The tombs
are open to the public for the first time. As part of a
rotation system introduced to maintain and restore
monuments, a decision was taken by Minister of
Culture Farouk HOSNI to close Menkaures
pyramid, the smallest of the three pyramids, for one
year. Under this system, one pyramid is closed each
year while the other two remain open to visitors.
Restoration work on Khafres pyramid
began in January 1999 after humidity levels of 80
per cent were recorded and it was discovered that
salt encrustation was contributing to the
monuments rapid deterioration. HOSNI explained
that each person visiting the pyramid exhales about
20 grammes of water vapour. Cracks caused by the
accumulation of salt have been filled, the walls of
the pyramids passageways and the kings chamber
were cleaned of salt residue and visitors graffiti. A
damaged stairway, leading from the main doorway
to the kings burial chamber, has been replaced by a
new wooden one. (Nevine EL-AREF, Treasures on
display, Al-Ahram Weekly du 12 juillet 2001. Voir
galement Ashraf MUFD, Rouverture au public
de la pyramide de Khephren aprs deux annes de
fermeture, al -Ahrm du 7 juillet; Sammar A.
EZZAT, Cephren Pyramid reopened for visitors
after two years closure, The Egyptian Gazette du
12 juillet; Gizas restored Chephren Pyramid
reopens, Middle East Times du 13 juillet).
-
- -
Pyramide de Mykrinos
Abd al-Hamd Qutb, directeur gnral de
lAdministration technique du site des
pyramides Gza, dtaille son plan de
restauration de la pyramide de Mykrinos :
La pyramide de Mykrinos tait dans un
tat assez critique comparer aux deux autres
pyramides qui sont bien prserves des dgts
causs par les visiteurs et lhumidit. Elle souffre
actuellement de llvation du taux dhumidit, et
aussi des crevasses dans le sol qui causaient des
problmes aux visiteurs. De plus, les murs des
chambres funraires ont besoin de restauration. En
fait, ce nest pas la premire fois quon interdit la
visite dune pyramide au public. Chaque saison, on
ferme une pyramide, on fait un systme de rotation
pour protger les monuments des dgts.
La pyramide va subir deux sortes de
travaux. Nous allons procder un changement
dans le systme dclairage intrieur, on remplace
lancien systme par un autre nouveau qui na pas
dinfluence ngative sur la paroi interne de la
pyramide. Aussi, des planches de bois et les
escaliers qui mnent aux chambres funraires seront
changs. Un autre systme de surveillance a t
install, celui-ci est utilis pour la premire fois
dans le site des Pyramides. Cest un rseau de
camras vido et un moniteur; les visiteurs seront
surveills, ce qui permet aux responsables dviter
les critures sur les murs et les plafonds. Lagent de
scurit pourra intervenir rapidement. Nous
nettoierons les murs et les pierres laide de
produits chimiques sans effet nocif. Ce sont des
produits thrs. (Sarah GAMIL, Trois questions
Abdel-Hamid QO T B , directeur gnral de
ladministration technique du site des pyramides
Guiza, Al Ahram Hebdo du 7 novembre 2001.
Voir galement Al ABD AL-HD, Dbut des
travaux de maintenance et de restauration de la
pyramide de Mykrinos, al-Akhbr du 31 aot).
This is the third time since the site
management plan for Giza was set up in 1987 that
Menkaures pyramid has been closed for
restoration, Giza plateau and Bahariya oasis
director-general Zahi HAWWAS said. HAWASS
attributed the pyramids recent rapid deterioration
49
to the breath of visitors, which causes both
humidity and salt encrustation. More than 30,000
people enter the pyramid monthly, and each exhales
about 20 grams of water vapour. The rate of
humidity in the pyramid as now is 77 per cent, he
said.
The project plan includes the restoration of
cracks on the inner walls from the main doorway to
the burial chamber. The walls of the passageways,
the pyramids six rooms and the kings chamber
will be cleaned of salt residue and of the graffiti
made by thoughtless visitors. A new wooden
stairway will replace the existing damaged stairs at
the main doorway to the burial chamber, while the
doorway itself will be reinforced. Blocks of stone
placed around the granite sarcophagus during
previous conservation work will be removed and
replaced with more suitable stone, of similar quality
to the pyramids original floor. Restoration inside
the pyramid has already begun, Abdel-Hamid
KOTB, the engineer in charge of the restoration,
said. More than 20 conservationists and three
inspectors are at work full time." Fines will also
be imposed, KOTB said. From now on, anyone
desecrating the monument in any way will face a
LE300 fine. (Nevine EL-AREF, Respite for
Menkaure, Al-Ahram Weekly du 20 septembre.
Voir galement Tha ABD AL-RAHMN,
Fermeture de la pyramide de Mykrinos, al-
Ahrr du 27 octobre).
-
- -
Saqqra
Malgr les efforts considrables et les
sommes faramineuses dpenses sur la
prservation des sites archologiques, une
immense dcharge ciel ouvert cerne le site
de Saqqra. Un exemple loquent sur le
manque de coordination entre le CSA et les
diffrents services municipaux :
Une immense dcharge ciel ouvert cerne
le site de Saqqara. Sur une superficie de 200 300
feddans (de 80 120 ha) dans lenceinte dun site
archologique et touristique des plus importants, la
ncropole de Saqqara, stend le dpt dordures de
Chabramant, considr comme le dpt principal
du gouvernorat de Guiza. Lutilisation de ce lieu
comme dpotoir ne date pas dhier. Cela fait huit
ans que les immondices sy trouvent et elles
augmentent de jour en jour. Ce qui choque le plus,
cest que cest par dcision officielle du
gouvernorat de Guiza que cette zone a t
consacre cette fin. Une usine de recyclage a t
construite sur les lieux depuis deux ans, mais elle
nest pas encore entre en service. Rsultat, les
ordures sont jetes de manire anarchique. La
nouvelle annonce par la presse, selon laquelle la
dcharge publique de la rgion dArd Al-Lwa prs
de Mohandessine sera dplace cet endroit, a
suscit lmotion. Les habitants des lieux et les
services de conservation du patrimoine sont
scandaliss
Dj, les habitants ont prsent maintes
plaintes aux responsables, mais aucun pas concret
na t entrepris en rponse. Si Zahi HAWAS,
directeur du plateau de Guiza au HCA, a russi
aprs de longs essais arracher aux responsables du
gouvernorat une promesse de dplacer le dpt,
celle-ci est reste lettre morte. Plusieurs dcisions
manant du HCA considrent ces dpts comme
une violation des sites La dernire en date est
celle du 25 novembre 1998. Mais il ny a pas
toujours eu de ralisation concrte. En fait, les
responsables se jettent la balle. Adel HUSSEIN,
directeur des Antiquits de Saqqara, rejette de son
ct toute responsabilit cet gard. Le HCA ny
peut rien. Je souhaite ouvrir le site dAbou-Sir la
visite depuis deux ans, mais lexistence de ces
ordures men empche, dit-il.
Il est difficile dassurer en effet une visite
des lieux pour les touristes. Ces ordures se trouvent
au centre de la zone qui commande laccs
Saqqara, Abou-Sir et Abou-Ghorab. Le seul temple
solaire dgypte qui se situe Saqqara est envahi
dimmondices. tat dplorable pour un monument
exceptionnel. (Hala FARES, Les sacs plastiques
lassaut des Pyramides, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 21
novembre 2001).
-
- -
Tombe de Ptahhotep
Le prsident de lAdministration centrale
des Antiquits du Caire et de Gza, Dr Zh
HAWWS, a dcid la fermeture de la tombe de
Ptahhotep Saqqra cause de la hausse du taux
dhumidit des tombes de la rgion. Un projet
gypto-italien en cours vise limiter le nombre de
visiteurs, afin de prserver la tombe. La prsence
des guides touristiques est, dornavant, interdite
lintrieur des tombes. Des panneaux placs
lextrieur des tombes fourniront les explications
ncessaires. (Ruz al-Ysuf du 6 octobre 2001).
-
- -
Suhg
Ncropole al-Hawwsh
For seven years now the rock-carved
archaeological tombs of Al Hawawish in Suhag are
waiting for a flight of stairs to allow public visits.
The story goes to 1993 when the governorate of
Suhag addressed the Supreme Council for
50
Antiquities to provide flights of stairs for the
archaeological area in Hawawish, which is five
kilometres to the east of Akhmim. But the SCA
apologised for shortage of funds.
However, the following year the
governorate repeated its request asking for an ad-
hoc committee to inspect the site which includes a
number of rock tombs on a plateau of which ten are
restored and are fit now to receive visitors. Other
tombs also exist on the site but are somewhat poor
in painting. The governor had also requested to
carry out a complete project to develop the area
itself especially that it lies in the neighbourhood of
the archaeological find of Merit statue in Akhmim.
But the situation remained status quo until the
governor of Suhag explained to the Secretary
General of the SCA that the govemorate had paved
the road leading to Al Hawawish site at costs of LE
235,000 and a parking lot and tourist amenities at
costs of 130,000 and that there still remains the
stairs and other items of the integrated upgrading
process.
The question is when will the SCA take an
executive step to build the stairs, light the corridors
between the tombs and introduce a cafeteria in
order to have Al Hawawish officially opened before
tourists? (Sammar A. EZZAT, Al Hawawish
archaeological area in Suhag looks for putting it on
tourist map, The Egyptian Gazette du 29
novembre 2001; Muhammad Mutwi ALLM,
La rgion dal-Hawwsh attend une rampe
daccs depuis sept annes !, al-Ahrm du 18
novembre).
-
- -
Louqsor
Temple de Karnak
I look up at the awe-inspiring Karnak
temple and wonder: will the water which has begun
to stain many of its stone walls actually cause these
corridors, sanctuaries, pylons, obelisks, chapels and
the famous Hypostyle Hall to fall into a pile of
rubble? The question, though hypothetical and
alarmist, is not far-fetched. Beyond the tourists
armed with water bottles and sun glasses a group of
people is hard at work. They are driven and
absorbed, in spite of the heat, and probably because
they have pondered this very question. These are
the archaeologists and hydrologists whose aim is
focused on trying to prevent more water from
infiltrating the walls of the monuments. Some are
removing salts from the affected walls, while others
arrange white rubble at the feet of some of the
monuments threatened by the high level of the
underground water.
Abdel-Satar BADRI, an archaeological
inspector supervising the work, took time to tell me
that the rubble acted as a cushion separating the wet
ground from the monument itself. It also prevents
leakage of water and salt infiltration on the surface
of the archaeological edifice, he said. A Swedish
company, SWECO, is also involved in water-
prevention attempts although, according to Bekheet
MAHMOUD, general director of Karnak temple, they
have had to suspend activity until September as the
summer heat was affecting the hydrological
equipment in a way that rendered the findings
inadequate. The reasons why water is becoming
such a serious problem are manifold. Sabri ABDEL-
AZIZ, director of antiquities of Upper Egypt, counts
three direct causes; namely increased sugar cane
cultivation around the temple zone, the lack of a
proper drainage system in the shanty housing areas
near Karnak and the heightened level of the Nile in
July and August.
For his part, Saleh SHAALAN, head of the
cultural committee in Luxors governing council,
points directly at the Aswan Dam. It is a plausible
argument when one considers that archaeological
ruins inside the temple show that, from ancient
times, Karnak was subjected to subterranean water
caused by the Nile flood. To control the water level
inside the temple, the Pharaohs constructed both
large and small limestone Nilometers at various
locations within the temple walls. And as the Nile
was a deity of prosperity, the ancient Egyptians
surrounded the temple with water, constructing a
sacred lake beside the open courtyard. The temples
main corridors were decorated with flowers and
trees which required daily irrigation. And while all
these facts explain why water was accumulated
under the temple, they do not explain the
exacerbation of the problem today, and not just at
Karnak.
Although Gaballa Ali GABALLA, secretary-
general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA), does not deny the role of the High Dam in
damaging, or threatening to damage, historic
monuments, he defends the policy which led to its
being built. We have noticed that the water table
has risen since the High Dam was built, he told
Al-Ahram Weekly, Indeed, the most serious
damage occurs during the Niles former flood
season, as the river continues to adhere to its
natural cycle despite being regulated by the dam.
But even if the dam is the reason, we had to have it.
While antiquities are important, we would have had
the worst famine Egypt ever witnessed if we had not
built the High Dam.
Three weeks ago, a delegation led by
Prime Minister Atef EBEID and Minister of Culture
Farouk HOSNI , with representatives from the
ministries of agriculture, irrigation and the head of
the Luxor governing council, toured the site.
During the tour, several solutions to end the water
51
table problem were suggested, some of which have
recently been put into effect. In collaboration with
the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) the Ministry of Agriculture
is testing a change in the irrigation system used in
sugar cane cultivation switching from traditional
methods (basin irrigation) to a sprinkler system. So
far, 100 feddans under cultivation west of the
temple have employed this new system. MAHMOUD
added that an estimated 30 per cent of the water
could be drained when the old drainage channel,
dug 70 years ago by the French Egyptologist
Georges LEGRAIN, was replaced. Finally, an
American-Egyptian project funded by a grant of
US$42 million from the United States would install
a modern sewerage system near the residential area,
as well as a drainage-water recycling station. As we
walked around the temple, we saw test pits under
construction, as well as the installation of high-tech
machines to pump out subterranean water caused
by the inhabitants septic tanks. (Nevine EL-AREF,
Before the flood, Al-Ahram Weekly du 19 juillet
2001. Voir galement Abd al-Fatth MUBRAK,
Nos antiquits et quelques rflexions sur les eaux
souterraines qui les menacent, al-Ahrm du 22
juillet; Abd al-Wahhb ALLM, Les antiquits
gyptienneset les eaux souterraines, al-Akhbr
du 29 juillet).
Soulignons que le recours du CSA la
compagnie trangre SWECO pour rsoudre
un problme dhritage national a t
critiqu par la presse nationaliste. Celle-ci
dnonce le recours systmatique aux
trangers dans tous les domaines du travail
archologique, alors que lgypte possde
ou aurait d possder dj toutes les
ressources humaines ncessaires. (Mamdh
HAMZA, Les gyptiens sont plus mme
de prserver leurs Antiquits, al-Akhbr du
4 juillet).
-
- -
Ncropole thbaine
To control flash floods on the Theban
necropolis and the damage they can cause to tombs,
such as occurred in the winter season of 1996/97,
the Luxor inspectorate, headed by Sabri ABDEL-
AZIZ, has built new concrete ramps disguised by
appropriate stonework to direct flood water to
the areas drainage system. (Nevine EL-AREF,
Flood control, Al-Ahram Weekly du 5 juillet
2001).
-
- -
Deir al-Bahari
President Hosni MUBARAK, accompanied
by Culture Minister Farouk HOSNI and other high-
ranking government officials, will first visit the
Hatshepsut temple in Deir El-Bahari to reopen its
Upper Court, marking the completion of 40 years of
restoration activities. The temple, called the most
splendid of all, is a rock-hewn structure framed by
high cliffs and adorned with some of the most
famous reliefs in the Nile Valley, specifically the
one showing Hatshepsuts birth colonnade and her
voyage to Punt on the East African Somali coast.
The temple was first brought to public
attention in 1798 by members of Napoleons
expedition to Egypt. Then, drifting sand obscured
most of the monument. In 1894, the Egypt
exploration society started to exhume the temple
properly. Their work continued for nine years.
Some of the colonnades were roofed in and
alterations were carried out to preserve the reliefs.
For a period after World War II, the temple was
completely neglected. When Egyptian and Polish
restorers started work in 1960, the upper terrace
was in ruin and some 10,000 blocks of inscribed
stone littered the site.
It was like collecting the pieces of a vast
jigsaw puzzle and putting them together, said
HOSNI. It was not difficult to replace blocks that
had fallen from the already restored lower terraces,
but the upper terrace proved to be a challenge.
The restoration work concentrated on the Upper
Court, where Thutmose III had built a temple. Part
of his temple was destroyed in ancient times by an
earthquake, and some of its blocks were used to
build other monuments. Only a small part of the
western wall survived, along with some chambers.
These have been restored and the painted reliefs
held in position by polychrome blocks.
Another part of the temples third terrace
suffered at the hands of Christian monks when the
temple was converted into a monastery. The walls
were completely blackened by candle smoke. When
we cleaned the walls, beautiful scenes in fresh,
well-preserved colour emerged, showing
Hatshepsut and Thutmose III and their little
daughter sacrificing to the barge of Amun, Sabri
ABDEL-AZIZ, director-general of antiquities in
Upper Egypt, said. (Nevine EL-AREF, A tonic for
tourism, Al-Ahram Weekly du 18 octobre 2001.
Voir galement Mushra MSA, Inauguration du
temple dHatshepsout Louxor dans quelques
jours, al-Ahrm du 15 octobre; Sad AB AL-
AYNAYN, Hatshepsout sapprte acceuillir ses
visiteurs aprs quarante annes de restauration!,
khir Sa du 31 octobre).
-
- -
Aswn
52
Antiquits islamiques
The integrated project for restoring the
Islamic antiquities area in Aswan has been
endorsed. The project implemented in cooperation
with Agha Khan Institution is estimated to cost LE
5 million. According to the proposed plan an open
display museum will be set up to exhibit items
unearthed in Aswan of which some date back to the
3
rd
Hajira year. The exhibition is also to include
about 10,000 tomb-stones going back to the Islamic
age.
The area includes 31 Islamic domes
relating to the 4
th
and 6
th
Hajira year. A committee
of archaeologists visiting the area have recently
prepared a report about encroachments there and
means of preserving the area by completing the
fencing wall and restoring the domes. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Project to restore Aswans Islamic
monuments to start soon, The Egyptian Gazette du
12 juillet 2001).
Archaeological sites in Aswan are also
suffering from the increasing level of the water
table. The effects of erosion are painfully clear at
the Fatimid cemetery on the East Side of the Aswan
reservoir. This Islamic necropolis of 37 feddans is
enclosed within a limestone wall and contains 31
domed graves dating back to the fifth and sixth
centuries AH (11
th
and 12
th
centuries AD). The site
is overgrown with weeds, and to get around the
graves one must side-step deep pools of water. The
section of the necropolis at the top of a sandy hill is
very well preserved, while that at ground level
suffers both water and urban encroachment.
Magdi ABDIN, director of Islamic
antiquities in Aswan, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the
Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) was
currently carrying out a restoration plan to save 15
of these Fatimid domed tombs. White gravel was
being poured into the area, but no long-term steps
have been taken to stop the infiltration of water.
(Nevine EL-AREF, Before the flood, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 19 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Nubie
Temples dAbu Simbel
En pleine crise du tourisme suite aux
attentats du 11 septembre 2001, la guerre
en Afghanistan et aux affrontements isralo-
palestiniens, le prsident Husn MUBRAK
inaugure, en personne, les travaux de
restauration et de ramnagement des
temples dAbu Simbel :
A number of archaeological sites in Aswan
and Abu Simbel are to be opened before the public
at the end of this month following the end of
restoration work. The most significant of these are
Abu Simbel temples. According Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH Secretary General of the Supreme
Council for Antiquities (SCA) the project not only
restores the temples from within but also carries out
a plan that curbs humidity rates and high
temperature.
The idea is based on substituting the
existing lighting systems and establishing a visitors
centre that makes available state-of-the-art display
methods to explain to the visitors everything about
the temples before entering them in order to
minimise the duration spent within the temples,
hence decrease rates of water vapour. The centre
absorbs about 200 visitors every 15 minutes giving
the opportunity to 3200 tourists to visit the site
daily.
The second stage of the project which cost
some LE 8 million provided by the Nubia
Salvaging Fund, took into consideration three
important elements: technical restoration of the
monuments, tight security and increasing revenues
of organised visits. This was made possible by
means of the centre and the advanced control
system that includes 115 fixed and mobile cameras
as well as automatic gates to control the entry of
visitors and tighten security measures. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, LE 14m to be spent on restoration of
stone-carved temples at Aswan, The Egyptian
Nevine EL-AREF, A tonic for tourism, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 18 octobre ; Muwafaq AB AL-NL,
Sauvetage des temples dAbu Simbel de la
respiration des visiteurs !, al -Ahrm du 26
octobre; Sammar A. EZZAT, Large project to
upgrade famous Abu Simbel temples area, The
Egyptian Gazette du 1
er
novembre; Muwafaq AB
AL-NL, Les temples nubiens sembelissent !, al-
Ahrm du 21 novembre; Hdiya AL-SHARBN, Le
prsident MUB R AK inaugure le projet de
ramnagement des temples dAbu Simbel, khir
Sa du 26 dcembre; Ahmad A L-NAGM, Le
prsident MUBRAK inaugure les temples dAbu
Simbel aprs leurs ramnagements, al-
Musawwar du 28 dcembre; Lgypte sexprime
Abu Simbel, Uktubar du 30 dcembre).
- - -
Son et lumire
Aprs les pyramides de Gza (1961), les
temples de Karnak (1972) et de Philae
(1986), les temples dAbu Simbel viennent
dtre dots dun spectacle ultra moderne de
son et lumire :
53
Le major gnral Muhammad SHAFQ,
membre dlgu de la Socit Misr pour le Son et
Lumire, dclare que ce projet est le fruit de la
coopration fructueuse entre les ministres de la
Culture et du Tourisme, le Conseil Suprme des
Antiquits et le Holding pour lHabitat, le Tourisme
et le Cinma. Les cots du spectacle Son et lumire
dAbu Simbel slvent 18,5 millions de Livres
gyptiennes. Il se droule en huit langues : larabe,
langlais, le franais, lespagnol, litalien,
lallemand, le russe et le japonais. La Socit Misr
pour le Son et lumire a russi financer ce projet
en collaboration avec le Holding pour lHabitat, le
Tourisme et le Cinma, grce une grande
exprience gyptienne dans ce domaine, soutenue
par les experts de Philips Hollande, la plus grande
multinationale spcialise dans la production des
quipements de son et lumire
Il a fallu 27000 m de cbles de diffrents
types, 838 projecteurs et units dclairage, 4
projecteurs de diapositives, 200 siges de
spectateurs, 300 autres siges dots de casques de
traduction, 102 diapositives et 7 circuits de hauts
parleurs H.F.L.F.
Le texte du spectacle a t labor par une
commission comprenant le feu Dr Gaml
MUKHTR, le Dr Gballah Al GBALLAH et le Dr
Zh HAWWS. La version arabe a t dulcore par
le pote Ahmad Abd al-Mut HIGZ. Quarante
artistes de toutes les nationalits ont particip
lenregistrement de la bande sonore. (Nouvelle
ralisation sous le rgne de MUBRAK, al-
Ahrm du 27 dcembre. Voir galement Ysir
RIZQ, M U B R A K inaugure le projet de
ramnagement des temples dAbu Simbel et
assiste au son et lumire, al-Akhbr du 24
dcembre ; Hasan SHR, Le son et lumire le
plus moderne au monde, al - Ahrm du 24
dcembre).
-
- -
Temple de Kalbsha
Kalabsha temple, west of Aswans High
Dam, has been given a new lighting system and the
ground has been tiled with local sandstone. During
a field visit to Aswan this week, Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, Secretary General of the Supreme
Council for Antiquities (SCA), said the museum on
Kalabsha island lying adjacent to the temple could
now be visited at night due to the new lighting
facility.
He said that a tourist marina west of the
High Dam will be established giving tourist groups
easy access to the archaeological sites and helping
to increase the number of Aswans tourist nights.
The area will be operational by next October, said
Dr GABALLAH. He said that the SCA is cooperating
with the Nubian Antiquities Fund to restore and
cleanse rock-carved temples on the banks of Lake
Nasser, a project that will be completed next year.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, New lighting system allows
for night time temple forays, The Egyptian Gazette
du 19 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Temples de Nubie
Meanwhile, as an extension to the project
the Minister of Culture Farouk HOSNI, who doubles
as Chairman of the SCA, gave directives to restore
the collection of stone-carved temples in Aswan at
total costs of LE 14 million. Director of the Nubia
Salvaging Fund, Dr Kamal BARAKAT said that
work on the sites of the temples of Sobou and
Amda, 150 km north Abu Simbel, had already
started. He added that roads leading to the area
were to be paved whereas the idea of introducing a
marine behind the High Dam to serve visitors was
under study. The plan also includes the
establishment of an outdoor display exhibiting
remains of archaeological blocks left behind from
the first salvaging process of Nubia temples which
was sponsored by the UNESCO in the 60s. Most of
the stone masses belong to decaying temples such
as that of Abu Oda of the age of Ramsis II
Under the same project the temple of Garf
Hussein that pertains to Ramsis II and follows the
same architectural style of Abu Simbel temples
would also be rebuilt, said Mr AI ASSFAR. (Sammar
A. EZZAT, LE 14m to be spent on restoration of
stone-carved temples at Aswan, The Egyptian
Ahmad AL-ZAYYT, Le lac Nsir un trsor
enfoui!, al-Wafd du 20 octobre).
-
- -
Nord-Sina
Al-Faram
Restoration of the Roman baths unearthed
at Al Farama in North Sinai is to start soon,
according to Mohamed ABDUL FATTAH director of
Sinai Antiquities. The restoration plan includes
chambers, channels and water cisterns at the bath of
Tel Louli as well as the steam rooms, the cold and
hot water reservoirs, the draining canals and the
changing rooms at the northern bath. ABDUL
FATTAH explained that Al Farama City includes an
important harbour on the Mediterranean in addition
to a fortress, Roman garrisons, baths used by army
commanders and officers as well as passing
caravans in addition to guest houses. The area was
54
vital one being at the meeting point of caravan
routes where trade exchange with neighbouring
countries was maintained. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Restoration of Roman baths in Al Farama to start
soon, The Egyptian Gazette du 20 septembre
2001; Restauration des Antiquits dal-Faram au
nord-Sina, al-Ahrr du 12 septembre. Voir
galement Mushra MSA, Mise au jour dun
deuxime bain romain dans la ville archologique
dal-Faram, al-Ahrm du 16 dcembre).
-
- -
Citadelle al-Arsh
des Antiquits, Dr Gballah Al GBALLAH, a
dcid loctroi de tous les fonds ncessaires pour la
poursuite des fouilles archologiques dans la
citadelle al-Arsh, conformment au plan labor
par lAdministration gnrale des Antiquits
islamiques et coptes du Nord-Sina. Les travaux de
restauration des Antiquits dj dcouvertes ainsi
que les oprations de maintenance de la citadelle
vont reprendre. (Slih AL-ALQAM, Reprise des
fouilles de la citadelle al-Arsh, al-Akhbr du 26
dcembre 2001).
-
- -
Nouvelle Valle
Al-Muzawwaqa
Inside one of the rocky mountains
spreading at Al Dakhla Oasis in the governorate of
the New Valley, are two carved tombs known as Al
Mezawaqa. The significance of the two Roman
tombs is derived from the beauty of their paintings
that combine Roman and Pharaonic gods.
According to directives of the Secretary General of
the SCA, Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH, the two
tombs will soon undergo restoration. The eastern
tomb which belongs to a person called Badi Osir
comprises two rooms covered with a gypsum layer
that bears clear paintings representing scenes of the
Day of Judgement, harvesting and mummification.
The paintings also show the bountiful crops of the
oasis as wheat, dates and grapes in addition to
pictures of the two goddesses Isis and Neftis and
the four sons of Horus.
The second tomb, which falls to the west is
made of one room and belongs to Bady Bast. The
tomb also bears bright coloured paintings
representing wheat harvest and pictures of several
gods as Anobis, Isis and Neilis. Egyptian
archaeological teams had unearthed many artifacts
as gilded statues of the hawk, glass tools, bronze
coins and some mummified rams which are all
displayed at the New Valley Museum. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Plan to restore Al Mezawaqa tombs at Al
Dakhla Oasis, The Egyptian Gazette du 1
e r
novembre 2001; Mushra MSA, Le dsert de la
Nouvelle Valle sapprte la restauration dal-
Muzawwaqa, al-Ahrm du 8 octobre).
-
- -
Temple de Deir al-Hagar
Ministry of Culture has approved a LE10
million project to unearth and restore a 2,000 year-
old temple in the New Valley. The project will
excavate and restore Deir el-Hagar Temple, a
Roman-era temple dedicated to the worship of the
god Amon, Gaballah Ali GABALLAH, secretary-
general of the Supreme Council for Antiquities
(SCA) said. Centuries of sandstorms and neglect
have led to the collapse of the temples pillars and
covered much the structure in mounds of sand. The
three-year project will clear the sand, restore the
temples 40 columns and fix its roof. (Restoration
work ordered for Roman-era temple, The Egyptian
Ashraf MUFD, Dix millions de Livres pour le
sauvetage et la restauration dun temple romain
dans la Nouvelle Valle, al - Ahrm du 14
dcembre).
-
- -
Temple dHibis
En ballottage depuis de nombreuses annes,
le dmontage du temple dHibis peine
dcid que lopration soulve de
nombreuses rserves :
Le temple Hibis, qui remonte la XVIII
e
dynastie et a fait lobjet dajouts pendant diffrentes
poques, serait sur le point de seffondrer suite la
monte des eaux souterraines et celles de
lirrigation. Do une dcision de le dmonter et le
transfrer 450 m de son emplacement actuel.
Cest la proposition dune commission du Haut
Conseil des Antiquits (HCA) qui sest penche sur
la question et qui date de 1986. Cependant, la
dcision na pas t suivie deffet, tant donn une
sorte de dsintrt lgard de la rgion pendant les
annes 1980 et la difficult de trouver une socit
dentreprises capable de prendre en charge un tel
projet.
Il y a 15 mois seulement, une socit
dentreprise gyptienne, Al-Moqaouloun Al-Arab, a
commenc les travaux. Elle a procd une
restauration du temple et commenc dmonter
ldifice. Il a fallu cependant la visite dune
55
commission de lUnesco en octobre dernier pour
suspendre ces travaux. Les experts de lUnesco ont
jug trs dangereux un tel dplacement. Ils ont
adress un rapport au HCA recommandant la
suspension des travaux.
Le ministre de la Culture, Farouk HOSNI, a
dcid donc de dsigner une nouvelle commission
pour donner son avis sur laffaire. Celle-ci, dirige
par Zahi HAWAS, directeur du plateau de Guiza, a
recommand de ne pas dmonter le temple qui
risque selon elle de seffondrer et de perdre 45 % de
ses pierres. Le dbat bat son plein avec des vues
tout fait contradictoires de la part des experts tant
et si bien que le ministre de la Culture a dcid de
reporter toute dcision cet gard en attendant
lavis dune deuxime commission. Jai reu le
rapport de la commission technique qui vient
dexaminer le temple, mais aucune dcision ne sera
prise actuellement. Je ne peux trancher en me
basant sur une seule commission. En attendant,
tous les travaux sont suspendus. Du moins titre
officiel parce que, selon des tmoins, les ingnieurs
de la socit Al-Moqaouloun Al-Arab continuent
toujours travailler sur le site.
Les problmes qui menacent le temple ne
sont pas nouveaux selon les experts. Ils remontent
en fait lpoque ptolmaque quand un sisme a
dtruit des parties du temple. Il a t restaur
pendant la mme poque. Les images des
anciennes restaurations sont graves sur les murs
du temple, explique Bahgat AHMAD, directeur des
Antiquits gyptiennes Kharga. Les problmes de
lexcs de leau souterraine datent aussi de bien
longtemps. Selon les experts, le transport du temple
est effectivement trs difficile. Le projet de
dplacement est non seulement norme, mais aussi
trs difficile. Aucune entreprise gyptienne ne
pourra mener un tel projet, que ce soit sur le plan
technique ou excutif. On doit avoir recours des
experts trangers qui ont plus dexprience que
nous dans ce domaine, a dclar un membre du
comite du HCA qui a prfr garder lanonymat.
Cest un travail trs dlicat et en mme temps trs
compliqu. Un tel projet a besoin dun budget de
100 millions de LE, pas les 19 millions qui lui sont
alloues, ajoute le membre. (Sarah GAMIL, Hibis:
un temple en voie de disparition, Al-Ahram Hebdo
du 28 novembre 2001. Voir galement Ihb AL-
HADAR, Mais que se passe-t-il dans le temple
dHibis ? Akhbr al-Adab du 28 octobre).
Experts of the SCA and the UNESCO who
visited the site recently were dismayed at the
ongoing work and expressed concern at the
potential consequences. One of them called for
reconsidering the whole process. It has been found
that the company had started its work by removing
the outer door of the temple, which was built in the
late Ptolemaic age, erecting scaffolding around the
temple structure, storing and numbering the rest of
the stones it had removed. The visiting experts have
been concerned that the company started the
dismantling operation by removing the most solid
part, leaving the more vulnerable part for a later
stage. The result was the damage of certain
elements, not to mentioning the likely damage to be
caused to the already dilapidated parts.
The visitors also sensed the smell of a
chemical substance used in sticking muslin on to
the stones. Facing the engineer in charge with their
doubts he said that the substance was purely
natural. Yet the experts still had doubts that it is a
kind of substance used in agriculture to prevent the
leakage of water from the land and is banned to be
used on stone. The substance had been previously
applied to tombs of sun-dried brick but turned to be
harmful as it separates paintings from the wall after
it dries.
Experts have also questioned the
experience of those in charge of the dismantling
process drawing the attention that the condition of
Hebes temple was so different from that of Al
Karnak since the later was made of complete and
solid blocks and could be easily transferred. Experts
have recommended a suspension of work to allow a
reconsideration of the whole transfer process. They
referred in this connection to the example of the Ba
Nahs temple in the Cairo suburb of Mataria, which
archaeologists of the SCA dismantled and failed to
reinstall. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Work at Hebes
Temple suspended for faulty dismantling,
reinstalling operation, The Egyptian Gazette du 11
octobre; Mshra MSA, Le temple dHibis
menac deffondrement par les eaux souterraines,
al-Ahrm du 4 octobre. Voir galement Ihb AL-
HADAR , Des responsables des Antiquits
risquent-ils dtre emprisonns, si la loi sur la
protection des Antiquits sappliquait au temple
dHibis ? Akhbr al-Adab du 25 novembre).
Le choix mme de transfrer le temple ne
fait pas lunanimit. Daucuns penchent pour
une opration de restauration :
The Minister of Culture Faruk HOSNI will
be receiving within the coming few days a report on
the Hebes Temple which is being dismantled to be
reinstalled on a site higher than the present one
owing to damaging effect of underground water.
According to a report by an Arabic daily paper the
committee assigned to evaluate the ongoing process
is to recommend the suspension of work due to the
eminent danger. According to restoration experts
and architects 45 per cent of the temple is
threatened to collapse should the restoration
company carry on with the dismantling.
The same paper said that the committee
report affirms that the present site has become dry
and so underground water does not pose a threat to
the foundations or the sandstones of the temple.
The committee said that the transfer process could
56
be replaced by thorough restoration. On examining
the site and previous reports, the committee
discovered that the report indicating the rise in
underground water dates back to 1986 and has not
been updated ever since. It is noteworthy that the
dismantling project that started 15 months ago at
estimated costs of LE 23 million was faced by
many difficulties which hindered the removal of
any part of the temple except for the front gate.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Report sheds doubts over
claims of danger to Hebes Temple from
underground water, The Egyptian Gazette du 8
novembre. Voir galement Ihb AL-HADAR, Le
temple dHibis victime de la maldiction des
descendants des pharaons Akhbr al-Adab du 21
octobre).
LUnesco intervient et en appelle une
extrme prudence:
LUnesco a rclam lgypte de
procder la restauration du temple dHibis dans la
Nouvelle Valle dune faon prcise et minutieuse.
Ce temple est en cours dtre dmont dans la
perspective de le transporter vers un nouveau site,
situ 450 mtres de lancien site. Lors dune
confrence internationale ce propos, tenue dans le
cadre du Congrs rgional sur les sites
archologiques dsertiques et les systmes des
oasis, M. Giovanni POCADI a soutenu que des
prcautions ncessaires doivent tre prises pour
veiller sur la sret du temple dHibis qui encourt,
selon lui, des risques et vritables dangers que ce
soit pour les colonnes ou le dallage.
Selon lui, lUnesco nest pas contre le fait
daccorder des expertises techniques lgypte en
matire de restauration ou de traitement des risques
quencourent les sites archologiques, notamment
concernant les eaux souterraines qui menacent
lheure actuelle les temples de Louxor. M. POCADI
a critiqu les pays arabes de ne pas inscrire leurs
sites archologiques sur la liste du patrimoine
international, en mentionnant nommment lArabie
Saoudite, le Soudan et le Ymen bien quils
dtiennent de rares sites archologiques. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, Confrence sur les oasis et les
dserts dgypte, Le Progrs gyptien du 30
septembre ; Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, LUnesco
appelle lgypte la rigueur dans la restauration et
le transfert du temple dHibis, al-Ahrr du 26
septembre).
-
- -
-
4. Expositions archologiques
Plus que jamais, le Conseil Suprme des
Antiquits semble conscient des retombes
bnfiques des expositions des Antiquits
gyptiennes ltranger. Cette philosophie
sexprime ici dans la bouche dIbrhm
ABD AL- GALL, directeur du Dpartement
des expositions ltranger :
Dabord, la demande des pays trangers est
trs forte sur nos Antiquits, surtout celles qui
remontent des poques pharaoniques. Au
ministre de la Culture, on estime notamment que
de telles expositions sont une excellente
propagande pour lgypte, qui met ainsi en relief
les diffrents aspects de son ancienne civilisation.
Ces expositions sont, donc, le meilleur moyen,
voire la bonne chance pour lgypte de prsenter
nos Antiquits et de faire connatre notre Histoire
au monde. Il faut tenir compte que ces expositions
sont lune des sources de revenus les plus
importantes pour le Haut Conseil des Antiquits
(HCA). Les bnfices conomiques raliss par ces
expositions peuvent aider la restauration des
Antiquits et au dveloppement des muses et des
sites archologiques.
En fait, bon nombre des grands muses
internationaux sont riches en Antiquits
gyptiennes, notamment pharaoniques mais aussi
islamiques et coptes. Citons comme exemple celles
prsentes au British Museum, au Louvre et au
Metropolitan Museum of Arts de New York. Ces
prsentations, pour de longues annes, nont pas
empch les touristes franais, anglais ou
amricains de venir en gypte. Au contraire, cest
la meilleure publicit pour notre pays. Et puis
lgypte dploie beaucoup defforts dans le sens de
sauvegarder et protger les Antiquits qui partent
ltranger.
Lgypte reprsente par le HCA prend
des mesures lgales et diplomatiques avec les pays
qui accueillent les pices. On a exig linterdiction
de la sortie dgypte de certaines pices uniques.
Dailleurs, la Constitution gyptienne interdit la
sortie de toutes les pices rares ou fragiles. Les
Antiquits ne voyagent quaprs lapprobation du
Conseil des ministres. Chaque pice est assure
selon sa valeur historique, archologique et
artistique. Elle porte une empreinte qui ne peut tre
imite. En outre, lendroit o seront exposes les
Antiquits ltranger doit tre assur et quip
avec tous les moyens technologiques et les
appareils dalarme et ceux dextinction des
incendies (Amira SAMI R, Trois questions
Ibrahim ABDEL-GULIL, directeur du Dpartement
des expositions ltranger au HCA, Al-Ahram
Hebdo du 19 dcembre 2001).
Exhibitions en gypte
Le Caire
57
Muse gyptien
Piece of the Month
After a three-year hiatus, the Piece of the
Month is being reintroduced as one of the new
plans for the Egyptian Museum. One of the first
decisions taken by the new director-general after he
assumed office was reviving a project to highlight a
different masterpiece each month The chosen
piece is placed in a place of honour in the foyer,
along with full details. The first object chosen to
become the post-revival Piece of the Month, was
a limestone dyad, or pair statue, showing Mery-Re,
the overseer of god Aten, with his wife Ey-Yuya
seated beside him in an embrace. The statue, in
colour and with its hieroglyphic text intact, was
found seven months ago by a Dutch-British team
excavating in the south-western chapel of the
priest's tomb in Saqqara. The texts on the back of
the statues reveal the facts. Mery-Re was, among
his many titles, scribe of the temple of the Aten at
Akhet-Aten (Tel Al-Amarna) and the text inscribed
on his kilt reveals that he was one of the Pharaohs
most honoured officials. His double-row gold
necklace was a reward presented only to the
Pharaohs favourites. His wife, Ey-Yuya, also had
several titles, among them The Favoured One
and His Beloved Wife. The right side of her hair
is swept behind her back, while her robe reaches to
her ankles.
This masterpiece will remain on display
in the foyer when we bring out another from the
middle of October, EL-DAMATI says. Those lined
up for future exhibition are a head of Amun-Zeus, a
Graeco-Roman masterpiece in alabaster retrieved
two years ago from Jordan along with a collection
of ushwepti figures and six papyrus texts; and the
copper statue of the fifth-dynasty Pharaoh Pepi I,
now restored. (Nevine EL-AREF, New century,
new ventures, Al-Ahram Weekly du 18 octobre
2001).
- - -
Centenaire du Muse gyptien
Le directeur gnral du Muse gyptien,
Dr Mamdouh EL-DAMATI , a dclar quune
exposition temporaire sera organise a cette
occasion, comprenant les plus importantes pices
places dans les entrepts du Muse. Ces pices
seront exposes pour la premire fois, en plus dune
exposition sur lhistoire du Muse travers des
photos, des registres et des documents anciens qui
relatent lhistoire de la fondation du Muse. Et
dajouter que sera publi un livre comportant de
nombreux articles scientifiques sur les Antiquits
exposes dans les muses, en plus dun livret sur le
Muse gyptien en 100 ans et un autre livret sur le
premier gyptologue gyptien qui a travaill au
Muse gypt i en. ( Hassan SAADALLAH,
Confrence mondiale loccasion du centenaire
du Muse gyptien, Le Progrs gyptien du 16
septembre 2001).
-
- -
Muse de la Police
Armes du XIX
e
sicle
A collection of weapons used by Egyptian
police officers in the 19
th
century will be on display
at the police museum in the Citadel of Salaheddin.
The collection includes a number of decorated
swords, daggers, guns and pistols. (Nevine EL-
AREF, Presenting arms, Al-Ahram Weekly du 5
juillet 2001).
-
- -
Universit amricaine au Caire
Photographies des Antiquits
de Miny
Le Major Gnral Hasan HAMDA a
inaugur avant-hier une exposition photographique
de lartiste Ahmad AL-MAGHRAB consacre aux
Antiquits de Miny. Ont galement assist cette
inauguration, qui a eu lieu dans la galerie Sonny de
lUniversit amricaine, le ministre du
Dveloppement national, Major Gnral Mustafa
ABD AL-QDIR ; lAmbassadeur de France au
Caire, Franois DOPFFER ; ainsi quun grand
nombre dartistes et de personnalits concernes par
le tourisme gyptien. Cette exhibition sinscrit dans
le plan de dveloppement du tourisme rgional.
Deux annes de prparation furent ncessaires pour
raliser une nouvelle couverture photographique de
toutes les zones archologiques islamique, copte,
romaine et pharaonique de Miny. Lexposition
durera deux semaines. (Wil AL-SAWWF,
Inauguration lUniversit amricaine dune
exposition artistique sur les Antiquits de Miny
al-Ahrm du 25 octobre 2001).
-
- -
Muse sans frontires
lart mamelouk
partir du 9 novembre, lgypte fera
partie dun immense muse sans frontires qui
couvre lensemble du bassin mditerranen. La
manifestation Muse sans frontires est un
programme de promotion et de dveloppement du
patrimoine historique et artistique euro-
mditerranen bas sur un nouveau concept
Litinraire-exposition: au lieu de porter luvre
58
dart au public, comme lors dune exposition
habituelle, cest le public qui se dplace pour
dcouvrir luvre dart, quelle soit monument, site
ou objet, dans leur contexte original.
Lgypte a choisi de prsenter l'art
mamelouk. Il sagira dun voyage travers
lpoque mamelouke (1249-1517), quand Le Caire
est devenu le sige du sultan et sest transform en
lune des plus riches et des plus puissantes cits de
la Mditerrane, enclave commerciale et culturelle
entre lOrient et lOccident. Les monuments de
cette poque reprsentent le dveloppement
maximum des arts dcoratifs et de larchitecture
islamique par sa simplicit et la puret des lignes.
Litinraire de cette exposition en gypte est divis
en 8 circuits dont 5 concernent Le Caire et 3
Alexandrie, Rosette et Fowa.
Le premier circuit est celui de la Citadelle
de Saladin. Limportance de ce monument remonte
lpoque ayyoubide lorsquelle est devenue le
sige du pouvoir et jusquau rgne du khdive
ISMAL en 1876 quand le sige sest install au
palais dAbdine au Caire. Riche, ce complexe est
compos de btiments diversifis: des btiments
militaires, des tours, des murs, des palais et des
mosques (sy trouvent aussi plusieurs muses).
Certainement, tous ces btiments antiques seront
visits au cours de ce circuit qui commence par le
Muse dArt islamique. Mais le plus beau sera sans
doute le panorama du Caire islamique que lon peut
contempler du haut de la Citadelle.
Pendant le second circuit, le visiteur se
promnera dans la rue dAl-Moez dans le quartier
de Bab Al-Khalq. En fait, cette rue est un muse
ouvert par nature. Elle tire son importance du fait
quon y trouve plus de 27 monuments islamiques
remontant aux diverses poques, surtout
mamelouke. Pas trs loin, le visiteur ne peut pas se
passer dune visite au Khan Al-Khalili et enfin de
jeter un coup dil sur les ncropoles mameloukes.
Trs charg de sites visiter, ce circuit seffectuera
sur deux jours.
Le troisime circuit est consacr mettre
en vidence laspect culturel de la mosque dAl-
Azhar quand elle tait le minaret des sciences
religieuses autant que mondaines dans tout le
monde arabe. Le quatrime circuit est consacr au
Nil. La plus importante source de vie en gypte.
Wafaa Al-Nil est une fte qui clbre la crue depuis
lre fatimide. Et les sultans mamelouks eux-
mmes participaient la clbration de cette fte.
Ds lors, elle a acquis une trs grande importance
chez les gyptiens.
Le cinquime circuit donne une ide des
marchs anciens du Caire qui sont devenus trs
prospres au temps des Mamelouks quand ceux-ci
ont russi mettre fin aux attaques mongoles et
ainsi garantir un march stable pour les produits
venant de la Syrie et de lest de lAsie. La
construction des wkalas (caravansrails) et de
rabea (htel) est devenue donc une ncessit pour
vendre ces produits et loger les marchands
trangers qui viennent exposer leurs biens en
gypte. La wkala dAl-Ghouri est un exemple
illustrant cette ide. Elle a t construite lpoque
du sultan AL-GHOURI, le dernier sultan mamelouk
avant lavnement des Ottomans en gypte.
Le sixime circuit va mener Alexandrie
comme tant la porte ouest de lgypte qui a eu une
grande importance pendant toute lhistoire de
lgypte et surtout lpoque islamique quand le
sultan mamelouk Al-Achraf QATBAY a construit en
1447 la citadelle qui porte son nom jusqu
aujourdhui.
Le septime circuit ira plus loin jusqu
Rosette qui arrive juste derrire Le Caire du point
de vue du nombre des Antiquits islamiques surtout
mameloukes et ottomanes. La ville donne et sur la
Mditerrane du ct nord et sur la branche ouest
du Nil qui porte son nom. Elle est lun des plus
anciens ports dgypte et fut longtemps le plus
important. Elle sest spcialement panouie au
temps du sultan QATBAY qui y a construit une
citadelle o la clbre pierre de Rosette a t
trouve en 1799.
Litinraire du muse sans frontires
s'achvera dans la ville de Foua, la troisime ville la
plus riche par le nombre dAntiquits islamiques.
Cest une petite ville du gouvernorat de Kafr Al-
Cheikh qui compte 365 mosques, elle concurrence
ainsi Le Caire qui est la ville aux mille minarets.
Cette petite ville a bien profit de sa situation
gographique et sest transforme en un port et un
centre commercial de premier rang. Elle jouait le
rle de Venise de lOrient. Ainsi, les richesses se
sont concentres dans cette ville, ce qui explique
labondance et la somptuosit de ses btiments
historiques. (Dalia FAROUK, Lart mamelouk en 8
tapes, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 31 octobre 2001. Voir
galement Nevine EL-AREF, History's trail, Al-
Ahram Weekly du 8 novembre ; Diy ABD AL-
HAMD, Lgypte un muse sans frontires,
khir Sa du 14 novembre).
Interroge par Al-Ahram Hebdo sur
lopportunit de lancer une telle
manifestation, alors que le tourisme est
plong dans un grand marasme depuis le 11
septembre, Inam SUWAYLAM, charge par
le ministre de la Culture de la supervision
de Muse sans frontires rpond :
Certainement, cest le moment opportun
pour une telle manifestation qui est une sorte de
plaidoyer pratique pour lislam. Elle met laccent
sur la civilisation islamique et tmoigne de ce
quelle est une civilisation qui a eu de nombreuses
interactions avec les autres civilisations. La preuve
59
en est lexistence de nombreux monuments
islamiques au sein de lEurope. Ce qui contredit
compltement ceux qui accusent lislam dtre une
civilisation barbare. Ensuite, la date de cette
manifestation tait fixe depuis deux ans et ni le
ministre de la Culture ni lOrganisation Muse
sans frontires nont pens quil fallait la changer.
Il nous a fallu quatre ans de travail
continu. La coordination entre le ministre de la
Culture, lOrganisation Muse sans frontires et
les autres pays qui participent la manifestation
ntait pas facile du tout. Dautre part, les
monuments des quatre villes choisies qui
constitueront litinraire-exposition devaient tre
restaurs. Ainsi, une autre coordination a d avoir
lieu avec le Haut Conseil des Antiquits afin quil
achve ses travaux avant linauguration. Enfin, on a
eu recours aux gouverneurs concerns afin quils se
chargent du ct esthtique des quartiers visits.
Le rle de lOrganisation Muse sans
frontires dans cette manifestation est de favoriser
la coopration entre les 11 pays qui participent au
projet. Elle prend aussi la charge dimprimer les
logos, les brochures et les catalogues des itinraires
en 6 langues. Et puis aussi cette organisation fait la
promotion de la manifestation ltranger. (Dalia
FAROUK, Trois questions Inaam SOWEILAM, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 31 octobre 2001. Voir galement
Mushra MSA, Muse sans frontires expose lart
islamique dans le bassin mditerranen, dbut
novembre, al-Ahrm du 22 septembre).
-
- -
Aswn
Muse de la Nubie
Centenaire de la dcouverte
de la tablette de Narmer
Dans le cadre des clbrations organises
pour le centenaire de la dcouverte de la peinture
du pharaon Narmer, qui russit tablir lunit
gyptienne et fut le fondateur de la l
re
dynastie, le
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits a dcid
dorganiser une exposition des Antiquits de la cit
de Hrachonopolis (Kom El-Ahmar), situe au nord
dEdfou. Cette ville tait une des cits de
lAntiquit, lpoque des I
re
et II
e
dynasties vers
3000 avant Jsus-Christ.
Le Secrtaire gnral du Conseil suprieur
des Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali Gaballa, a dclar
que cette peinture est considre comme la
premire dcouverte par une mthode scientifique.
Il a soulign que le Comit Permanent des
Antiquits gyptiennes a accept, lors de sa
dernire runion, dorganiser une exposition au
muse de la Nubie Assouan. Cette exposition
contiendra les fresques les plus clbres de
lpoque du roi Narmer y compris celles o sont
sculptes les victoires quil ralisa comme la
cration de lunit entre le nord et le sud de
lgypte. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Centenaire de la
dcouverte des fresques du roi Narmer, L e
Progrs gyptien du 9 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Exhibitions hors dgypte
La crise touristique aigu survenue au cours
du second semestre 2001 a eu des effets
nfastes sur le taux de frquentation des
muses et des sites archologiques. Ceci a
entran une baisse substantielle des
revenues du Conseil Suprme des
Antiquits. Cest grce aux expositions des
Antiquits gyptiennes ltranger que le
CSA a pu partiellement combler ce manque
gagner. Les chiffres sont loquents :
lexposition autrichienne a rapport 400,000
dollars lgypte, celle de Chicago 150,000
dollars (Le CSA affronte la baisse de ses
revenues, Akhbr al-Yawm du 10 novembre
2001).
Allemagne
Le secret du sarcophage dor
Objet de litige entre lgypte et
lAllemagne, le sarcophage dAkhenaton,
dcouvert par Theodore DAVIES en 1907
dans la tombe KV 55, sera expos aux
cts de cinq autres pices de lpoque
amarnienne Munich partir du 16
octobre 2001 :
Le Muse national dart gyptien Munich
organise jusquau 13 janvier 2002 une exposition
intitule Le secret du sarcophage dor. Cette
exhibition regroupe cinq pices archologiques. Le
directeur de lAdministration des expositions
ltranger au CSA, Ibrhm ABD AL-GALL, a
dclar que cette exposition, qui assurera une bonne
publicit pour les Antiquits gyptiennes, constitue
en quelque sorte une transaction. Au terme de celle-
ci, le Muse allemand cdera au CSA la moiti
infrieure du sarcophage sorti dgypte, il y a
longtemps quil avait achet et restaur. Telle fut
la condition dicte par le Muse pour la restitution
lgypte de cette pice. (Le CSA affronte la baisse
de ses revenues, Akhbr al-Yawm du 10 novembre
2001. Voir galement Al ABD AL-HD,
Organisation dune exhibition dAntiquits
gyptiennes Munich en change de la restitution
dun sarcophage, al-Akhbr du 2 septembre ;
Exposition Munich du sarcophage pharaonique
en or, al-Ahrr du 2 novembre).
60
-
- -
Autriche
Lor des pharaons
En prsence de lAmbassadeur dgypte
Vienne et du ministre autrichien de la
Culture, le ministre gyptien de la Culture et
le secrtaire gnral du CSA inaugurent, le
26 novembre 2001, une exposition sur les
bijoux au temps des pharaons. Plusieurs
muses internationaux ont particip cette
exhibition, qui a regroup 180 pices
archologiques allant de Toutnkhamon
Ramss II :
An exhibition of Egyptian antiquities is to
open at the Austrian Capital on November 15
th
and
is to run until mid march. The exhibition held in
Vienna under the title of Gold of the Pharaohs is to
display a collection of 70 artifacts relating the
history of the development of jewellery-making in
ancient Egypt. The items are chosen from several
museums and storehouses in Cairo and other
governorates.
Minister of Culture, Faruk HOSNI has said
that the exhibition would be held at the History of
Art Museum, the oldest antiquities museum in
Austria. The exhibition is primarily meant to
promote tourism from Europe especially under the
present circumstances. HOSNI pointed out that all
measures would be taken to secure the safe arrival
of the pieces to Vienna and back home. (Sammar
A. EZZAT, Ancient Egyptian jewels to be
displayed in Vienna, The Egyptian Gazette du 1
er
novembre 2001; Ashraf MUFD, Soixante-dix
pices archologiques pour lexposition Lor des
pharaons en Autriche, al-Ahrm du 28 octobre.
Voir galement Ashraf MUFD, Lor des pharaons
dans une exposition de quatre mois en Autriche,
al - Ahr m du 21 novembre ; Ilhm BIDN,
Accueil formidable pour les Antiquits
gyptiennes dans la capitale autrichienne, al-
Qhira du 4 dcembre).
-
- -
Chine
Civilisation de lgypte ancienne
Le ministre de la Culture, Frq HUSN, a
approuv la tenue, dbut novembre prochain, dune
exposition dAntiquits gyptiennes intitule
Civilisation de lgypte ancienne, dans trois
grandes villes chinoises. Le secrtaire gnral du
Conseil Suprme des Antiquits, Dr Gballah Al
GBALLAH, a dclar que lorganisation de cette
exhibition sinscrit dans le cadre du Protocole de
coopration culturelle et artistique signe par les
deux pays. Il a soulign que lexposition regroupera
prs de quatre-vingts pices archologiques
reprsentant les diffrentes poques historiques.
Lexhibition itinrante dbutera dans la
capitale Pkin, o elle se tiendra trois mois. La ville
de Shanghai accueillera ensuite lexposition pour
une dure de trois mois. Enfin, la ville dHong
Kong pour la mme dure. Lexposition se tiendra
dans les plus grands muses nationaux des trois
villes. Un rapport sera soumis au ministre de la
Culture, afin de prendre les mesures juridiques et
dassurance ncessaires la protection des pices
archologiques depuis leur sortie du Caire jusqu
leur retour.
Le Dr GBALLAH a prcis que les pices
prtes lexposition ne seront pas des pices
uniques, conformment aux dispositions de la loi
117 pour lanne 1983 qui interdit lenvoi des
pices archologiques uniques des expositions
ltranger. (Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Une
exposition dAntiquits gyptiennes en Chine, al-
Ahrr du 15 aot 2001).
-
- -
tats-Unis
Cleopatra from History to Myth
Cleopatra from History to Myth is the
title of an exhibition opened this week in Chicago.
The exhibition offers a display of 394 unique pieces
collected from 30 museums across the world. The
items have to do with Cleopatra, Marc Anthony and
Julius Caesar and the period in which they lived in
Alexandria. The museum which includes 44 pieces
from two Egyptian museums started its year-long
tour in Rome in the period from October 2000 to
February 2001. The second leg was the British
Museum which host the exhibition for four months
during which time it was visited by more than
150,000 people. The display has finally reached the
US to run until March 2002.
SCA secretary general said that the
insurance on the artifacts reaches approximately
US$100 million. Among the important items on
display, he said, was a collection of heads for
Cleopatra VII, Julius Caesar, the Roman emperor
Augustine in addition to a mosaic panel found at
the present site of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, which
was insured alone by US$10 million. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Cleopatra exhibition reaches Chicago from
London, The Egyptian Gazette du 25 octobre
2001. Voir galement Amal AL-GAYYR,
Inauguration demain Chicago de lexposition
Cloptre de lhistoire au mythe, al-Ahrm du 20
61
octobre; Amru ABD AL-SAM , Grande
crmonie Chicago loccasion de lexposition
sur Cloptre et Marc Antoine!, al-Ahrm du 3
novembre).
-
- -
France
LOrient de Saladin lart des Ayyubides
Du 23 octobre 2001 au 10 mars 2002,
lInstitut du Monde Arabe organise une
exposition intitule LOrient de Saladin...
Lart des Ayyubides :
Lexposition est la premire tentative
jamais entreprise pour prsenter au public la
dynastie ayyoubide, cette priode de lhistoire trs
riche tous gards, indique Philippe CARDINAL,
directeur de la communication lIMA. Nombreux
sont ceux qui croient que lpoque ayyoubide avait
seulement un aspect militaire et que les Ayyoubides
sont larme de Salaheddine AL-AYYOUBI (Saladin)
qui luttait de manire farouche contre les Croiss.
On pense que les Ayyoubides navaient pas le temps
de rflchir lart et la beaut et que leur poque
tait celle dun vide culturel et artistique, explique
Rfaat Abdel-Azim MAHMOUD, directeur du Muse
islamique du Caire. Certainement, le fait que la
priode na dur quenviron 80 ans a contribu
renforcer cette impression.
Lexposition regroupe environ 300 pices
en provenance des diffrents muses du monde: de
lgypte, de la Syrie, de la Turquie... Ce sont
surtout ces pays qui ont tmoign du rgne
ayyoubide. Lexposition renferme, dautre part, des
objets en provenance des muses dOccident, dont
le Louvre. Ces muses sont trs riches en
Antiquits islamiques, surtout le British Museum, le
Louvre et le muse de lErmitage en Russie.
Lgypte, quant elle, participe cette
manifestation avec une trs belle collection (plus de
30 pices) appartenant au Muse islamique de Bab
Al-Khalq, au Caire. Les pices sont accompagnes
de restaurateurs et autres spcialistes. Ces uvres
sont de prcieux indicateurs des modes de vie
lpoque. Des pots, des pierres tombales, des
encensoirs, des aiguires, des bassins... Des objets
en bois, en cuivre, en pierre... Des objets qui valent
leur pesant dor. Parmi les objets les plus
intressants figure la plaque didentit dal-
madrassa (collge) Al-Kamliya de lpoque du roi
Al-Kamel AL-AYYOUBI , ce qui prouve que les
Ayyoubides ont montr de lempressement pour
lducation et la culture ainsi qu la guerre.
On exposera aussi des chefs-duvre
fabriqus avec le clbre arabesque islamique
surtout une partie du tombeau de limam AL-
CHAF. Elle reprsente un exemple intressant de
lart de lpoque ayyoubide. Autre splendeur quon
pourra dcouvrir, celui des uvres en cramique et
leurs magnifiques ornementations. On ne doit pas
ngliger, surtout, une intressante pice en
cramiques leffigie de la Vierge Marie soutenant
Jsus avec le bras gauche. Cest certainement
luvre dun artiste copte. Les responsables du
Muse islamique ont choisi des objets dmontrant
le climat de tolrance qui rgnait une poque
marque par la lutte contre les Croiss, affirme
Rfaat ABDEL-AZIM, directeur gnral du Muse
islamique du Caire.
De son ct, Gaballah Ali GABALLAH,
secrtaire gnral du Haut Conseil des Antiquits
(HCA), a signal limportance dune telle
exposition organise par lIMA ltranger, dans
cette priode prcisment, pour faire connatre
lOccident les diffrents aspects et le caractre
pacifique de la civilisation islamique et de lislam.
Une telle exposition est la meilleure publicit pour
lislam. En esprant que les visiteurs seront au
rendez-vous...
Un colloque aura lieu en marge de
lexposition sur limportance de lpoque
ayyoubide, son art et ses plus clbres figures. Car
lart ayyoubide a bien ses spcificits.
Premirement, la plupart des pices sont dcores
avec une calligraphie arabe ordinaire, al-naskh. En
outre, lartiste, ou plutt lartisan ayyoubide, a
prfr sexprimer dans les objets en mtal
fabriqus en cuivre et en bronze. Ils ont utilis une
nouvelle mthode dornementation des ustensiles
en cuivre, al-takfit (lincrustation) avec de lor ou
de largent. Lart ayyoubide reprsente, en fait, une
phase transitoire entre lart fatimide avec son style
qui imite la nature et lart mamelouks avec ses
dcorations florales et gomtriques et la belle
calligraphie al-naskh. (Amira SAMIR, Les talents
cachs des Ayyoubides, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 17
octobre 2001. Voir galement Nagt ABD AL-
MUNIM, SALADIN apparat Paris, al-Qhira du
13 novembre).
The illustrated books on display are
particularly interesting, since the exhibition
includes works chosen both to illustrate aspects of
everyday life and commerce under Ayyubid rule, as
well as works illustrating the periods unavoidable
military campaigns. Among examples of the
former, there is a 17
th
century copy of the 13
t h
century Liber Pactorum, a Latin compendium of
trade agreements signed between Ayyubid Aleppo
and the Doges of Venice, showing that relations
between the two states could often be amicable and
mutually beneficial. Among examples of the latter,
there are illustrated editions of various historical
works dwelling on the theme of Crusader incursion
and repulse, including a contemporary copy, dated
to 1199, of Mohamed Imad Al-Din AL-ISFAHANIs
Kitab al-Fath al-Qussi fil-Fath al- Qudsi (Book of
62
the Capture of Jerusalem), describing Saladins
campaigns in Syria and Palestine between 1187 and
1193.
From an opposing perspective, a small
decorative map of Jerusalem included in the
exhibition and dated to 1170 features a tiny cross
on the citys ramparts, above which a Latin
inscription reads hic capta est civitas a francis (here
the Franks took the city), referring to Jerusalems
capture by the Crusaders at the time of the First
Crusade in 1099 AD. An illustrated version of
WILLIAM of Tyres Histoire dOutremer, produced
in Acre in 1287, describes the history of the
Crusader states until 1183. In this history, written at
the request of the king of Jerusalem, WILLIAM, a
native of Jerusalem and later Archbishop of Tyre,
nevertheless describes his enemy SALADIN as a
man of ardent spirit, valiant in warfare and
generous in everything.
The exhibition catalogue, co-produced by
the Arab World Institute and the French publishers
Gallimard, in addition to including full descriptions
of the objects on display, also includes a series of
learned articles on various aspects of the Ayyubid
dynasty, from their relations with the Crusaders,
their military and civil organisation, their
architectural innovations, external relations and
commerce, and their important reorganisation of
education, particularly in Egypt with the
introduction of a system of Sunni madrasas to
replace Fatimid schools.
A further series of articles describes
Ayyubid glassware, metalwork, ceramics and
spiritual life. In his introduction to the volume,
Nasser EL-ANSARI, Director of the Arab World
Institute, stresses that in the period of relative calm
following Saladins death in 1193 and the
establishment of the Ayyubid dynasty, t he
intensification of exchanges between East and
West, across an area linking Libya with Yemen, the
Sudan and Upper Mesopotamia, allowed the State
to replenish its finances and the population to
develop traditional productive activities. Egypt
under the Ayyubids thus became one of the
principle centres of international commerce. It is
his hope, EL-ANSARI says, that the exhibition will
be seen, through the quality and diversity of the
works of art on display as a vibrant call for
dialogue and for mutual comprehension.
Finally, Oleg GRABAR, in his epilogue to
the exhibition catalogue entitled Art under the
Ay y ubi ds has elected the difficult task of
summarising the aesthetics of Ayyubid Art. Was
it, he asks, in fact a properly Syrian art that was
then transmitted to Palestine and Egypt; or was it
an art belonging to the Mediterranean region of the
Muslim World that should be understood in parallel
with the contemporary art of Sicily and of
Andalucia in Spain? Whatever the answers to
these questions may be, GRABAR writes that the
art of the Ayyubids offers an equilibrium between a
fixed number of forms and basic techniques and
the firm and thoughtful treatment of these,
differentiating it from the inventive exuberance
of the artwork of the Egyptian Fatimids, for
example, and from that of the later mamelukes, the
latter, by contrast, being wedded to a more
systematic and monumental coherence. (David
TRESILIAN, A new dynasty, a new art, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 1
er
novembre).
-
- -
Grce
Mystery Great and Strange
Nine unique icons from St Catherines
monastery in Sinai are now on display in Athens,
along with an illustrated manuscript. The exhibition
currently on show at the Byzantine and Christian
Museum in Athens features more than 100 icons
and manuscripts from the Hermitage in St
Petersburg, the Benaki Museum in Cyprus, the
Vatican and St Catherines Monastery in Sinai. The
impressive exhibition, which will run until mid-
August, is staged in the central hall of the museum,
where special lighting has been arranged in order to
show each masterpiece to the best advantage. The
exhibition is entitled Mystery Great and Strange,
and the selected pieces date from the early
Byzantine era (the 4
th
to the 7
th
centuries) to the
Ottoman period (14
t h
to the 17
t h
centuries). It
includes nine icons from St Catherines.
Abdallah EL-ATTAR, head of the Islamic
and Coptic department at the Supreme Council of
Antiquities (SCA), said that among the most
important icons on exhibition were two 6
th
-century
works painted on wood. One features the Saviour,
the other John the Baptist, and their significance
lies in the fact that they date to an early period, and
also that they survived the period of iconoclasm,
he said. The former, a painting of Christ
Pantocrator, is one of the oldest and best preserved
in the monastery. This icon, which measures 84cms
by 45,5cms, was for a long time believed to date
from the 13
th
century, but when this was cleaned it
was found to have been painted over a much earlier
piece. The Christ it revealed was painted using the
encaustic technique, in which bees-wax is applied
with a spatula. Christ, robed in a purple tunic, holds
a jewel-studded copy of the Gospels in his left
hand, while his right is raised in blessing. It appears
that the halo surrounding his head at one time was
adorned with a cross and with a row of decorative
beads around its circumference.
The rich period of icon painting under the
Emperor Justinian who constructed the Church
63
of the Transfiguration and his immediate
successors made Sinai one of the worlds icon
centres, where a substantial number of important
icons executed in encaustic have been preserved.
That of John the Baptist, though not in such good
condition, shows the saint in a brown tunic and
mantle with a sheepskin. Two small medallions, of
Christ and the Virgin Mary, can be identified at the
top of the panel. Sinai was open to Christianity at
large, and colonies of monks from other churches
resided there at various times. As a result, icons
painted there show Greek, Syriac and Arabic
inscriptions, as well as some with Slavic chiefly
Russian influence.
With such a wide range of icons to choose
from, it was extremely difficult to select those to
send to Athens. They include two of the Virgin and
Child; one of them with scenes of the
Annunciation, and depictions of the Crucifixion and
of the foot-washing ritual. As for selecting the
manuscripts, this too presented a challenge. The
library of St Catherines Monastery, which
achieved world fame in the 1840s, when
Constantine TISCHENDORF discovered on its shelves
one of the oldest and almost complete 4
th
century
manuscripts of the Holy Bible, the Co d e x
Sinaiticus. The collection numbers more than 2,000
manuscripts in Greek, and hundreds in other
languages. Those chosen for Athens include a gift
presented by Gregory of Nazianzuz to the
monastery, a manuscript of 414 illuminated pages
with an elaborately-adorned silver cover on the
upper edge of which are two angels and images of
Matthew, Mark Luke and John.
Most of the icons native to the monastery
were created between the 6
th
and 15
th
centuries, and
follow a style which has come to be known as the
"Sinaitic School" of art. The imagery of this period
reflects Sinais biblical landscape. The school so
influential that many European artists incorporated
elements of Sinais mountainous terrain into their
own compositions. As the monasterys influence
spread throughout the Christian world, its art
collection was supplemented by generous offerings
from abroad. Russian Czars made significant
donations, as did leaders from Crete,
Constantinople and Palestine. As a result the
collection of icons at the monastery today is second
in size only to the Vaticans. Perhaps the handful
that made their way to Athens will tempt more
enthusiasts to Sinai. (Nevine EL-AREF, Sinai goes
to Greece, Al-Ahram Weekly du 5 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Italie
LAmbassadeur dItalie au Caire, Mario
SICA, a annonc la prparation en cours pour la
tenue dune exhibition pharaonique importante
Venise en septembre prochain. Cette exposition
sera le prlude aux festivits Lgypte en Italie et
lItalie en gypte qui se drouleront tout au long
de lanne 2003. Lexposition regroupera cent
pices importantes venues du Muse gyptien, de
celui du Louvre ainsi que du Muse de Turin. (ns
NR, Une exposition pharaonique en Italie
regroupe des pices exceptionnelles appartenant
trois muses internationaux, al-Ahrm du 19
dcembre 2001).
- - -
Une dlgation des responsables des
muses italiens Rome, prside par le directeur de
lAdministration archologique italienne, sest
rendu au Muse grco-romain, Kom al-Dika,
lamphithtre romain et la citadelle de Qytby
Alexandrie. Des ngociations sont en cours pour la
tenue dune exposition dAntiquits gyptiennes
Rome. Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprme
des Antiquits, Gballah Al GBALLAH, a dclar
que la dlgation italienne a soumis une demande
au ministre de la Culture, Frq HUSN, pour
lorganisation dune exhibition sur la ville
dAlexandrie, ses vestiges et, notamment, les
Antiquits sous-marines repches dernirement
des eaux dAbouqr, du Port Est et de la citadelle.
Cette exposition se tiendra en mars 2003
dans lEsquodiri Papeli [sic], lun des plus
prestigieux palais historiques de la capitale. Les
visiteurs italiens et europens dcouvriront alors
lhistoire de la ville dAlexandrie et ses relations
avec la capitale italienne depuis les poques les plus
recules, notamment lpoque romaine. (Amal AL-
GAYYR, Exhibition des Antiquits gyptiennes
sous-marines en Italie, al-Ahrm du 15 octobre
2001).
des Antiquits, Gballah Al GBALLAH, a affirm
que les Antiquits sous-marines, qui seront
envoyes Rome en mars 2003, nencourent aucun
danger. Ces pices dcouvertes Alexandrie au
cours des quatre dernires annes seront dment
assures. Le ministre de la Culture, Frq HUSN, a
dj donn son approbation au cours dun entretien
avec le directeur des Antiquits italiennes. Le
dossier sera transmis la Commission des
expositions ltranger du CSA, afin de dterminer
le nombre de pices archologiques, le cot et la
dure de lexposition. Enfin, le Conseil
dadministration du CSA donnera son avis.
Soulignons que le ministre de la Culture a
accept dernirement la participation de lgypte
ce genre dexposition des Antiquits sous-marines
ltranger, condition quune partie des revenues
de ces exhibitions soit alloue au projet de la
Bibliotheca Alexandrina. (GBALLAH : aucun
64
danger pour le voyage des Antiquits sous-marines
en Italie, al-Ahrr du 16 octobre).
-
- -
Japon
Grandeur de la civilisation gyptienne
Le directeur des Antiquits de Moyenne-
gypte, Mahmd HAMZA, senvole aujourdhui
pour le Japon, afin de superviser lexposition
intitule Grandeur de la civilisation gyptienne
et donner une srie de confrences sur larchologie
gyptienne. Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil
GBALLAH, a dclar que cette exposition itinrante
dans douze villes japonaises regroupe cent
cinquante pices reprsentant lvolution de la
civilisation de lgypte ancienne. Cette exhibition
se dplace aujourdhui dans la ville de Tigata o
elle demeurera jusquen juillet 2002. Lexposition a
t accueillie dans les villes de Tokyo et de
Nagasaki avec un grand succs et a enregistr un
taux de frquentation dun demi-million de
visiteurs. (Achraf MFD, Un demi-million de
visiteurs pour lexposition Grandeur de la
civilisation gyptienne au Japon, al-Ahrr du 4
septembre).
Dans le cadre dun grand intrt public, la
presse japonaise publie les informations sur
lexposition intitule La grandeur de la
civilisation gyptienne, tenue au Japon. 1,5 million
de visiteurs se sont rendu cette exposition depuis
son inauguration en septembre 2001. La semaine
dernire, la presse sest intresse particulirement
la crmonie organise dans la ville de Shizoka
loccasion de linauguration de ladite exposition
dans le Muse de la ville, aprs quelle fut dplace
de la ville de Yokohama o elle a t visite par
plus de 50.000 personnes.
Ont assist la crmonie dinauguration
les hauts responsables dans la ville de Shizuoka,
avec en tte Agish KENSHIRO, responsable de la
culture dans cette ville, Jeshn MATSU, prsident de
la Radiodiffusion et de la Tlvision de Shizuoka,
Shigro ARASHI , rdacteur en chef du journal
Shizuoka. Le directeur gnral du Muse grco-
romain et prsident du comit accompagnant
lexposition, M. Ahmed ABDEL FATTAH, a dclar
que cette exposition comprend 75 pices
dAntiquits reprsentant les diffrentes poques
pharaoniques et tmoigne dune grande affluence
de la part du peuple japonais intress la culture et
la civilisation gyptienne. Il a affirm quil est
prvu que lexposition tenue dans la ville de
Shizuoka soit visite par 100.000 personnes, ce qui
reflte lintrt japonais envers lgypte(Hassan
SAADAL L AH, Exposition au Japon sur la
civilisation gyptienne, Le Progrs gyptien du 30
dcembre 2001).
-
- -
Rpublique Tchque
Dans le cadre du plan mis au point par
lAmbassade dgypte Prague visant encourager
le tourisme vers lgypte, lAmbassadeur dgypte
Prague, Abd al-Rahmn MSA, a inaugur
lexposition archologique organise par le
ministre tchque de la Culture en collaboration
avec lInstitut dgyptologie de lUniversit
Charles et lAmbassade gyptienne. Cette
exposition a regroup les rcentes dcouvertes
ralises par la mission archologique tchque dans
la rgion dAb Sr. Linauguration a t prcde
par une confrence de presse sur limportance de
ces dcouvertes et la place quelles occupent dans
lhistoire de la civilisation gyptienne. (Mustafa
ABDALLAH, Exposition Prague des dcouvertes
archologiques provenant dAb Sr, al-Ahrm du
15 juillet 2001).
-
- -
-
5. Vols & restitutions dAntiquits
Vols & trafic dAntiquits
History is disappearing day by day at the
hands of tomb robbers. They dig in the dead of
night to steal treasures from ancient burial grounds.
This is one of the biggest problems facing
Egyptologists today. We are in a race against time
to excavate and record our history and, more
importantly, preserve the great monuments and
learn about the amazing ancient Egyptian
civilisation before it is ruthlessly pillaged or
destroyed by environmental pollution and other
causes. Each time we discover an artefact, another
piece of the puzzle of ancient history can be set in
place, and gaps in our knowledge filled. (Zahi
HAWASS, Dancing with tomb robbers, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 20 dcembre 2001).
Le dbat sur le vol des Antiquits, thme
rcurent dans la presse gyptienne, demeure,
hlas, toujours dactualit. Tout comme cette
suspicion injuste qui frappe les missions
archologiques trangres. ce propos, la
65
raction de Zh HAWWS dans cet article
est rassurante :
Egypt boasts almost one-third of the
worlds historical sites. Rather than a blessing in
the form of easy tourism revenues, the sheer
amount of archaeological sites and relics has
proven to be a curse for the government. An
opposition newspaper reported that the government
has spent millions trying to protect the countrys
heritage, but despite this, every year large quantities
of antiquity pieces are stolen and smuggled abroad.
Protecting the piles of antiquity pieces heaped in
old store-houses nationwide requires funds the
government is unable to provide, Al-Ahrar paper
quoted an antiquities expert as saying.
Experts said foreigners in Egypt as part of
archaeological missions were part of the problem.
Some of these foreign workers were taking
advantage of inadequate security at archaeological
sites to loot them of their treasures. International
crime syndicates are masterminding smuggling
operations in Egypt, said Ahmed EL-SAWI, former
dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at a university
in Sohag. But unintentionally, we make their task
very easy. SAWI explained that Egyptian law
imposes very light punishment on people caught
smuggling antiquities pieces, and smugglers are
lured into the operations by the promise of huge
profits. Dismal security at antiquities sites makes it
easy for these smugglers to loot warehouses in
which artefacts are stored.
Antiquities are piled in heaps in old and
unprotected store-houses, and the number of
guards at historical sites is not enough to prevent
gangs from looting them, he said. SAWI said the
system of registeraing antiquities unearthed by
foreign missions operating in Egypt is outdated.
The problem of antiquities smuggling is complex
and its solution needs coordination between
security forces, the Ministry of Culture and the
Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA), he
stressed.
Although several international treaties can
help to secure the return of stolen antiquities, Egypt
does not fully benefit from these treaties. The
problem is not the treaties. It is the outdate
registration system, which does not adequately
prove the ownership of the stolen piece, SAWI said.
To secure the return of a smuggled item you must
have a fully-detailed registration record, including
all the specifications of the piece. It is not enough
to prove that the stolen piece is Pharaonic to give
Egypt the right to claim it. SCA sources said
Egyptian anti-smuggling legislation, issued in 1983,
does not discourage smugglers. It only gives a
seven-year sentence and a line of LE50,000 to
antiquities thieves and smugglers, the sources
said.
Zahi HAWASS, head of the Giza
Antiquities Department, dismissed reports that
foreign missions were behind the thriving theft of
Egyptian antiquities. Most foreigners in charge of
these missions are true archaeologists and experts
who would never commit such a crime. In any case,
only a very limited number of foreign missions
could be involved in this ordeal, he said. HAWASS
stressed the importance of upgrading security
systems to protect priceless antiquities and
historical sites. The protection of these sites is
assigned to old guards armed with canes who
receive just LE150 per month. How can these
untrained and uneducated guards protect our
history? he wondered. We need huge funds,
trained security personnel and modern technologies
to protect historical sites and warehouses nation-
wide. This task needs full support from the State,
he said. (Lax security makes antiquity smuggling
easy game, The Egyptian Gazette du 25 dcembre
2001. Voir galement Un gang international entre
Londres, New York et Le Caire, khir Sa du 22
aot; tif A L-KLN, Dcouverte de quatre
pices archologiques voles par le conseiller de
KLINTON, Ruz al-Ysuf du 25 aot; Manl AL-
GHAMR, Les Antiquits gyptiennes devant les
tribunaux amricains!, al-Ahrm du 8 dcembre;
Ahmad ABD AL-HD, Une mafia internationale
pour le vol des Antiquits gyptiennes, al-Ahrr
du 22 dcembre ; Ahmad ABD AL- HD,
Nouveaux scandales dans le vol des Antiquits,
al-Ahrr du 24 dcembre).
Enfin, soulignons que les vols et les saisies
de pices archologiques constituent, hlas,
des rubriques permanentes dans la presse
gyptienne. Recenser tous les pillages
survenus au cours du semestre devient donc
une mission impossible. Ce quil faut retenir,
par contre, quoutre les trafiquants
professionnels, cette activit illgale et fort
lucrative touche presque toutes les
catgories socioprofessionnelles: du
proviseur de lyce au paysan analphabte,
du riche banquier au chmeur SDF.
Lorsquils ne jouent pas les complices, ce
sont mme des reprsentants des forces de
scurit, des douaniers, voire du personnel
du CSA qui, dans nombre de cas, en sont les
auteurs ! Pour appuyer ces observations,
voici un inventaire non exhaustif dress par
le quotidien al-Ahrr :
Di x pi ces ar chol ogi ques
exceptionnelles et une quantit de monnaies
antiques saisies Miny chez un agriculteur et deux
fonctionnaires.
Un grand nombre de statues rares et de
pices de monnaie, de perles et de scarabes en or
saisis chez un agriculteur.
Cent pices remontant aux poques
islamique et copte et la famille de Muhammad
AL saisies chez un commerant. Celui-ci a avou
66
avoir touch vingt millions de dollars pour les
passer en contrebande aux tats-Unis.
145 pices archologiques saisies sur un
chmeur dAlexandrie.
Mille pices de monnaie grco-romaines
saisies chez un plombier Ban Suwayf.
Quatre statues datant de la V
e
et de la VI
e
dynasties dcouvertes par un agriculteur lors de
fouilles clandestines dans la zone archologique de
Fayym.
47 monnaies en or dpoque grco-
romaine saisies chez un boucher Fayym.
Une statue antique saisie sur un tudiant
et deux chmeurs qui tentaient de la vendre.
Quinze pices remontant aux poques
pharaonique, grecque et romaine saisies en
possession dun gardien Muhandisn.
180 pices de monnaies en or dpoque
grco-romaine saisies chez un cafetier Khalfa.
1282 pices de monnaie ainsi que des
antiquits copte et byzantine saisies chez un
proviseur de lyce et un chauffeur Alexandrie.
19 statues antiques saisies chez un
receleur Gza.
95 pices antiques comprenant une
collection en albtre saisies chez un agriculteur et
son ami qui tentaient de les revendre un million
de Livres un receleur du Sallm.
Une statuette de Ramss II saisie chez un
coiffeur Mansra.
Douze statues antiques saisies chez des
agriculteurs Gza.
40 pices archologiques dpoque
grco-romaine saisies chez un chauffeur
Alexandrie. (Ahmad ABD AL-HD, Les mafias
internationales avouent le vol des Antiquits
gyptiennes, al-Ahrr du 23 dcembre).
-
- -
Antiquits gyptiennes
The Egyptian Gazette dvoile une
disparition mystrieuse :
The find made in 1898 at a tomb near
Saqqara affirmed that the ancient Egyptians were
the first to know aviation. A small bird-like wooden
model was found and displayed at the Egyptian
Museum in the department of bird skeletons. Half a
century after the find was made, it was noticed that
the body was different from that of birds. The
wings and tail were found to be straight and there
were no legs. The body was subjected to thorough
examination revealing that a hieroglyphic sign was
inscribed reading the gift of Amon. Amon in
ancient Egypt was the god of wind and air.
In 1972 it became quite clear that the
wooden piece which weighs 39,12 grams and of a
total length, including the tail, of 14 cm was the
first model of the first plane ever known by man.
Moreover, three papyri were found bearing
hieroglyphic phrases meaning I wish to fly. In
order to preserve this unique model one of the
former museum curators moved it to an iron safe.
But strangely enough, as Kamal NAGUIB wrote in
an Arabic newspaper, the model has recently
appeared in Vienna! The model is actually
displayed in the Austrian capital in an exhibition
opened two months ago and is to run until the end
of September entitled The Unsolved Mystery. Mr
NAGUIB relates that the model is exhibited with a
card denoting that it was discovered by Khalil
MESIHA in 1972.
How did the artifact disappear from room
n
o
22 at the second floor of the Egyptian Museum?
How did such a rare item find its way to Europe?
This is a question that needs to be answered by the
Minister of Culture, Faruk HOSNI. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Mysterious model of bird denotes ancient
Egyptians may have known aviation, The
Egyptian Gazette du 16 aot 2001).
Il est noter que cet article publi par le
quotidien anglophone nest quune
traduction littrale dun autre article paru
une semaine plus tt, sous la plume de
Guma AB AL-NL, dans le quotidien
officiel al-Ahrm sous le titre Les pharaons
et le premier avion connu par lhomme.
Larticle originel a juste prsent cet
tonnant modle rduit, sans jamais parler
de vol ou de disparition. Lon se demande
donc do The Egyptian Gazette a tir ses
informations !
- - -
Muhammad HFIZ, fonctionnaire de 45
ans, originaire de Bansweif a t arrt pour recel
et trafic dAntiquits. Il tentait de revendre un
chapiteau de colonne 60 x 60 cm en calcaire
remontant lpoque grco-romaine, ainsi quune
base de colonne en marbre datant de lpoque
copte. (Ftima A L-DUSQ, Un fonctionnaire
dfr la justice pour recel et trafic dAntiquits ,
al-Ahrm du 10 juillet).
La police du Tourisme et des Antiquits a
arrt trois chmeurs en possession dune quantit
de pices archologiques remontant aux diffrentes
poques, provenant de fouilles clandestines dans le
Fayym Imd IBRHM, 23 ans; Ayman DIL,
26 ans et Smir ISMAT, 24 ans, sapprtaient
vendre leur butin un trafiquant. Il sagit dune
collection exceptionnelle de pices composes
douchebtis, dune grande statue de chat noir
pharaonique, dustensiles en cuivre et en
cramique, ainsi que de quelques pices de monnaie
67
en argent. (Manl AL-GHAMR, Arrestation de trois
chmeurs tentant de vendre une collection de pices
archologiques pour dix mille Livres, al-Ahrm du
8 aot 2001).
Dans un barrage routier al-Ayyt, la
police de Gza est parvenu saisir six statues
pharaoniques en or pur, suite larrestation dun
chauffeur. Le prvenu a avou sen tre empar par
le biais de fouilles clandestines dans la zone
archologique dAsyt. (Muhammad SHAMRKH,
Arrestation dun chauffeur en possession de six
statues archologiques en or, al-Ahrm du 5
octobre 2001).
Le Parquet dal-Dakhla a ordonn la
confiscation dune villa situe al-Bitsh et dune
collection exceptionnelle de pices antiques
dcouvertes par le propritaire de la villa, qui est le
fils dun grand banquier. Lors du creusement dune
piscine dans sa proprit, laccus a mis au jour un
portail antique et des passages souterrains
conduisant la tombe dun gouverneur alexandrin
dpoque romaine. Avec laide dun complice,
laccus a fait une excavation de 700 m
2
sur une
profondeur de 8 m. Ils y ont trouv des
sarcophages, une statue dun cavalier sur son
cheval, une autre reprsentant une divinit romaine,
huit poteries dcores ainsi quune collection de
pices de monnaie. (Ashraf SHARAF, Saisie dun
trsor archologique dans la villa du fils dun grand
banquier, al-Akhbr du 5 octobre).
Arrestation Sharqiyya dInn
Muhammad ABDALLAH, 46 ans, comptable dans
lducation nationale, en possession de neuf
ouchebtis et de trois poteries remontant lpoque
pharaonique. (Sulaymn SBIT, Arrestation dun
comptable pour trafic dAntiquits, al-Wafd du 7
octobre ; San ANN, Saisie dAntiquits
pharaoniques dans le domicile dun comptable de
lducation nationale, al-Akhbr du 10 octobre).
La police a attir dans un guet-apens
Khlid d HUSAYN, 26 ans, originaire de
Badrashn. Cet ouvrier du btiment dtenait un
trsor inapprciable : 60 monnaies en bronze, 10
bagues en faence bleue et en pierres prcieuses, 3
poteries, une coupe en cramique dcore de 8 cm
de hauteur, 8 statuettes en bois reprsentant des
personnages agenouills et debout, 4 pots Khl, 2
statues corps humains et ttes danimaux, 4
autres statues dcores de motifs floraux, une statue
en calcaire de sphinx tte de blier, une statue
fminine en albtre, un bas-relief en pierre figurant
des personnages, des oiseaux et des animaux, 15
ouchebt i s en position osirienne. (Manl AL-
GHAMR, Arrestation dun ouvrier de Badrashn
qui tentait de vendre des pices antiques pour 250
mille Livres un inspecteur de police, al-Ahrm
du 9 octobre).
Arrestation Daqahliyya de Muhammad
Nagh ABDALLAH, 32 ans, ouvrier de Bahariyya et
de son complice, Ysir Gd HANAF, 31 ans,
originaire de Girg, en possession de deux
statuettes pharaoniques, de trois scarabes et de
quatre perles damulettes. (Hzim NASR, Des
divinits pharaoniques pour 50 milles Livres
Daqahliyya, al-Akhbr du 16 octobre).
Une statuette inscrite de 55 cm
reprsentant Ramss II a t saisie par les policiers
chez un trafiquant dAswn, Ab al-Hasan
MUHAMAMD, alors quil tentait de la revendre au
Caire. (Wahd SHABN, chec dune tentative de
passer en fraude une statue de Ramss II, al-Wafd
du 11 novembre).
Ahmad HASAN, 53 ans, chauffeur ;
Ragab ISML, 49 ans, herboriste ; Ramadn SILM,
50 ans, ouvrier ; Slim AL, 60 ans, ouvrier ;
Shihta MASD, 34 ans, ouvrier et Awad D, 60
ans, ouvrier ont t arrts par la police dans une
zone montagneuse de la mer Rouge, en possession
dexplosifs et de matriel de fouilles. Commandits
par un homme daffaires dnomm Samr
MAHMD, les six accuss entreprennent des fouilles
archologiques clandestines lexplosif. Informs
par des archologues professionnels de la prsence
dAntiquits dans ce secteur, ils ont fait un trou de
cinq mtres de large sur 15 mtres de profondeur.
(tif FRQ, Jugement dun homme daffaires et
de six complices pour fouilles clandestines, al-
Ahrr du 12 novembre ; Khadga AFF, Fouilles
archologiques la dynamite, al-Akhbr du 12
novembre).
La Police du Tourisme et des Antiquits
a arrt Abd al-Alm AHMAD, un agriculteur, et
ses deux complices Sayyid Mahmd ABD AL-
HAL M et Tmir Ahmad GHUNAYM. Les trois
prvenus avaient men des fouilles clandestines
sous une maison situe en bordure de la zone
archologique Bahariya. Ils y avaient dcouvert et
pill une tombe datant de la XXVI
e
dynastie,
compose de deux chambres funraires et dune
entre. (Hann BAKR, Arrestation dun
agriculteur de Bahariyya, al - Ahrm du 18
novembre).
Une perquisition au domicile dAhmad
Hamd SULAYMN, agriculteur al-Ayyt, a
permis de retrouver douze statuettes pharaoniques.
(Khlid GDA, Saisie de douze statuettes antiques
au domicile dun agriculteur dal-Ayyt, al-
Ahrm du 20 novembre).
La police de Gza a mis en examen trois
cultivateurs en flagrant dlit de vente dAntiquits
gyptiennes provenant de la zone archologique du
Fayym. Ont t saisies une collection de statues
antiques datant de la XV
e
dynastie, ainsi quune
statuette exceptionnelle en granite reprsentant un
scribe. (Muhammad SHMN, Arrestation de trois
68
cultivateurs qui tentaient de vendre une collection
de statues antiques, al-Ahrm du 27 novembre).
Sayyid Muhammad ABD AL-GAWWD,
40 ans, fonctionnaire ; Abd al-Alm Muhammad
ABD AL-GAWWD, 23 ans, ouvrier ; et Tmir
Muhammad AB GHUNAYMA, 19 ans, ouvrier, ont
t inculps par la police de Gza de vol et de trafic
dAntiquits. Fouillant clandestinement dans une
zone archologique des oasis, ils y ont dcouvert et
saccag une tombe appartenant la XXVI
e
dynastie
contenant des sarcophages et des squelettes.
(Mamdh HASAN, Arrestation dun fonctionnaire
et de deux ouvriers pour fouilles clandestines, al-
Wafd du 29 novembre).
La perquisition dun entrept appartenant
un antiquaire dAlexandrie a conduit les policiers
la dcouverte de 308 pices archologiques
remontant aux poques pharaonique et grco-
romaine. (Manl AL-GHAMR, Arrestation dun
antiquaire alexandrin ayant cach 308 pices
antiques, al-Ahrm du 2 dcembre).
Une statue royale datant de la XXVI
e
dynastie a t saisie par la police du Tourisme de
Port Sad. Un commerant de Damiette, dnomm
Bad ABD AL-GALL, tentait de vendre pour 250
mille dollars cette statue vole dune tombe
Louqsor. (Nabl A L-TAFHAN, chec dune
tentative de contrebande dune statue pharaonique,
al-Akhbr du 13 dcembre).
Mise en examen de Rab AHMAD,
propritaire dun restaurant touristique Dayr
Mawws Miny, connu pour recel dAntiquits.
Les policiers ont saisi : 132 ouchebtis, 18 statuettes
pharaoniques en bois, une statue en calcaire de 30
cm sur son socle portant au dos le nom de Ramss
II, un bas-relief en calcaire reprsentant un pharaon
faisant des offrandes Isis, sept grands scarabes et
six statuettes danimaux et doiseaux. (Manl AL-
GHAMR, Saisie de 175 pices archologiques
rares chez un citoyen qui tentait de les vendre pour
500 mille Livres, al-Ahrm du 16 dcembre).
Lors du creusement des fondations de sa
maison dans la Nouvelle Valle, un menuisier
dnomm Kaml MUSTAFA y a dcouvert quelques
pices antiques quil a tent de revendre. Il sagit de
quatre statuettes en calcaire, en basalte color, en
granite et en marbre, ainsi que de cinquante
scarabes et de pices de monnaie. (Manl AL-
GHAMR, Saisie de quatre statuettes antiques dans
la Nouvelle Valle, al-Ahrm du 24 dcembre).
-
- -
Antiquits islamiques
Egyptian antiquities police have arrested
three people caught digging for medieval treasures
in the bedrooms of two ground floor apartments in
Islamic Cairo, newspapers reported Thursday. A six
metre (20-feet) deep hole excavated under the Darb
al-Ahmar district building revealed two
underground chambers and some 20 pottery
artefacts dating to the Mameluke period (1250-
1517), Al-Akhbar newspaper reported. A neighbour
alerted the police fearing structural damage to the
building, Al-Ahram newspaper said. The owners of
the two apartments were on the run after the police
raid, wanted for unauthorised digging for
antiquities.
Another four metre-deep hole excavated
under the neighbouring apartment revealed another
10 pieces of pottery and a large limestone rock
covered with engravings and drawings, also from
the period when the Mameluke sultans ruled.
(Cairenes arrested for digging for treasure in
bedrooms, Middle East Times du 7 septembre
2001. Voir galement Rag AL-NIMR, Arrestation
de deux familles fouillant clandestinement sous leur
maison al-Darb al-Ahmar, al-Akhbr du 6
septembre ; Ftima AL-DUSQ, Arrestation de
trois ouvriers en train de fouiller sous une maison
al-Darb al-Ahmar la recherche dun trsor
archologique, al-Ahrm du 6 septembre).
-
- -
Restitutions
Chaque fois que lgypte rcupre une pice
archologique vole ltranger, cest
toujours une liesse gnrale. La presse arabe
saisit souvent cette occasion pour ouvrir le
dossier pineux du trafic des Antiquits. Elle
sinterroge sur lefficacit de la lgislation
en cours, sur les mille-et-un moyens lgaux
(dons, cadeaux diplomatiques, partages avec
les missions archologiques trangres) et
illgaux (recels, fouilles clandestines,
guerres gypto-israliennes) qui irriguent
cette hmorragie patrimoniale. (Ahmad AL-
NAGM, Les savants rclament une liste
dtaille de nos Antiquits voles
ltranger !, al-Musawwar du 12 octobre
2001).
Une stle de la XIX
e
dynastie, une statue
de Nfertari, la tte de la desse Sekhmet, des
papyrus Ces derniers mois, de nombreuses pices
antiques sorties illgalement dgypte sont
revenues au pays. Derrire chaque pice, il y a une
histoire ou plutt un procs et une affaire de
contrebande. Parfois, comme cest le cas pour cette
sculpture reprsentant la femme de Sthi I
er
allaitant
son enfant, ce sont des institutions trangres qui,
de plein gr, ont restitu ces objets une fois avr
69
quils taient sortis en fraude. Ainsi, le
MetropoIitan Museum de New York a rendu cette
pice sortie dgypte il y a une soixantaine
dannes. Elle avait t vole dans la rgion des
Pyramides. Cette gravure mesurant 49x31 cm, est
accompagne de deux mots en hiroglyphes: Sthi
I
er
et Lait.
Pour le secrtaire gnral du HCA (Haut
Conseil des Antiquits) Gaballah Ali GABALLAH,
ce retour est trs encourageant dans la mesure o il
concerne un objet vol il y a trs longtemps
lorsquil nexistait pas de lgislation pour combattre
le trafic des biens culturels. Il affirme dans la foule
que lgypte continuera ses efforts, avec la
coopration des autorits dans divers pays pour
rcuprer ses pices. Lgypte travaille
actuellement sur plusieurs dossiers. Lun des plus
importants est celui de Londres. Ce procs, qui a
commenc en 1996 et qui continue, est lun des plus
grands que lgypte ait connus dans le domaine des
Antiquits. Le procs est assez complexe et il nous a
fallu un grand effort pour pouvoir ramener des
pices en gypte. Dautres attendent encore,
indique le conseiller Ossama SARAYA, responsable
du service du contentieux au HCA.
Laffaire a commenc en 1996 quand les
responsables du British Museum ont inform le
HCA quun homme leur a propos destimer des
papyrus, alors il sest avr que ctaient des pices
authentiques. Et ctait la personne mme qui
stait empare de ces objets qui voulait sassurer
de leur caractre original. Ces papyrus ont permis
de dcouvrir un trafic dAntiquits et par la suite
trouver le reste des pices voles. Ce qui a facilit
linstruction, cest que les pices quon a trouves
provenaient toutes de la mme tombe, celle de
Hotep-Ka Saqqara. Elles avaient t prises dans
un entrept. Il y avait des pices enregistres
auprs du HCA et dautres non, mme ces
dernires on a russi les rcuprer parce quon a
pu prouver quelles appartenaient toutes la mme
tombe, raconte-t-il.
Le problme majeur quaffrontent les
autorits gyptiennes dans ce genre de procs est de
pouvoir prciser la date de la sortie des pices
dgypte. Si la pice est sortie avant la signature
de la charte de lUnesco de 1970 sur le retour des
biens culturels, lgypte na pas le droit den
revendiquer le retour. En fait, prciser la date
semble trs souvent impossible. Dans le cadre de ce
procs, lgypte a russi rcuprer quelques
pices importantes, mais il reste encore notamment
une tte dAmenhotep.
Le grand procs de Londres nest pas le
seul. Il a en fait entran un autre tout aussi
important, savoir celui de George SHULTZ aux
tats-Unis. Lors de linstruction du procs de
Londres, le nom de SHULTZ a t cit plus dune
reprise. Le gouvernement gyptien a alors intent
un procs. Son importance ne rside pas tant dans la
valeur des pices retrouves que dans la personne
mme du trafiquant. Ce dernier est le prsident de
lAssociation du commerce des antiquits de New
York et le propritaire de la plus grande salle de
ventes dAntiquits gyptiennes aux tats-Unis. Du
temps du prsident CLINTON, il jouait le rle de
conseiller pour les Antiquits auprs de la Maison-
Blanche et du Congrs, affirme Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, secrtaire gnral du HCA. Un e
personne dune telle importance et influence est
trs dangereuse, continue-t-il. Ce SHULTZ est un
vritable aventurier qui se serait empar de pices
en provenance de Bni-Souef et de Minya, contre
de largent dont ils se servaient pour acheter des
armes, renchrit GABALLAH. Daprs lui, une
condamnation de SHULTLZ aura des consquences
importantes. SHUTLZ est lun des plus grands
trafiquants dAntiquits aux Etats-Unis. Il a de trs
bons contacts avec les pays europens. En fait, il
devrait se prsenter devant la justice amricaine la
mi-octobre prochaine. Si on obtient gain de cause,
on pourra rclamer galement louverture de
caisses entires quil a entreposes laroport de
Zurich et qui seraient pleines de pices matresses.
En effet, les artefacts gyptiens se trouvent
dans les quatre coins du monde. Dans tous les
grands muses il y a un pavillon spcial consacr
aux Antiquits gyptiennes, Londres, Paris et
Amsterdam. La plupart de ces pices sont rentres
dans ces pays soit durant les priodes doccupation
trangre du pays, soit quand la loi lgalisait la
vente des Antiquits, reprend GABALLAH. Les
rcuprer aujourdhui semble impossible puisque le
plus souvent ces pices sont sorties du pays de
faon lgale. Et il ne faut pas oublier que la
ngligence des autorits gyptiennes est aussi cause
de perte dobjets.
Dans les muses de Chicago et de Berlin,
par exemple, se trouvent des pices qui sont sorties
du pays pour des recherches et ne sont plus
revenues. Le couvercle de la tombe de Smenekh-
Ka-Ra dcouvert en 1912 a t envoy Berlin
pour y effectuer des travaux de restauration et nest
jamais revenu. Et actuellement, le pays dploie des
efforts normes pour le rcuprer. Il en est de
mme pour les plantes de Toutankhamon qui ont t
prtes au jardin botanique de Londres en tant
quobjet dtudes en 1939, mais ne sont jamais
revenues et personne na demand leur retour,
sindigne Ahmad SALEH, directeur du muse de la
momification de Louqsor. Cest dire limportance
des procs en cours qui devraient permettre de
rcuprer des pices importantes et de conscientiser
les autorits occidentales. Mais le chemin du retour
est long et sem dembches pour les Antiquits
(Hala FARES, Lent et difficile retour au pays, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 26 septembre 2001. Voir
galement Hala FARES, Trois questions Ahmad
AL-SAWI, ex-secrtaire gnral du HCA, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 26 septembre).
70
-
- -
The Metropolitan Museum
Bas-relief de Sthi 1
er
An inscribed limestone relief exhibited at
the Metropolitan Museum has returned home 30
years after it was smuggled out of Egypt. This
summer is turning out to be a lucky season for
Egypt and its heritage. Eight days after retrieving a
limestone effigy of Nefertari, antiquities officials
were celebrating the recovery of a 19
th
-dynasty
relief stolen more than three decades ago from a
temple in Mit Rahina, six miles south of Giza. The
artefact, which is 49cm high and 31cm wide,
depicts an unidentified goddess breast feeding the
Pharaoh Seti I, the father of Ramses II.
It is a very important achievement for
Egypt, said Egypts consul-general Mahmoud
ALLAM, who brought the object back to Egypt last
Saturday. ALLAM extended his sincere appreciation
to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for their great
effort which, he said, would set a model of
exemplary cooperation in preserving the cultural
heritage of Egypt. Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA) secretary-general Gaballa Ali GABALLA told
Al-Ahram Weekly: I am overjoyed to be holding
the relief in my hands. I feel that my baby has
returned to me after being lost for many years. He
said the relief was originally part of a larger
representation which included, as well as the
goddess, a smaller figure of King Seti I, of which
only the top of the head is preserved in the lower
left-hand corner of the relief slab which is being
returned.
The goddess is bending her head and
shoulders forward; and better-preserved parallel
works show she would have been offering her
breast to the king, who would thus receive divine
nourishment. Hieroglyphs before the face of the
goddess confirm the Pharaohs name. The relief
was owned for many years by Mrs Richard
ROGERS, the wife of the American composer. It was
sold to another private collector on 22 May 1981 at
a Sothebys sale of Fine Classical, Near Eastern
and Egyptian antiquities. The current owner, who
inherited the piece from the Sothebys purchaser,
loaned it to the Metropolitan in June 1996. The
relief was placed on display at the museums
Egyptian art gallery until, in April this year, and
quite by chance, Jacobus VAN DIJK, a Dutch
Egyptologist with a special interest and expertise in
the ancient Memphis monuments, recognised the
relief. On examining it, VAN DIJK remembered that
he had seen it before in the decorated chapel of Seti
I at Memphis.
After his return to the Netherlands, he
confirmed this impression by referring to the papers
read at a conference held in Paris in 1986, and
published in 1988 under the title Memphis et ses
ncropoles au Nouvel Empire: nouvelles donnes,
nouvelles questions. After VAN DIJK had discussed
his find with other colleagues, steps were taken to
notify the Egyptian authorities. The museum
purchased the piece from its current owner, took
official possession of the relief and returned it
promptly and unencumbered to Egypt. This case is
another scene of friendship and cooperation
between Egypt and the Metropolitan museum,
GABALLA told the Weekly. He mentioned that, in
1978, the museum had returned to Egypt an
important piece of ancient art called Talatat of
Thebes after proving that it had been taken three
years earlier from a storeroom in Karnak. (Nevine
EL-AREF, The Pharaohs divine nourishment, Al-
Ahram Weekly du 9 aot 2001. Voir galement
Plan de prservation du patrimoine historique, Le
Progrs gyptien du 24 juillet; N.Y. museum
returns ancient engraving to Egypt, Middle East
Times du 3 aot 2001; Hassan SAADALLAH,
Lgypte rcupre aux tats-Unis une sculpture
pharaonique, Le Progrs gyptien du 5 aot;
Mushra MSA, Le Metropolitan Museum restitue
lgypte un bas-relief exceptionnel, al-Ahrm du
5 aot).
-
- -
Muse gyptien de Munich
Sarcophage dAkhenaton
La dcouverte, parmi les collections du
Muse gyptien de Munich, de la base du
sarcophage dAkhenaton (KV 55), vole du
Muse gyptien du Caire entre 1915 et 1930,
a provoqu un grand scandale qui a
clabouss de grands noms de lgyptologie
allemande. Aprs avoir tent vainement de
la troquer contre dautres pices
archologiques, le Muse de Munich a,
enfin, accept de restituer cette pice
archologique lgypte :
Dans le cadre de la coopration culturelle
entre lgypte et lAllemagne, le Chancelier
bavarois a inaugur une exposition dAntiquits
gyptiennes organise Munich. 5500 visiteurs sy
sont rendus au cours des deux premires semaines
de lexhibition. Celle-ci regroupe le sarcophage
pharaonique en or dcouvert en 1905. Pour la
premire fois, le couvercle de ce sarcophage,
expos sparment au Muse gyptien du Caire, a
t runi sa base lors de cette exposition. Les
deux pices retourneront ensuite au Caire au dbut
de lanne prochaine. La base du sarcophage a t
restaure Munich. La dcision de la restituer
lgypte a t annonce au cours de la visite du
71
Chancelier bavarois en gypte en mai dernier.
(Ashraf MUFD, LAllemagne restitue lgypte
en janvier prochain le sarcophage pharaonique en
or, al-Ahrm du 4 novembre 2001. Voir galement
Mushra MSA, Le sarcophage dAkhenaton
retourna dAllemagneaprs un demi-sicle
dabsence, al -Ahrm du 2 septembre ; Ng
ABBS, Le gouvernement allemand refuse la
restitution des Antiquits gyptiennes voles, al-
Wafd du 2 septembre).
-
- -
Grande-Bretagne
Buste de Meret
Egyptian officials proudly announced the
return of a granite head belonging to a Pharaonic
queen, which was stolen in 1992. Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, secretary general of the Supreme
Council of Antiquities, said at a press conference at
Cairo International Airport on July 28, on his return
from London, that the British police authorities had
handed him the stolen bust, believed to be the
likeness of princess Meret from the 19
th
dynasty or
of Queen Nefertiti, wife of Ramses II.
The return of the stolen statue gave an
important boost to the Supreme Council of
Antiquities (SCA), which had suffered
embarrassment when a number of its staff members
were convicted of belonging to a major smuggling
ring in 1997. Nine Egyptians were sentenced to
between five and 15 years of hard labor. A British
art restorer was also sentenced in connection with
the case. Jonathan TOKELEY-PARRY is serving six
years in a British prison for his participation in the
smuggling ring.
The gang was responsible for the theft of
the statue, along with other artifacts, from a storage
area near Saqqara. According to GABALLAH, the
thieves managed to sneak the statue out of the
country by coating it with a mask of cement that
made it appear to be a modern replica. To be
smuggled out of Egypt, the head was faked so that it
would look modern, it would look as if it was a
replica. But of course that was proven wrong,
GABALLAH told reporters. The authenticity of the
head was discovered after being tested by staff at
the British Museum in London.
The statues return follows a number of
other artifacts that were returned in 1999. However,
the SCA believes that many other items remain at
large with a significant number in Switzerland and
the United States. Scotland Yard, Britains top
investigative police unit, played an important role
in locating the head. GABALLAH said that Egypt
was also working with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) to recover items from America.
(Tariq HASSAN-GORDON, Stolen stone head
brought back to Egypt, Middle East Times du 3
aot 2001. Voir galement Amil KHAN, Egypt
recovers smuggled antiquities from Britain,
Middle East Times du 27 juillet; Ahmad MASD,
Le buste de Meret retourne dans les bras de la
patrie!, al-Ahrm du 29 juillet; Diy ABD AL-
HAMD, La belle gyptiennequi est de retour!,
khir Sa du 1
er
aot).
-
- -
-
6. Recherches & Dcouvertes
Sil recueille lapprobation des responsables
du CSA, le travail formidable et difficile
entrepris par les nombreuses missions
archologiques trangres en gypte nest
pas toujours reconnus sa juste valeur par la
presse nationale :
Throughout the 19
th
century, thousands of
Western missions arrived in Egypt. Their declared
aim was to excavate Egyptian monuments and
historical sites. But many of them have robbed
Egypt of priceless treasures. Since Mohammad ALI
became Egypts ruler and started to recruit foreign
experts to help modernise it, a large number of
foreign adventurers have flocked to Egypt. Some of
them held senior posts as consuls or representatives
of European countries in Egypt. However, they
misused their posts and orchestrated numerous
lootings of historical sites and ancient tombs.
According to al-Musawwar Arabic weekly
magazine, most artefacts currently on display in
Europes prestigious museums and galleries had
been illegally taken from Egypt. Later, a law was
enforced to give the foreign excavation mission 50
per cent from its archaeological finds while the
remaining 50 per cent was kept in the Egyptian
museum. Foreign excavation missions also denied
their Egyptian assistants any expertise. So, it took
Egyptians a long time before they managed to
develop their own school of Egyptology. Ahmed
Pasha KAMAL and his student Selim HASSAN
cooperated with real foreign excavators to launch
the countrys school of Egyptology.
Although a large number of foreign
archaeological missions are currently working in
Egypt, their work usually draws mixed reaction.
Opponents of foreign excavators argue that they
rarely add new experience to their Egyptian aides.
Some expeditions, according to critics, use
72
inappropriate methods of excavation or restoration
which pose risks to the archaeological sites.
Officials, meanwhile, usually pay tribute
to the role played by foreign missions in unearthing
the countrys most invaluable artefacts and
monuments. The French top the list of foreign
excavators in Egypt. French teams have also been
linked with the most significant finds in Egypt over
the past years. A French team, led by Franck
GODDI O, earlier this year discovered priceless
sunken antiquities off the Mediterranean sea coast
in Alexandria. The find cost LE 2 million covered
by the French side.
Gaballah Ah GABALLAH, the chief of
Egypts Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA)
said that the Government imposes strict regulations
on the work of foreign missions in Egypt. He added
that foreign missions might include archaeologists,
restorers, photographers, geologists, anthropologists
and even security personnel. A mission can even
consist of only two members. Sometimes a scholar
and a photographer can be treated as an
archaeological mission, he told the magazine.
While we impose strict regulations, we understand
that we are dealing with archaeologists and
experts, not thieves. They also realise that we would
not tolerate any mistake. Asked about the
regulations, GABALLAH said that each member of
the team should submit a detailed CV, They
should prove they have enough experience. Besides,
they should submit a detailed report on the project
they are seeking to carry out in Egypt, he said.
The Archaeology Committee then studies this
report. After giving an initial approval, the SCA
submits the report to national security agencies
which give the final approval. The final contract we
sign with the team includes strict conditions to
protect Egypts rights. He added that the SCA
sends inspectors to regularly inspect the work of
these missions.
Mohammed EL-SAGHIER, the ex-chief of
the Pharaonic Antiquities Sector at the SCA, said
that Germans come second after the French on the
list of the foreign teams working in Egypt. The
Germans work in Abidous, Dahshour, Aswan and
Siwa, he said. They are followed by the
Americans who mainly work in restoring sites in
Fatimid Cairo, SAGHIER said, estimating the
number of foreign missions working in Egypt at
120. None of these missions are paid by Egypt,
They depend on self-finance. We only pay for
missions which come to Egypt under cooperation
pacts such as the Polish expedition, he said. He
added that the SCA never hesitates to take action
against violators of their contract terms. Once a
Belgian team cut short their excavation mission and
left without informing us or reporting about the
results of their work. The next year they sought a
new permit to resume their work but we refused,
SAGHIER said.
GABALLAH said that the SCA cancels the
contract as soon as it discovers violation on the part
of the other side. But sometimes, the finds they dig
out are disintegrated or broken. What can we do to
them in this case? he said. The foreign missions
have rendered Egypt great services and carried out
works throughout the nation, he said. SAGHIER
also highlighted the glories accomplished by
foreign missions in Egypt. The Austrian mission
working in eastern Delta has discovered the ruins
of an entire city dating back to the Hyksos times.
The Germany mission working in Sharkia used
radar equipment to discover the second capital
built by Ramsis II, he said.
But Mokhtar EL-KASABANI, a professor of
culture and Islamic archaeology at Cairo
University, said foreign missions had many
disadvantages. For example, the American mission
working to overhaul Sabil (fountain) Nafisa al-
Baida in Fatimid Cairo changed the face of the site
entirely and it can no longer be regarded as a
historical site, he said. A French team working in
Karnak, he continued, used electric saws to cut
parts of the temple. When the site official brought
this catastrophe to the attention of the press, she
was suspended, he said. Before that, tens of
mistakes have been made, but no one acted. The
SCA appointed illiterate watchmen to inspect the
work of these missions, he said.
Alaa EL-MANSHAWI, an archaeologist, said
that Egyptians assistants rarely benefit from these
missions. He added that Egyptian archaeologists
appointed to accompany these missions can never
object to their practices. Some of them face the
temptation of overlooking these violations in return
for a scholarship abroad, he said.
But GABALLAH strongly defended his men.
Even if two or three inspectors, were found guilty,
this does not mean that all of them are corrupt. He
also dismissed accusations about improper
restoration methods conducted by these missions.
The Sabil Nafisa al-Bida was accurately
overhauled. The mistakes committed in Karnak was
not the responsibility of the French team, he said.
He added that many Egyptian teams work hard in
excavation missions but do not enjoy media
limelight. Actually it is their mistakes. They do not
publish their finds in specialised periodicals.
GABALLAH said. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Foreign
archaeological mission draws mixed reaction, The
Egyptian Gazette du 21 aot 2001; Ahmad A L-
NAGM, Mais que font 120 missions
archologiques trangres sur notre territoire?, al-
Musawwar du 17 aot).
- - -
Le Middle East Times publie un article
intressant dans lequel certains archologues
remettent en question la rputation
73
lgendaire acquise par les ouvriers de Qift
sur les chantiers archologiques:
For generations, an obscure, ancient
village in southern Egypt has sent its sons to
uncover history buried under fields, in tombs and
pyramids. The pioneer British Egyptologist Sir
William Flinders PETRIE trained the first villagers
from Guft, some 470 kilometers (290 miles) south
of Cairo, in the 1890s. They have formed the
backbone of my Upper (southern) Egyptian staff,
and I hope that I may keep these good friends so
long as I work anywhere within reach of them,
PETRIE wrote of his excavations in 1896, using the
villages Greek name Koptos.
The men of Guft, or Guftis, soon gained a
reputation as elite field workers and were paid
several times the daily rate of other local labor to
excavate sites of all eras. Now local politics and
sheer economics are making Guftis a luxury some
international researchers find they no longer want
to afford. One senior Egyptologist even thinks they
are yesterdays men, preferring to train others. In
recent years we have come to see they are out of
step with the rest of the archaeological world,
which has moved ahead as they continue to use
techniques one can describe as mid-Victorian,
said Kent WEEKS at the American University in
Cairo. Instead of simply removing sand from
tombs and hoping for museum quality objects, we
are getting a lot more information by studying
animal bones and other things that require a
meticulousness the Guftis dont have, said WEEKS.
Other archaeologists agree, although some
are not as critical. To a certain extent the Guftis
also live on their fame. Not necessarily everyone
from Guft is a well-trained archaeological digger,
said a European research director, who didnt want
to be named. He said he trained his own non-Gufti
dig workers. The increasing tendency of dig
directors to train workers in their own style goes
some way toward explaining why Guftis are no
longer an automatic choice as workmen.
WEEKS, who discovered the Valley of the
Kings burial complex of the sons of Ramses II, who
reigned more then 3,000 years ago, said he had
trained local villagers to work on his sites. It was
easier to start fresh with people who had no
preconceived notion of how a dig should be done,
rather than take the Guftis and have them unlearn
what they had been taught for generations, WEEKS
said. Other pressures make hiring non-Guftis
attractive, including the availability of cheaper local
labor and the tensions 'imported' workmen can
cause. To bring in 50 to 100 Guftis, create for
them a tent city immediately adjacent to local
villages and ignore the local villagers creates an
incredible animosity that has in the past led to
serious troubles, and it is expensive, WEEKS said.
At a government rest house at Saqqaras
ancient step pyramid near Cairo, Abdel Metaal AL
QERETI said Flinders PETRIE had trained his father.
I started working at 11 in 1943. I was the youngest
of five sons doing this and so it is handed over from
father to son, said QERETI , dressed in the
traditional flowing robes and snow-white turban
favored by southern Egyptians. QERETI earned his
title of Bash Rayyes, a chief among chiefs, as he
graduated from hauling dirt baskets to heading
specialist archaeological restoration teams and a
position with Egypts Supreme Antiquities Council,
the government department responsible for ancient
monuments and works. QERETIs clan migrated
north from Guft in his fathers day, following
excavation work, and he still works wherever he is
needed on special assignments.
His nephew, Bash Rayyes Muhammad
Tallal Abdo AL QERETI, who supervises workmen
at digs in the pyramid-strewn Giza Plateau just
south of Cairo, sat near his uncle at Saqqara. Both
men decried the intrusion of non-Guftis into the
trade of specialist archaeological workmen,
warning it was leading to deteriorating standards
and dishonest practices. QERETI said other
workmen were willing to work for as little as E10
($2.50) a day. A qualified Gufti can command a
daily wage of anywhere between E30 and E50.
The Guftis have their staunch defenders.
Donald REDFORD, professor of classics and ancient
Mediterranean studies at Pennsylvania State
University, said he had worked with the same team
of eight Guftis for over 30 years. They are among
the most skilled dirt archaeologists I have ever
encountered They are as familiar as I am with the
usual statigraphic features, REDFORD said,
referring to the historical layers excavators must
differentiate. Daniel POLZ, associate director of the
German Archaeological Institute in Egypt, said
some Guftis were known experts in hill or mound
excavations, and were sought for that kind of work.
REDFORD, who has just ended the latest season of
excavations about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north
of Cairo at the ancient city of Mendes, said he
divided his workforce into groups of seven
comprising one Gufti, two hoe men and four dirt
carriers. Other experts supervise the men.
But REDFORD acknowledges he has
overseen digs involving Egyptian inspectors, local
workmen and Westerners successfully without
Guftis. Even the Qeretis and Guftis living in
southern Egypt said the heyday of Gufti workers
was over and not all Guftis passed on the trade to
their children, as they once had. Bash Rayyes
Muhammad TALLAL confessed his children were
unlikely to follow in his footsteps. He said one of
his sons was working for a degree in archaeology at
Cairo University and the other was probably
heading toward higher education as well. (Mona
MEGALLI , Egypts Guftis lose monopoly as
74
Pharaonic excavators, Middle East Times du 10
aot 2001).
-
- -
Alexandrie & Nord-Ouest
Marsa Matrh
In the west coastal city of Marsa Matruh a
group of Egyptian excavators have unearthed the
remains of a church that dates back to the fourth
and fifth centuries AD of the Byzantine age. The
find made at Al Sawaqi area, east of ROMMEL
beach ascertains the fact that the Egyptian Copts
had run away to the north coast to flee the
oppression of the Romans. Archaeologist Ossama
SALLAM said 12 chambers of different areas and a
hall were found. He noted that some of the walls
were coated with a gypsum layer ornamented with
dark red paintings. The largest of the rooms, said
SALLAM includes a sun-dried brick alter 170 cm
tall, 85 cm wide and 15 cm high. He said that
among the find is a collection of pottery shard
bearing inscriptions of the thorn wreath which the
Jews put on Christs forehead
According to Adel AL SAID Director of the
Archaeological Area rock masses were found to the
northern side of the building as well as a small
quarry used for establishing the building. He said
that restoration of the church is currently
maintained. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Excavators
unearth remains of church from Byzantine age in
Marsa Matruh, The Egyptian Gazette du 2 aot
2001; Midhat NASSR, Dcouverte Matrh des
ruines dune glise du IV
e
-V
e
sicles, al-Akhbr
du 17 juillet).
-
- -
Hassan Bek
Une mission du Conseil Suprieur des
Antiquits a dcouvert, dans le site dHassan Bek,
au sud de la route ctire de Marsa Matrouh, une
cave pour la production de vin et un grand nombre
de pressoirs prs desquels se trouvent des salles de
services, comme des dpts et des logements pour
les ouvriers. Cette cave remonte lpoque grco-
romaine. Cest ce qua dclar le secrtaire gnral
du Conseil Suprieur des Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali
GABALLA, avant dajouter que des bassins pour
recueillir le vin, des pressoirs construits en pierres
non aplanies et du ciment ont t dcouverts dans le
site.
Les bassins sont construits en pierres et
couverts lintrieur par des couches de malte rose.
Plus dune couche de malte ont t constates sur
les parois de ces bassins, avec des dbris de
poteries, ce qui indique que ces caves ont t
utilises pendant de longues priodes(Hassan
SAADALLAH, Nouvelles archologiques, Le
Progrs gyptien du 21 octobre 2001).
-
- -
Marn
The team of Egyptian archaeologists
excavating at Marina site at the northern coast has
reported finding a red-brick baths that goes back to
the Roman age. Inside the baths was a bust of a
Roman woman and earthen pipes. The baths was
found to comprise two parts. The upper part
includes a furnace flanked by six basins made of
red brick and blocks of lime stone covered with
mortar to prevent the leakage of water. Each basin
has a few steps and a lower opening to drain the
water after the bath through a network of earthen
pipes which was found intact.
The lower part of the baths includes warm
and hot chambers used for steam baths where it is
possible to control heat. The statue, however, was
found headless and with no arms. On the back of
the bust there was zigzag inscriptions in black and
white. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Roman baths found at
Marina site in northern coast, The Egyptian
Gazette du 6 dcembre 2001; Mushra MSA,
Dcouverte dun bain de lpoque romaine, al-
Ahrm du 2 dcembre).
-
- -
Umm al-Rakham
The newly-discovered, life-sized statue of
a high-ranking military officer has dispelled the
myth that such effigies were only sculpted for royal
personages. Archaeology is a thrilling and multi-
faceted profession. Egyptologists often find
themselves on the brink of a discovery which, if not
quite matching the breathtaking legends of Howard
CARTER or Indiana JONES, at least offers a new
challenge, a new concept, or that missing link
which makes everything else fall into place. Such a
challenge was the recent find of a life-sized statue
of a military officer, unearthed at the town of
Zawiyet Umm Al-Rakham in the Marsa Matrouh
governorate. It had always been thought that such
statues were only sculpted to manifest the glory of
kings, queens and deities. Thanks to the find, this
theory has now been dispelled.
The statue was found early this year by a
British-Egyptian mission excavating in a rock-hewn
75
chapel which itself was only discovered last year.
The chapel lies inside a fortified town dating from
the reign of the 19
th
dynasty Pharaoh Ramses II.
The effigy is of Neb-Re, a military commander in
Ramses army, who was charged with protecting
Egypts western border against Libyan attacks.
Gaballa Ali GABALLA, general secretary of the
Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said the
limestone statue was very well-preserved, 124cm
high and erected on a 12cm-high stand. It features
the commander wearing his military costume and
holding a text in his right hand. Two inscribed
limestone stele were also found, one showing Neb-
Re offering a sacred lotus flower to the goddesses
Sekhmet and Hathor, and the second featuring the
commander with the goddess Sekhmet and holding
the lotus stem in one hand and an ankh symbol in
the other.
Also unearthed were pieces of pottery and
an interesting but unidentified limestone head
wearing a dark wig and a necklace. The treasure has
been transferred to the Marsa Matrouh museum for
restoration and eventual exhibition. GABALLA said
the excavation work was carried out in
collaboration with a mission from Liverpool
University, which last year discovered the fortified
town and a temple of Ramses II. The town is
considered among the most significant structures of
the defence line Ramses built to defend the border.
It contains mud-brick grain stores, covered with a
layer of gypsum and containing various pieces of
pottery imported from Cyprus, Greece, Crete and
Palestine. This collection of imported pottery is
one of the most important ever found in Egypt, and
provides the best evidence for the importance of
Egyptian foreign trade in the reign of Ramses II,
GABALLA said. He said eight of the storehouses
found so far in the area were at the northern side of
the temple dedicated to Ramses. Every storehouse
has a separate entrance, which is clearly identifiable
by a limestone doorway set into the mud-brick of
the storehouse itself.
Each doorway had a threshold, inscribed
jambs and an inscribed lintel. Not all the doorways
were complete, but there was enough evidence to
provide an idea of how they must have looked. The
titles of Ramses II are inscribed on the text over the
doorways. Zawiyet Umm Al-Rakham is much
larger in internal area than was previously thought,
and adds to the evidence that the area was a major
settlement with massive defence constructions,
rather than a small and vulnerable outpost at the
western end of Egypts zone of control on the
Mediterranean coast.
The annual excavation report of the
Liverpool mission described the area of Zawiyet
Umm Al-Rakham as vital to the trade network of
the Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean.
It ranks with other north coast archaeological sites
such as the ancient ports of Ugarit and Kommos
and the Ulu Burun shipwreck in providing tangible
evidence of international trading of goods and
services. Our present understanding the site is that
it was crucial in the trading 'loop' by being the
major landfall of traders crossing the Mediterranean
after leaving Cyprus, Southern Turkey, the Aegean
and Crete on their trading odyssey. At the harbour,
they may well have refitted their ships and
restocked on basic supplies before heading east
along the coast to the major markets at Memphis
and beyond. (Nevine EL- ARE F, Democracy
Pharaonic-style, Al-Ahram Weekly du 9 aot 2001.
Voir galement Frq ABD AL- MU NIM,
Dcouverte archologique internationale au sud de
Matrh, al-Akhbr du 31 juillet; Sammar A.
EZZAT, Rare statue of military leader found at
Ramsis II temple, The Egyptian Gazette du 9 aot;
Hla ABDALLAH, Un muse international Marsa
Matrh pour lhistoire ancienne et rcente, al-
Qhira du 16 octobre).
-
- -
le Maryt
Excavations carried out in the Geziret
Mariout (Mariout Island) area lying to the west of
Marina archaeological city on the northwestern
coast of the Mediterranean have yielded Roman
baths, large lime-stone structures and a quay to the
north of the island. The Director of Alexandrias
Antiquities Area, Adly RUSHDI, said that the team
of excavators found walls extending far into the
distance and mounds of pottery chard indicating
that pottery works had once existed in the area.
Other relics indicate the spread of checkpoints all
along the islands north coast. RUSHDI also said that
rock carved tombs were unearthed in the islands
southern area. The relics confirm that Mariout
Island was once a prosperous urban and industrial
centre in Pharaonic, Greek and Roman times, said
RUSHDI.
The island linked the Delta provinces to
the northwest coast, and Mediterranean countries to
southern Europe. The Supreme Council for
Antiquities (SCA) is undertaking studies and
excavations at the unique site. The find, the latest in
a Lower governorate region, is arousing the interest
of Egyptian and foreign excavation teams who are
being encouraged to excavate the 333 feddan area.
Mariout Island was known before the establishment
of Alexandria and it was mentioned in the writings
of the Greek historian HERODOTUS when he visited
the North Coast. Historically, this part of Egypt was
agricultural land irrigated by Nile water via an old
tributary, which has since decayed. Egyptian
princes prior to Alexander the Greats invasion of
Egypt ruled this northern province. (Sammar A.
E Z Z A T , North coast excavations yield
archaeological riches, The Egyptian Gazette du 26
76
juillet 2001. Voir galement Al ABD AL-HDI,
Une dcouverte archologique confirme
limportance historique de lle Maryt, al-Akhbr
du 19 juillet).
-
- -
Burg al-Arab
Two rock tombs discovered in Borg El-
Arab, near Alexandria, were used at different times,
and for different purposes. They appear to have
been built as Ptolemaic tombs; they were then used
as houses by Copts and, later still, by Muslims as
places for prayer.
Gaballa Ali GABALLA, secretary-general of
the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told Nevine
EL-AREF that a large cross was found on the
northern wall of one of the tombs of a cemetery
which was being excavated. It suggests that the
tombs were a safe haven for Christians escaping
from Roman persecution in the 4
th
century, he
said. The Egyptian mission which made the
discovery found that the two tombs were
architecturally similar, each having a square open
court and six limestone steps leading to a small
corridor. This gave access to an empty burial
chamber.
Mohamed ABDEL-MAQSOUD, head of
lower Egypt antiquities, said that many ancient
tombs were occupied by early Christians, but what
made the discovery unusual was that a mi hrab
(Muslim prayer niche) was found on a side wall in
the burial chamber of each tomb. It is a most
unusual discovery, ABDEL-MAQSOUD said. We
dont know exactly why the prayer niches were
there, but they may have been used as places of
seclusion. (Nevine EL-AREF, Believing in
layers, Al-Ahram Weekly du 1
er
novembre 2001).
-
- -
Taposiris Magna
The Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA) announced yesterday the discovery of a
large quantity of pottery and lamps dating back to
Ptolemaic times. The discovery was made at Abu
Seir Temple on the North Coast, West Alexandria,
which is currently being restored, SCA chairman,
Gaballa Ali GABALLA, said. The SCA restoration of
Abu Seir Temple is part of a larger project
approved by Minister of Culture Farouk HOSNI to
restore a number of antiquity sites on the North
Coast in the region of Alexandria, added GABALLA.
The antiquities official said that Le100,000 has
been allocated for the first phase of the project.
The restoration of Abu Seir Temple is being
implemented by a joint Egyptian-Hungarian
antiquities mission, GABALLA explained.
(Exciting North Coast discovery, The Egyptian
Gazette du 4 novembre 2001. Voir galement
Mushra MSA, Dcouverte de poteries et de
lampes huile dpoque ptolmaque, al-Ahrm
du 4 novembre; Tha ABD AL-RAHMN,
Dcouverte de poteries sur la Cte nord, al-Ahrr
du 4 novembre).
-
- -
Abouqr
Une quipe darchologues gyptiens a
dcouvert rcemment des chais vin datant de
lpoque romaine dans le Delta du Nil, prs du port
dAboukir, sur la Mditerrane, selon un
responsable des Antiquits gyptiennes. Les murs
intrieurs des chais sont recouverts dun mortier qui
porte des traces roses de vin, et des canalisations en
pierre ont galement t dcouvertes, qui
permettaient lcoulement du vin vers un point de
chargement sur des navires, a expliqu Mohammed
ABDEL MAQSOUD, directeur des Antiquits pour la
rgion du Delta.
Lquipe a galement dcouvert des
poteries et des statues funraires portant des
inscriptions pharaoniques, antrieures aux chais
romains, comme cest souvent le cas lors de fouilles
en gypte o les mlanges de reliques de
diffrentes poques sont frquents. (Dcouverte de
chais datant de lpoque romaine, Le Progrs
gyptien du 9 dcembre 2001 ; Abd al-Azz AL-
NAHHS, Dcouverte Alexandrie dune usine
romaine pour la fabrication du vin, al-Wafd du 6
dcembre).
-
- -
Kom al-Shuqafa
A tomb dating back to the Roman age was
unearthed by sheer coincidence while digging the
site for laying down the foundations of a school
complex at Kom Al Shoqafa in Alexandria. As Dr
Mohamed ABDUL MAQSOUD, Director of Delta
Antiquities explained workers engaged on the site
were surprised by the sudden collapse of the earth
causing the appearance of a wide ditch two metres
deep leading to a four-step flight of stairs.
Initial indications pinpoint to a Roman
tomb similar to the famous Katakomb tomb. Work
on the site was immediately suspended and the
Engineering Administration of the Supreme council
for Antiquities was assigned to secure the safety of
77
the tomb. Meanwhile, an ad-hoc committee has
been set up to determine the boundaries of the find
and continue excavations. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Roman tomb unearthed by chance at construction
site in Alex., The Egyptian Gazette du 8 novembre
2001. Voir galement Aml A L-GAYYR,
Dcouverte dune tombe romaine Kom al-
Shugafa Alexandrie, al-Ahrm du 14 novembre).
An archaeological team conducting
excavations in Roman era tombs in Alexandria
unearthed a large door they believe may lead to an
ancient tomb or cistern. The 2,5 metre high, 1,5
metre wide door was discovered in the Kom el-
Shoukafa Tombs and opens to a staircase that most
probably leads to a cistern, Adel RUSHDI, head of
the Alexandria Antiquities Directorate said
yesterday. Others have suggested the staircase leads
to an important tomb(Ancient door could lead
to more discoveries, The Egyptian Gazette du 5
novembre 2001. Voir galement Dcouverte dune
entre archologique Alexandrie, al-Ahrr du 23
novembre).
-
- -
Fouilles sous-marines
A survey was launched yesterday to
discovered and record submerged antiquities along
the Mediterranean coast between Alexandrias Sidi
Gabr and El-Shatby districts. This marine
archaeological survey aims at confirming that the
area is clear, of antiquities so as to preserve the
archaeological heritage of Alexandrias coast,
said Ibrahim DARWISH, head of the Submerged
Antiquities Department.
The survey precedes plans to begin the
fifth stage of expansions to Alexandrias Corniche
road. The project has made considerable efforts to
prevent damage to submerged antiquities lying just
offshore. Foreign marine archaeological teams are
preparing for a new season, DARWISH said. French,
American, Italian and Greek missions will
participate in excavations in Alexandria
Governorate. (Alexandria survey to protect
underwater treasures, The Egyptian Gazette du 17
septembre 2001).
Al-Ahram Hebdo passe en revue les fouilles
sous-marines entreprises actuellement en
Alexandrie par diffrentes missions
archologiques franaise, grecque, italienne
et gyptienne :
Ce nest que durant les premires annes
de laprs-guerre que larchologie sous-marine se
dveloppe en discipline scientifique. Auparavant,
cest grce au perfectionnement apport par
COUSTEAU et GAGNAN lappareil de plonge
autonome que les archologues des Antiquits sous-
marines trouvent le moyen de donner des
plongeurs la mission de rechercher des vestiges. En
gypte, la fouille sous-marine ne se pratique
scientifiquement que depuis la dernire dcennie du
XX
e
sicle.
Ce nest quau dbut des annes 1990, en
effet, que les autorits gyptiennes darchologie
demandent larchologue franais Jean-Yves
EMPEREUR dentreprendre une fouille de sauvetage
devant le Fort de Qatbay. Cette requte est due la
ncessit de placer sous leau des blocs de ciment,
afin de protger le monument. Jean-Yves
EMPEREUR, directeur du Centre dtudes
Alexandrines (CEA), archologue-plongeur, qui a
dj son actif les fouilles sous-marines
importantes Thasos en Grce, et Amathonte,
Chypre, fut choisi juste titre. Ces fouilles
mthodiques qui se sont tendues se poursuivent
encore. Elles ont non seulement prouv que le
phare des Ptolmes se dressait bien cet
emplacement avant que le tremblement de terre,
survenu en 1303, ne le dtruist, mais aussi, elles
dcouvrent des restes de statuaires et des lments
architecturaux fort importants, qui gisent entre 5 7
mtres de profondeur sous le Fort de Qatbay. Elles
dcouvrent aussi 3000 pices de granit, de marbre
et des blocs de calcaire, des statues gigantesques
des rois ptolms et des reines, des sphinx, des
colonnes et des oblisques.
Un peu plus tard, sous la direction du
chercheur Frank GODDIO, lInstitut europen de
recherches sous-marines commena ses fouilles,
dans le port-est le Mgas Simin des Grecs, le
Portus Magnus des Romains. De belles statues et
autres pices antiques voient le jour aprs quelque
deux mille ans de submersion, tandis que lancienne
Antirhodos, le Timonium, et le Port-Royal sont
dtects cinq mtres sous leau, ainsi que les
restes dune importante pave romaine. GODDIO
tend ses recherches dans la baie dAbouqir o les
premires fouilles quil entreprend cet endroit le
mnent sur les paves franaises de la tragique
bataille navale qui obligea BONAPARTE se retirer
dgypte. Les fouilles furent ensuite poursuivies
sur les villes englouties de la baie canopique. Une
fois de plus, les eaux dAbouqir savrrent riches
en statues et en plaques portant des inscriptions.
Cest en 1998 que lInstitut hellnique
pour les tudes antiques et mdivales dAlexandrie
commena ses fouilles sous-marines lest du cap
Lochias, lactuelle pointe de Silsila Alexandrie.
Donc, lquipe des chercheurs-plongeurs grecs,
sous la direction dHarry TZALAS, entreprend ses
fouilles. Elle compte dj cinq saisons de
recherches et la sixime est en cours ce mois-ci.
Lattention des chercheurs grecs qui travaillent
conjointement avec les gyptiens du Dpartement
darchologie sous-marine est alors retenue par cinq
sites: celui de Chatbi o lon retrouve des restes
78
dimportants lments architecturaux en granit
ayant peut-tre appartenu la zone des palais
royaux ptolmaques du cap Lochias, o, daprs
les auteurs de lAntiquit, slevaient un palais, le
temple dIsis Lochias et le mausole de Cloptre.
Le site qui avoisine le casino de Chatbi, o les
archologues esprent retrouver sous les pilotis de
ldifice actuel, les mines du martyrium de Saint-
Marc. Un rcif au large dIbrahimiya o 55 ancres
de pierre et un jas en plomb dune ancre de grand
bateau antique ont t trouvs. Les restes dune
grande carrire antique qui comprend aussi des
tombes submerges prs de la plage dIbrahimiya.
Et enfin, Sporting, non loin de la plage, les
fondations de btiments datant de lpoque romaine
tardive.
Outre les Franais et les Grecs, on compte
un archologue italien de lUniversit de Turin, le
professeur Paolo GALLO, qui aprs deux annes de
fouilles lle Nelson (Abouqir) vient dobtenir un
permis pour une fouille sous-marine autour de cette
le.
En 1995, le Haut Conseil des Antiquits
dgypte dcida de former un dpartement
darchologie sous-marine. Il fut confi un
plongeur gyptien, le Dr Ibrahim Attiya DARWICH
qui en devint le directeur. Ce Dpartement mne sa
propre fouille qui a dbut, il y a deux semaines,
Maamoura, site prsum tre celui de la petite
Taposiris. Les archologues-plongeurs gyptiens
ont retrouv, entre autres dcouvertes, ce qui
semble tre les restes dune pave romaine
contenant de belles amphores et dnormes ancres
de pierre. noter que le dpartement darchologie
sous-marine de lgypte compte quelque 25 jeunes
archol ogues-pl ongeurs qui supervi sent
constamment les fouilles des missions trangres. Il
tmoigne de lintrt que porte le Haut Conseil des
Antiquits de lgypte au dveloppement de cette
branche spcialise de larchologie. Lon doit
galement rendre justice aux pionniers gyptiens de
larchologie sous-marine dont le prince Omar
TOUSSOUN, qui, en 1931, dcouvrait les restes de
villes grecques englouties dans la baie dAbouqir,
tandis que dans les annes 1960, le plongeur de la
marine gyptienne, Kamal ABOU-SADAT fouillait
une bonne partie de la cte alexandrine dcouvrant
la grande statue dIsis ainsi que dautres pices
antiques, exposes dans le jardin du Muse naval de
Stanley. (Gisle BOULAD, Une archologie en
plein essor, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 15 aot 2001.
Voir galement Samra GEORGES, La ville
engloutie refait surface aprs 2000 ans, khir Sa
du 11 juillet ; Muhammad SHKIR, Le secret des
profondeurs de la baie dAbouqr, al-Akhbr du 12
juillet ; Cam SINCLAIR, What lies beneath, Cairo
Times du 20 septembre).
- - -
Mais linterprtation que donne lInstitut
Europen dArchologie Sous-Marine
(IEASM) des rsultats de ses fouilles et, plus
pr ci s ment , des r ai s ons de
lengloutissement des cits dHraklion et de
Canope Est, se trouve conteste :
The discovery of the two cities was
introduced to the scientific community during the
annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union
in San Francisco in December 2000. At that
meeting, the idea was advanced that they were
submerged as a result of earthquakes which sealed
their fate. The ruins of the city were attributed to
two or three large historical earthquakes and/ or
subsidence and liquefaction of Nile Delta
sediments. Questions regarding the location of the
faults responsible for these quakes and the causes of
the subsidence of the region or the silting up of the
Delta branch which the authors assumed to have
existed at the time of the disappearance of the
cities, went unanswered.
Less than a year later, in an article which
appeared in the 19 July 2001 issue of the
prestigious scientific journal Nature, the idea that
earthquakes were responsible for the disappearance
of the two cities was discarded because n o
earthquake activity was recorded in Egypt during
this period. Instead, the disappearance of the cities
was ascribed to a riverbank failure in the Canopic
region, triggered by the high flood of the year 741-
42 AD. The article received wide attention, and the
scenario of the two cities washed out by a gigantic
Nile flood some 1,250 years ago made headline
news in many newspapers and broadcasting stations
across the world.
The scenario was taken for granted, despite
the fact that it was impossible. One simple fact had
been overlooked: there was no river extending to
these two cities at the time of their disappearance.
The Canopic branch, along whose banks the two
cities had been built, had dried up to a trickle and
ceased to reach the bay some 200 years earlier. This
information seems to have escaped the attention of
the authors of the article, who believed the Canopic
branch of the Nile continued to flow into the bay
until the second millennium AD. It is not clear how
they came to this conclusion, since they gave no
reference to validate their claim. I have a hunch that
they followed my early views on the subject, which
I published in my work on the Nile in 1981. In that
work, I erred in assuming that the Canopic branch
had a similar history to the Pelusiac branch, which
is known to have silted up in the early years of the
second millennium. I am now convinced that the
Canopic followed a different path, and that it silted
up gradually during the 5
th
and 6
th
centuries AD.
When the Arab armies came to Egypt in the middle
of the 7
th
century, the Canopic was a small canal
which did not reach Abu Qir bay. No wonder there
is not a single mention of this branch of the river in
79
any of the treatises left by Arab historians. Prince
Omar TOUSSON, in his 1922 classic Mmoire sur
les anciennes branches du Nil, authenticated and
documented this view (pp.195-196).
Even if we accept the authors belief that
the Canopic branch of the Nile was still active at
the time of the disappearance of the cities of East
Canopus and Heracleion, it would be difficult to
conceive that their destruction could have been
brought about so suddenly. In the first place, there
is no mention of such a cataclysmic event in any of
the history books covering this period. Neither is
there any mention of the destruction of any other
city along the entire Nile by this forceful flood. In
the second place, it is difficult to classify the flood
of 741-42 AD among the destructive floods that
posed danger or caused fear in the hearts of the
people. For those who know about the Nile and the
history of its use, the 741-42 flood was an above-
normal flood which must have represented a
welcome event. Prior to the introduction of the
system of perennial irrigation in the 19
th
century,
the lowlands of the rivers flood plain were left
fallow during the flood season, ready to receive the
waters of the flood, including those which were
above normal. Floods such as that of 741-42 were
received with joy because they led to a larger
acreage of arable land.
The floods which were dreaded in those
days were those disastrous inundations which lasted
long after the date they were supposed to recede,
and those which reached at least one metre higher
than that of the year 741-42. Only at that height
would the flood reach the level of the ground upon
which most if not all the towns and villages of
Egypt were built. Typical examples of these high
and dangerous floods are those that were common
during the 14
th
century AD. These were the floods
singled out by the historians who dwelled at length
on describing their devastating effects.
I am certain that the wealth of data
gathered by the submarine archaeological
expedition during its many seasons in Abu Qir will
provide ample material for the unravelling of the
real reasons for the submergence of the two port
cities. It is essential that the data be made available
to those experts who know about the history of the
Nile and the use of its waters. (Rushdi SAID,
Sunken treasures, sunken myths, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 27 septembre 2001. Sur la prsentation
du site Internet de lIEASM, voir Willa THAYER,
Next stop, Hercules lost city, Al-Ahram Weekly
du 27 septembre).
-
- -
Fouilles urbaines
Station al-Raml
Une mission gypto-franaise a dcouvert
dans un site historique Alexandrie de nombreux
talismans et de pices dAntiquit en or remontant
lpoque romaine. Cest ce qua dclar le
Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA, avant
dajouter que des outils de maquillage comprenant
des brosses, des colliers, ainsi que des talismans
sous forme dhumains ont galement t
dcouverts. Le Dr GABALLA a rappel quil y a
quelques mois fut dcouverte dans ce mme site
une statue de lempereur romain Septime Svre.
Le directeur gnral des Antiquits de la
Basse-gypte, le Dr Mohamed ABDEL MAKSOUD, a
dclar pour sa part que ladite mission a galement
dcouvert dans le site du patriarcat grec orthodoxe,
se trouvant dans la rue Fouad Ramleh, un anneau
en or pesant 6 grammes sous forme octogonale avec
en dessus un petit pyramidion. Il a indiqu que
lanneau a t dcouvert au cours des travaux de
nettoyage et dtude des couches du sol dans ce
site, afin de dterminer leurs poques historiques.
(Hassan SAADALLAH, Dcouverte dun anneau en
or et de talismans Alexandrie, Le Progrs
gyptien du 1
er
juillet 2001. Voir galement
Sammar A. EZZAT, Archaeological sites in Alex.
To get ready for dignitaries of Bibliothiqa
Alexandrina opening, The Egyptian Gazette du 5
juillet).
-
- -
Al-Buhayra
Kom al-Hisn
Doubts cast on the futility of excavations
at Kom Al Hesn area in the governorate of Beheira
have proved to be groundless. A team from the
Faculty of Arts in Damanhur have unearthed a
number of antiquities such as the remains of a
temple that dates back to the Old Kingdom
probably 2500 BC embracing a complete set of
utensils distributed among the corners. The team
has also reported finding a collective cemetery
believed to belong to Asian tribes probably the
Hyksos in addition to animal corpses and a number
of rare pottery.
These important items have prompted a
resumption of archaeological excavations there. Dr
Hassan SHERIF professor of History at Damanhur
Faculty of Arts explained that probes made at the
southern part of the 74 feddan fortress at Kom
Hamada indicated that the area is archaeologically
rich. Eight earthen pots, kohl sticks and two
alabaster pots for preserving cosmetics have been
found, in addition to a small stone with
80
hieroglyphic inscriptions including instructions for
worshipping the goddess of the temple. He also
noted that the floor of the temple was covered with
a thick layer of bubbles brought from a distant area
in order to purity the floor. He, moreover, said that
the remaining parts of the temple constitute four
walls about 70 cm high each. Ongoing excavations,
said Dr SHERI F, are maintained to reveal the
goddess of the temple, which is probably Hathur
the goddess of beauty owing to the many cosmetic
items found.
A burial place for horses was found in the
middle of which is a lime stone structure taking the
shape of a horse. This denotes that the area is a
sacred cemetery for horses, which were sacred for
the Hyksos, said Dr SHERIF. Some utensils of
strange shape probably used for preserving oil
brought from Palestine were found at the site in
addition to a lime-stone, cooking utensils and
fishing tools. These items, said Dr SHERIF indeed
gave an idea of daily life of the ancient Egyptians
referring to the fruitful excavation efforts exerted
over a period of 70 days only. (Sammar A. EZZAT,
Kom Al Hesn finds remove doubts on futility of
its excavations, The Egyptian Gazette du 20
septembre 2001. Voir galement Wagh AL-
SAQQR, Kom al-Hisn Buhayra dvoile de
nouveaux secrets sur lgypte ancienne, al-Ahrm
du 3 aot).
-
- -
Kom Ng
La dcouverte dun pressoir vin a aid
trouver une ville rsidentielle complte qui remonte
lre romaine dans la rgion de Kom Nagi qui se
trouve 36 kilomtres de la ville de Kafr El-Daouar
dans le gouvernorat de la Beheira. Le Dr Gaballa
Ali GABALLA, le secrtaire gnral du Conseil
suprieur des Antiquits, a dclar que pendant les
travaux de nettoyage du monticule antique, ils ont
dcouvert des lments antiques stables quivalents
un btiment dune forme rectangulaire. Aprs
avoir examin ce btiment, on a dcouvert quil
forme une partie dun pressoir vin constitu avec
des briques cuites et du ciment romain avec une
couche de pltre de longueur de 2 mtres et dune
largeur de 1 mtre. Ils ont dcouvert aussi un bassin
deau construit avec des briques cuites romaines
avec une couche de pltre et un terrain de calcaire
lun ct de lautre pour ne pas laisser infiltrer
leau.
Le Dr GABALLA a signal la prsence dun
mur de soutien au milieu du bassin, et quil est
probable quil utilisait pour soutenir le plafonnage
du bassin. Dautre part, un rapport a t prsent au
ministre de la Culture, M. Farouk HOSNI, qui a
dcid de transformer en site touristique aprs la
restauration de ses lments.
M
me
Nema IBRAHIM, chef des inspecteurs
du site, a dclar quils ont dcouvert des poteries
de diffrentes formes et couleurs utilises dans la
vie quotidienne et qui remontent lre romaine.
Elle a ajout que les lments antiques trouvs sont
dus la dcouverte dune socit civile dont ses
habitants se distinguaient par diverses industries
comme celle du vin et cela est prouv par la place
du site qui se trouve aux alentours du lac Mariout,
prs dAlexandrie avec sa notorit et sa grande
importance. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Dcouverte
dune ville rsidentielle romaine Kom Nagi, Le
Progrs gyptien du 18 novembre 2001).
-
- -
Kom Mazyan
An excavating team affiliated to the
Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) has
reported finding at Kom Mazyan tens of tombs
belonging to the Pharaonic and Roman ages.
According to Secretary General of the SCA, Dr
Gaballah Ali GABALLAH the tombs embrace a large
number of skeletons wrapped in linen within burial
ditches three metres underground. The burials are
found in three different levels showing different
burial methods according to the age to which each
tomb pertains.
While cleaning the tombs, the team found
certain funerary items such as jewellery, amulets,
small statues, copper utensils, earthenware and
pottery shard dating back to the Hellenistic and
Roman ages, said Sabri SHUKRI Director of Beheira
Antiquities Department. Meanwhile, a report of the
recent find has been referred to the Ministry of
Culture, Faruk HOSNI who doubles as the Chairman
of the SCA to endorse extra funds for the tombs
restoration. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Pharaonic,
Roman tombs unearthed at Beheiras Kom
Mazyan, The Egyptian Gazette du 1
er
novembre
2001; Luay Mahmd SAD, Muses et
Antiquits, al-Qhira du 30 octobre).
-
- -
Al-Dilingt
Une mission du Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits a dcouvert, dans la rgion dEl-
Delingat dans la province de Beheira, de
nombreuses tombes remontant lpoque grco-
romaine, ainsi que des sarcophages en pierre
contenant des linceuls et des squelettes humains.
Cest ce qua dclar le Secrtaire gnral du
81
GABALLA, avant dajouter que les squelettes ont t
ensevelis dune faon diffrente, tant donn que
quelques-uns sont orients du nord vers le sud,
tandis que dautres sont placs dans le sens oppos
et une troisime srie soriente de louest vers lest.
En raison de ces positions diffrentes, il est difficile
de dterminer les traditions des gens de cette
poque et leurs croyances relatives
lensevelissement. Le Dr GABALLA a annonc la
dcouverte de nombreuses poteries dont certaines
ont une forme cylindrique, tandis que dautres sont
sous la forme dune poire. Ces ustensiles ont sans
doute t utiliss pour y entasser des denres
alimentaires.
Par ailleurs, le chef des inspecteurs de
Beheira, M. Mohamed IBRAHIM, a dclar que la
rgion de la ncropole tait consacre aux
catgories populaires, tant donn quil ny a pas de
statues des dieux adors par ces gens. Et dajouter
qua t dcouvert un seul talisman sur chaque
sanctuaire, dans lequel il y a une perle bleue sous la
forme de lil doudjat dune paisseur de 5
millimtres et dun diamtre dun centimtre,
constituant une forme danneau. M. Mohamed
IBRAHI M a indiqu que la ncropole qui a t
dcouverte semble appartenir aux membres dune
mme famille, tant donn quil y a le mme
talisman sur chaque momie comme symbole de
cette famille. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Dcouverte de
tombes de lpoque grco-romaine, Le Progrs
gyptien du 18 novembre 2001 ; Tha ABD AL-
RAHMN, Dcouvert es de sarcophages
archologiques exceptionnels Buhayra, al-Ahrr
du 13 novembre).
-
- -
Gyncopolis
Egyptian archeologists have discovered
about a dozen sarcophagi and mummies in
Gynecopolis, or the City of Women, in the Nile
Delta province of Beheira, antiquities authorities
announced on October 23. The womens tombs
that have been discovered date back to the Greek
and Roman eras, said Rabi ABU AL KASSIM,
director of antiquities for Beheira.
Excavation leader Sabri CHUKRI said the
necropolis in Salvago reserved for women is built
on three levels, with the first layer originating in the
late Pharaonic period. Mummies have been found
in sarcophagi of terracotta and colored stone
depicting the dead womans face or a Pharaonic
deity such as Horus or Anubis, CHUKRI said.
Jewels, amulets, statuettes and bronze and terracotta
plates have also been found. About three months
ago, a dozen mummies belonging to the Pharaonic
era of between 666 and 333 B.C. were unearthed at
the same site. AFP (Egyptian archeologists
discover sarcophagi, Middle East Times du 10
aot 2001. Voir galement Hassan SAADALLAH,
Dcouverte de sarcophages dans la ville des
femmes, Le Progrs gyptien du 28 octobre).
-
- -
Ismiliyya
Izbat al-awmsha
A complete housing compound that dates
back to the Roman age has been recently unearthed
at Ezzbat Al Awamsha in lsmailia. The find has
been made by an Egyptian archaeological team
while carrying out a survey on the archaeological
sites in the Suez Canal cities to put them under the
law on the protection of such sites. The find
includes a number of stone structures comprising a
temple and several houses in addition to a large
number of bronze coins and grains indicating the
presence of an archaeological city beneath the
village of Al Awamsha, one kilometre from the
tourist resort of Fayed.
According to Dr Mohamed ABDUL
MAQSOUD Director of Lower Egypt Antiquities, the
series of discoveries in the Suez Canal cities had
given proof that the area was rich of archaeological
potential. Steps have to be expediently taken to
subject the area to the Archaeological Protection
Law and make available required funds for this
purpose, said Dr ABDUL MAQSOUD. He said
contacts in this regard with Ismailia Governor and
the Supreme Council for Antiquities had resulted in
the allocation of LE 80,000 to start excavations at
the villages of Maskhuta and Sarabium. (Sammar
A. EZZAT, Roman housing compound unearthed in
Ismailia, The Egyptian Gazette du 5 juillet 2001;
Sbir ABD AL-WAHHB, Dcouverte dune cit
romaine complte dans la rgion de Fyid
Ismliyya, al-Ahrm du 2 juillet).
-
- -
Tell al-Maskhta
Une mission de fouilles archologiques du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits a mis au jour des
habitations et des granges de crales antiques,
remontant la XXVI
e
dynastie pharaonique,
contenant une grande quantit de pots en terre cuite
renfermant des restes de crales, a annonc le
prsident du Conseil suprieur des Antiquits, Dr
Gaballa Ali GABALLA. Cette dcouverte a eu lieu
dans la rgion archologique de Tel El-Maskhouta
prs dIsmalieh, a-t-il ajoute. Cest une des rares
fois quon dcouvre des restes dhabitations
pharaoniques en bon tat, permettant de sinitier de
82
leur design intrieur et extrieur, a indiqu Dr
GABALLA, prcisant que chacune des pices
dcouvertes se composait dune salle donnant sur
plusieurs chambres auxiliaires.
Pour sa part, le directeur gnral des
Antiquits pour la rgion du Delta, Dr Mohamed
ABDEL MAKSOUD, a annonc la formation dune
commission dont la tche sera dexaminer ces
habitations et ces granges dcouvertes. M. Tarek
MOKHTAR, chef de la mission des fouilles a, de son
ct, annonc la dcouverte de parois murales de
btiments qui feraient ventuellement partie de la
ville se situant dans le ouadi Toumilat prs
dIsmalieh, non loin de lentre Est de lgypte.
Cette ville comprendrait des granges et des dpts
protgs et des monuments appartenant la priode
de Ramss II. (Nouvelles dcouvertes dans le
ouadi Toumilat, Le Progrs gyptien du 25
novembre 2001. Voir galement Luay Mahmd
SAD, Muses et Antiquits, al-Qhira du 20
novembre ; Sayyid IBRHM, Transformation du
village de Tell al-Maskhta Ismliyya en un
centre touristique international, al-Ahrm du 14
dcembre).
-
- -
Le Caire
Muraille du Caire islamique
Within the context of the national project
for restoring the northern wall of Islamic Cairo,
workers started with tower N
o
19. Removing dust
from a depth of eight metres they had a surprise
awaiting them. They found a door named Secret
door which was two metres high from the level of
the nearest street.
As Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH Secretary
General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities
(SCA) described it, the thresh-old takes the shape
of a headless Pharaonic statue. The tower, he
explained, overlooks the cemetery of Bab Al Nasr
and was re-used during the French expedition in
Egypt. He said that an extra storey provided with
canon openings was added during that time. The
cannons, he said, were used during the first and
second Cairo uprising against the French
expedition. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Islamic Cairo
northern wall keeps on making surprises, The
Egyptian Gazette du 20 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Colosse de Ramss II
Une statue pharaonique, abandonne
depuis 15 ans dans la cour dun hpital du Caire, a
trouv place la semaine dernire dans un muse de
la capitale gyptienne, a dclar un responsable des
Antiquits gyptiennes. La statue avait t
transporte, pour une raison inconnue, dune
carrire situe sur la montagne Rouge, lEst du
Caire, dans la cour de lhpital de la socit dtat
de travaux publics Arab Contractors, au Caire, a
prcis le Secrtaire gnral du Conseil Suprieur
des Antiquits, Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH.
La statue, longue de 4,5 mtres, est
incomplte, du fait de fissures dues des dfauts
dhomognit de la pierre, a expliqu le Dr
GABALLAH, qui a ajout quil est difficile de dire
pour linstant ce quelle reprsente. La statue a t
transporte au muse de lOblisque, Matarieh.
Son purgatoire de 15 ans a pris fin du fait de la
dcision dentreprendre prochainement des travaux
dans lhpital. La statue reprsenterait le pharaon
Ramss II. (Une statue pharaonique dans un
muse du Caire, Le Progrs gyptien du 19 aot
2001; Pharaonic statue finds home after 15 years
in hospital, Middle East Times du 17 aot).
Its hard to miss, yet people working
outside the Arab Contractors Hospital in Nasr City
dont seem to pay it any mind. A four-metre-high
statue of the famous New Kingdom Pharaoh,
Ramses II, is the kind of artefact museums fuss
over, but this forgotten antiquity has suffered so
deeply from neglect that no one is even sure if it is
actually the famous ruler, or some other figure
altogether. A friend, who has worked at the hospital
for almost 12 years, remarked that he has been
passing by a large Pharaonic statue languishing on
hospital grounds every day and always wondered
why it was brought there and whether antiquities
officials would ever come and collect it, or at least
endeavour to protect it. Tipped off to its
whereabouts, I bustled over to check out the scene.
There, I found a sight I will never forget: in a
corner of the hospitals backyard, the statue lay in
shambles, buried by piles of sand, garbage, bags of
cement and wooden scaffolding. Workmen
crowded the place, laying down the foundations of
a new extension for the hospital. Sand was dumped
at the foot of the statue, while some workers
cleaned their paint brushes by wiping them on the
statues head.
Horrified by such thoughtless treatment of
a valuable piece of art, I wondered whether the
statue was doomed to destruction. Gaballa Ali
GABALLA, secretary-general of the Supreme
Council of Antiquities (SCA), told Al-Ahram
Weekly that he hadnt known anything about the
statue before being alerted to its plight, but
someone must have at some point in the past, as a
small iron plaque inexplicably declaring the
stone figure to be "Ramses II, the statue of the
desert" was allegedly affixed to the spot for
83
years. The plaque has since vanished and with it
went any confidence about who the statue actually
depicts.
The statue was first unearthed 15 years
ago, at an archaeological site in the Cairo suburb of
Matariya. For unknown reasons, it was brought to
the backyard of the hospital. At the time, the statue
was apparently wrapped in a large sackcloth and
mounted on four small wooden stands. A year ago,
the scene underwent a complete change, becoming
a hive of construction activities. Following a tour of
the hospitals backyard, an archaeological
committee was immediately established with the
purpose of saving the statue. The committee
ordered its quick removal to an open-air museum in
Matariya and slapped an administrative penalty on
the Matariya inspectorate for negligence.
We cannot take action against the
hospitals administrative board, because the area
where the statue was stored is not officially an
archaeological site; its the hospitals property,
said GABALLA. He added that the statue is now
under the supervision of an archaeological inspector
who will follow up on its removal. But on a visit to
the site after GABALLAs announcement, the statue
was still lying on the ground, waiting for a crane
capable of removing it.
Ramses, who ruled over 3,000 years ago,
was the longest reigning Pharaoh in antiquity and a
prolific builder. The famous statue of Ramses
situated in Cairos Ramses square is only one of
multitudes of statues distributed throughout the
country and abroad. This week, however, GABALLA
toned down earlier statements indicating the statue
was of Ramses, saying that the SCA was still
uncertain. Instead, he simply referred to the work as
an enigmatic colossus. (Nevine EL-AREF,
Waiting for care, Al-Ahram Weekly du 9 aot)
-
- -
Ayn Shams
Caveau de Ja-Hor
Un complexe funraire complet qui
remonte la XXVI
e
dynastie vient dtre dcouvert
la semaine dernire An-Chams, lancienne ville
dOun (Hliopolis). Il na fallu quun mois de
travail pour quune mission du Haut Conseil des
Antiquits (HCA) rvle une premire tombe.
Ensuite, ce furent dautres chambres, le tout
formant un caveau funraire, les personnes
inhumes appartiennent toutes la mme famille,
ce qui constitue une nouveaut selon les
spcialistes. Autre aspect indit: Cest la premire
fois quon dcouvre un complexe funraire complet
au centre dune zone urbaine, explique Abdel-
Hamid QOTB, responsable des antiquits de la
rgion dAin-Chams.
Le cas de ce complexe funraire est assez
exceptionnel. Les tombes qui le composent sont
relies lune lautre. La grande tombe appartient
Ja-Hor, dignitaire du palais royal. La tombe
principale qui est la plus vaste est submerge de
sable et dune grande quantit dostracas. La tche
essentielle de la mission est actuellement de la
dblayer pour trouver son entre principale. Si le
complexe a pu tre identifi, cest grce au nom du
dfunt qui a t retrouv dans les petites tombes. Il
est accompagn de bas-reliefs qui expliquent sa vie
quotidienne et les diffrents postes quil a occups.
Dans chacune de ces tombes, on a
dcouvert un sarcophage, des squelettes et un
grand nombre de statuettes qui sont au nombre de
52, aux couleurs trs vives avec le nom de Ja-Hor
grav sur les dos de chacune delles. La difficult
qui simpose lheure actuelle, cest que ce
complexe peut rvler une vaste ncropole enterre
sous les habitations, ce qui rend alatoire la
poursuite des fouilles. (Samar ZARE, Caveau
familial An-Chams, Al-Ahram Hebdo du 5
dcembre 2001. Voir galement Al ABD AL-
HD, Une tombe archologique vieille de 3600
ans, al-Ahrm du 19 novembre ; Le hasard
conduit la dcouverte des tombes de la ville
dOun, al-Ahrm du 28 dcembre).
-
- -
Gza
Plateau des Pyramides
Un des thmes rcurrents et sensibles de la
presse arabe est celui de la dfense de la
civilisation gyptienne en gnral, de la
pyramide de Chops en particulier, contre
les allgations quelles aient t construites
par des extraterrestres, voire par des juifs !
Pour les gyptiens, les falsificateurs sont
soit des amateurs allums qui imaginent que
les gyptiens sont incapables davoir crer
une telle civilisation, soit pire encore
prtendent que les juifs revendiquent un
quelconque rle dans cette civilisation. De
trs nombreux articles sont consacrs la
rfutation de telles hypothses. Accus
dtouffer toute preuve allant dans ce sens,
Zh HAWWS hraut de cette lutte
sinsurge dans cet article contre ceux quil se
plait qualifier de pyramidiots, rsume
leurs multiples arguments et tente dy
rpondre:
If you check the Internet, you will see
many strange things written about the Giza
pyramids. The authors, mostly American and
84
European, are under the impression that we are
secretly digging inside the pyramid of Khufu. They
believe we are hiding things that will reveal the
existence of a lost civilisation, and that we have
discovered tunnels leading from the pyramids. A
few years ago, we closed the Great Pyramid for
conservation and restoration. We decided to clean
the five relieving chambers that top the kings
chamber, and to do this we moved stone rubble
from the grand gallery. On the Internet I found
many stories about our involvement in a
conspiracy, suggesting we were digging inside the
pyramid without telling anyone. They even claimed
that one of the Giza inspectors had found, inside
one of the five rooms, an important object which
connected the pyramid to a lost civilisation. I had,
supposedly, fired the inspector who found the
object.
Another story concerns an American who
is interested in writing tales about a link between
the pyramids and Mars. He says that my dear friend
Farouk EL-BAZ, who works in the Remote Sensing
Department at Boston University, found evidence
on Mars to prove that the people who lived there
built the pyramids. Because EL-BAZ was my friend,
he claimed, he hid all the evidence.
A story that always makes people laugh is
the one about an American who came to see me a
few years ago. He said he wanted to see my
bathroom. I couldnt understand why he would
want to, but when he returned he asked if he could
take a photograph of it. When I asked him why, he
said that many people believed that every day at
noon I left my office and climbed into a tunnel in
the bathroom. This tunnel led to the Great Pyramid,
where I hid evidence discovered there. I could
return without anyone having seen anything. Did
you see any tunnels in my bathroom? I asked him.
He replied that he had not. So I asked, What are
you going to do now? He said he would publish
photographs of the bathroom on the Internet. This
man came to Egypt believing the rumours about a
conspiracy, but after living in Egypt and seeing
some of our discoveries, he found out the truth. He
is now one of our leading supporters.
Another American came to Egypt to tell
me that the David Scroll was hidden inside the
Pyramid (it actually does not exist), and that he
knew where it was. I looked at him, but he seemed
normal. I told him, I have no time to waste with
you. The man truly believed he was right, and that
I was the one who was holding up his investigation.
He wanted revenge, so he went to the village of
Nazlet El-Samman to meet a guard I had fired from
the Sphinx area. The guard had been dismissed
because he had insulted one of the archaeologists
who worked at the Sphinx. The American visitor
videotaped and recorded a false interview with the
former guard who also wanted revenge for
having been fired which he then took to the
police and the district attorney. He wanted revenge
on me because I had not let him discover what he
was looking for. He accused two women from my
office of cutting the shoulder of the Sphinx, said I
had tried to bribe him, and indicated that the
Minister of Culture would take this as an excuse to
fire the chairman of the then Egyptian Antiquities
Organisation. It took the district attorney two years
to realise that this was a conspiracy, and that the
American only wanted to take revenge and make a
disturbance. What is even funnier is that this man is
currently a dockworker unloading boxes from
ships. He always attempts to attend my lectures in
Los Angeles, and I have to insist that he be
removed. In reality, the stone fell from the Sphinx
at 1:30pm one afternoon after a week of rain, as
was witnessed by a German news reporter.
These stories show there are people who
still believe the pyramids were built by a lost
civilisation. Some of these people could be
dangerous, as they really believe we are hiding
artifacts from the lost civilisation of Atlantis. We
always make prompt announcements of our
discoveries; there are no hidden digs. If youd like
more information on what is happening at Giza, just
check our Web site: www.guardians.net (Zahi
HAWASS, The Giza Conspiracy, Al - Ahr am
Weekl y du 2 aot 2001. Voir galement Zahi
HAWASS, The five secret chambers, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 1
er
novembre).
-
- -
Pyramide de Chops
Les travaux mens par deux archologues
franais, Jacques BARDOT et Francine
DARMON, sur lexistence possible de cavits
inconnues dans la pyramide de Chops ne
recueillent pas lassentiment de tous les
responsables du CSA :
The project submitted by a French team to
the SCA for the excavation of unknown tombs and
secret crypts within the Khufu Pyramid has raised
many concerns on the part of the Egyptian side. The
concerns have been prompted by the teams desire
to lift some of the stones and making holes in the
royal chamber. Egyptian officials were also
discouraged due to a similar experiment conducted
in 1986, which turned down to be disappointing.
Zahi HA WA S Director of the Giza
Antiquities rejects the project altogether on the
grounds that the French plan is based on
presumptions rather than facts. He said that the
French team who does not belong to any academic
institution has not worked before on the Pyramids.
I believe they are a group of amateurs unqualified
for such a serious project, said HAWAS in an
85
interview with an Arabic daily. Dr HAWAS said that
according to their report two stones from the
Cheops and the Cephren pyramids are to be
removed in addition to making holes in the royal
chamber. By all rates this is a crime against
human heritage, he commented.
Adopting a totally different view, Dr
Gaballah Ali GABALLAH Secretary General of the
SCA believes that we shouldnt take rash decisions
before giving the project a fair chance of thorough
studies. This is much so considering that the same
team had conducted research on Maydom Pyramid
in Fayyum and managed to reach agreeable
results, he said.
The project has been referred to the
Standing Committee of Egyptian Antiquities, which
has decided to form minor committees assigned to
write a report about their finds. Dr GABALLAH
urged those opposing the project not to jump into
conclusions before reading the report. He, however,
affirmed that no one would be allowed to conduct
random experiments.
Dr Mohamed AL SAGHIR, advisor to the
minister of culture explained that the French team
has made a survey of the pyramid which, as they
reported proved the existence of chambers within
the pyramid. But the Egyptian side has found the
result of the survey not sufficient especially that the
device used was experimented for the first time.
The Ministry, he added, had referred a report to the
Standing Antiquities Committee rejecting the
project in order not to risk our antiquities. There
still remains the opinion of the Committee, he said.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Conflicting views on new
plan to reveal secrets of Cheeps Pyramid, The
Egyptian Gazette du 12 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Saqqra
Japanese archaeologists said September 11
they have found evidence that a cult grew up
around King Cheops, builder of Egypts greatest
pyramid, and that he was worshipped by ancient
Egyptians long after his death. Sakuji YOSHIMURA
from Japans Waseda University told AFP his team
had found the kings name inscribed inside a
chamber built over 1,300 years after the pharaohs
death on a hill in Saqqara south of Cairo.
It was the first discovery of such an
inscription, found at the feet of a statue of the lion
goddess Sekhmet, although a small statue of King
Cheops of an undetermined date has previously
been found in Egypt, he said. The September 1
finding indicates that this small hill is the center of
the cult of King Khufu (Cheops) and Sekhmet, said
YOSHIMURA, adding that around eight other statues
of Sekhmet were found in the chamber. The
Japanese professor, who has worked in Egypt for
over 30 years, said he believes the chamber, built as
a tomb but used to store precious objects, is linked
to the nearby late 19
th
dynasty tomb of Ramses IIs
fourth son, prince Khaemweset, who he now
believes worshipped King Cheops.
That would date the chamber to around
1200 BC, or more than 1,300 years after King
Cheops built the largest of the three Great Pyramids
at Giza, north of Saqqara, proving he was
worshipped long after his death. YOSHIMURA said
in an interview with AFP he now believes Cheops
was worshipped continually throughout the
pharaonic era, over a period of around 3,000 years.
(Great pyramid builder worshipped long after
death, Middle East Times du 14 septembre 2001).
It is a very important discovery which
could cast some light on an era in which Khufu was
worshipped as a god almost two thousand years
after his death, Wasida University mission field
director Nozomu KAWAI said. The discovery was
totally unexpected. Since the mission started
excavations at Saqqara in July 1991, its discoveries
have included a chapel of Kahaemwat, the fourth
son of Ramses II; a limestone stela of Tutmosis IV;
and many relief fragments from the chapel of
Menkeper-Re.
Mud-brick structures belonging to
Amenhotep II and Tutmosis IV were also found, as
well as other reliefs dating from the 18
th
dynasty to
the Late Period. At first, we thought the site was
part of a large New Kingdom necropolis, but now it
is clear that here is also an independent cemetery
of the 26
th
dynasty, KAWAI said. He described the
new find as the master key towards an
understanding of the deification of Khufu.
The cartouche is a very well-preserved
inscription engraved on a clay plaque, representing
the base of a partially deteriorated statue of a
sphinx, or perhaps the lioness goddess Sekhmet.
Khufus name was preceded by the title Pharaoh
of Upper and Lower Egypt. This is the first
evidence of Khufus name being found outside Giza,
where the pyramids and the Sphinx are located,
proving that the Pharaoh was worshipped further
afield and for a long period, Zahi HAWASS,
director-general of Giza plateau and Bahariya oasis,
told Al-Ahram Weekly. He said the Old Kingdom
Pharaohs name had also been found on a large
number of scarabs. This clearly indicates that
priests of the 26
th
dynasty (664-625 BC) revived the
cult of Khufu during this era, HAWASS said.
Other artifacts unearthed in the empty, T-
shaped 26
th
-dynasty tomb included four terra-cotta
(burned clay) statues of Sekhmet, the goddess
associated with war, in various poses three
86
featuring the deity with the body of a woman and
the head of a lioness, and the fourth, uniquely,
showing the Pharaoh Khufu between her paws.
Two terracotta statues of the god Harpocrates
the Greek version of Horus the Younger with his
finger on his mouth and wearing the side lock of
youth were also among the items found. The
strangest, and most unique discovery is the statue
of a man with both hands placed to his head,
KAWAI said: We are trying to figure out its
significance.
Frustrating though it may be, the Japanese
mission will have to wait until the next
archaeological season in July 2002 to resume
excavations. Meanwhile, the walls of the tomb will
be reinforced, the ceiling consolidated and all
fragments of statues conserved. This is the second
time this year that Khufus name has been in the
limelight. Early in 2001 HAWASS, in collaboration
with the American archaeologist Mark LEHNER,
restudied the Turin papyrus, the earliest King List,
which recorded the names of Egypts most
important Pharaohs, the duration of their rule and
major events which took place during their reigns.
It was first studied by the Italian Egyptologist
DROVETTI, and HAWASS has now come up with a
new hypothesis, some 63 years after the papyrus
was first studied.
Khufu reigned longer than we had earlier
thought, HAWASS commented. He was believed
to have ruled for 23 years, but that would surely not
have been long enough to raise such a monument
as the Great Pyramid of Giza. Ancient Egyptians
recorded the duration of the reigns of their
Pharaohs based on the bi-annual cattle count,
HAWASS said. When the papyrus was first
transcribed by philologists A. H. GARDINER and
Jaroslav CERNY in 1938, they did not take this into
account. (Nevine EL-AREF, Khufu as god, Al-
Ahram Weekly du 27 septembre. Voir galement
Al ABD AL-HD, Dcouverte du nom du roi
Chops lintrieur dune tombe rupeste
Saqqara, al-Akhbr du 10 septembre; Khufus
name found in Saqqara necropolis for the first
time, The Egyptian Gazette du 13 septembre).
-
- -
Stle de Thoutmosis IV
The Japanese archaeological mission
excavating on the ancient Egyptian necropolis of
Saqqara, reported finding a stele that goes back to
the age of Thutmosis IV of the 18
th
dynasty in the
New Kingdom. The Secretary General of the
Supreme Council for Antiquities, Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH said the white lime stone stele has a
rounded edge with sunk relief inscriptions of king
Thutmosis IV wearing a blue crown which was
named Khabrash by the Ancient Egyptians. The
king holds an Asian captive with his left hand while
he holds a dagger in his right hand to kill the
enemy. Dr Zahi HAWAS Head of Giza Antiquities
said that the cartouche of king Thutmosis appears
opposite the kings face and above it there is
hieroglyphic writing which reads The kind and
life-giving god like Ra. (Sammar A. EZZAT
Japanese team unearthed stele of Thutmosis IV in
Saqqara, The Egyptian Gazette du 30 aot 2001;
Dcouverte Saqqra dune stle archologique
remontant Thoutmosis IV, al-Ahrr du 23 aot).
-
- -
Tombe de Qar
Members of an Egyptian mission were
cleaning the west side of the Pyramid of Unas at
Saqqara early last week when they unexpectedly
came across what appeared to be an open hall.
Further clearance revealed a vaulted limestone
tomb The mission, which has identified it as
belonging to a certain Qar, considers the tomb very
special. This is the best preserved sixth-dynasty
tomb found so far on the necropolis. Qar was an
extremely important official, head of the royal
palace and chief surgeon to the Pharaoh and his
family, but which particular sixth-dynasty Pharaoh
this was is not yet certain.
The entrance hall of the tomb was
plastered and painted with coloured scenes
depicting the deceased in various religious and
industrial activities, as well as with his wife and
family, all in well-preserved colours. A shaft led to
the burial chamber in which was the limestone
sarcophagus inscribed with Qars name. It was in a
nearby cache, however, that theimplements of his
trade were found: the surgical tools included 40
scalpels and tweezers as well as other medical
tools, the purpose of which is not clear.
Zahi HAWASS, director-general of the Giza
plateau and Bahariya Oasis, says this is the first
time surgical tools have been found in an Old
Kingdom tomb. It provides further proof that the
ancient Egyptians were competent surgeons,
HAWASS says. We knew this from excavations at
Giza, when we carried out studies on skeletons
found in the pyramid-builders cemetery. There was
evidence that some of them had been subjected to
critical brain surgery, others to the setting of limbs
or to dentistry. But no tools were found there. This
discovery at Saqqara provides a missing link.
The tomb has clearly been damaged over
time and covered with wind-blown sand, since
some 26
th
dynasty objects were also found on the
site. These include 22 bronze statues of various
deities, including Isis breast-feeding Horus; the
87
Memphis god Ptah; Anubis the deity associated
with mummification and burial and, as was to be
expected, statues of Osiris and Horus, all in a good
state of repair. The mission found some unusual
objects in the tomb, Gaballa Ali GABALLA, general
secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA), said. One is a round alabaster offering
table, inscribed with the name of Qar along with his
various titles. Beside it they found a rectangular-
shaped stone, also in alabaster, with markings and
cavities. There were seven of these, for the seven
sacred oil sacraments used in rituals.
The tomb has two false doors engraved
with hieroglyphic texts, some sections of which
retain the original blue colour. On the south and
east walls of the tomb are two stelae bearing the
names and titles of the deceased. The stelae are
different from the usual because they have signs
still to be deciphered, HAWASS says.
When excavating a tomb, one step
automatically leads to the next, and there is a
feeling of excitement and anticipation. While the
team was clearing the southern side, architectural
elements came to light, and it soon became clear
that they belonged to the south wall of Sekham-
Khets unfinished pyramid complex one that
was designed to be similar to, and as impressive as,
Djosers Step Pyramid Complex. (Nevine EL-AREF,
Surprise at Saqqara, Al-Ahram Weekly du 11
octobre 2001. Voir galement Abd al-Azz AL-
NAHS, Dcouverte de la tombe du chef du palais
royal Saqqra, al-Wafd du 1
er
octobre; Mustafa
AL-GAMAL, Le responsable de la sauvegarde des
antiquits dans le mondea vol quatre pices
antiques en gypte !, Nisf al-Duny du 7 octobre;
Restauration du mobilier funraire de Qar,
Uktubar du 14 octobre).
-
- -
Abousr
Tombe de Ben-Amun
Earlier this week, the uncovering of a New
Kingdom priests tomb in the Abu Sir necropolis
famous for its Old Kingdom fifth-dynasty pyramids
and solar temples further convoluted ancient
Egypts chronology. But while most professions
are uncomfortable with confusion, Egyptologists
seem delighted with the challenge. Dating from the
New Kingdom era, which stretches across the 18
th
and 20
th
dynasties, the rock-hewn tomb undercuts
the belief that the Abu Sir necropolis was solely an
Old Kingdom burial ground. The tomb is believed
to belong to a high priest named Ben-Amun, who
controlled the temple of the deity Ptah (the god of
creation). The discovery, unearthed by an Egyptian
mission excavating the area south of Sahures
pyramid, is both striking in architectural style and
historically significant.
It is a very important discovery,
enthused Zahi HAWASS, director general of the
Giza Plateau and Bahariya Oasis. HAWASS noted
that the tomb could ultimately change the way
Egyptologists look at this period in history, since
the find clearly shows that Abu Sir was not only for
Old Kingdom elites. Adel HUSSEIN, director of the
Saqqara necropolis, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the
large size of the tomb indicates that its owner was a
high-ranking official in the royal entourage.
Engravings found on the tombs wall revealed that
the deceased was the holder of the divine seal of
Ptah, and a 4.1-centimetre-long statue showing the
tombs owner was found inside the burial chambre.
The tombs large complex includes a
rectangular courtyard and two mud-brick buildings,
as well as an entrance gate and the burial chambre.
But HUSSEIN said that the tomb is in poor
condition, noting that its blocks had deteriorated
significantly due to its use as a stone quarry during
the last century. As we removed the sand, we
found that there was evidence that more than 10
statues were once erected in the courtyard, but only
two remain, said Gaballa Ali GABALLA, secretary-
general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities
(SCA). (Nevine EL-AREF, Changing the rules,
Al-Ahram Weekly du 19 juillet 2001. Voir
galement Al ABD AL-HD, Dcouverte de la
tombe de Ben-Amun, al-Akhbr du 4 juillet;
Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Dcouverte de la tombe
du porteur du sceau divin Abousr, al-Ahrr du 4
juillet).
-
- -
Louqsor
Tombe de Sti 1
er
It seems that the Valley of the Kings has
not yet been exhausted of treasure. A team clearing
a heap of earth near the famous tomb of the 19
t h
dynasty Pharaoh Seti I, who ruled from 1296 to
1279 BC, has come upon some golden fragments
along with two cartouches of Seti II, who was on
the throne almost exactly a hundred years later.
(Nevine EL-AREF, Gold fragments, Al-Ahram
Weekly du 5 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Temple de Mout
La mission du Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits a dcouvert, dans le temple de Mout, au
88
sud du temple de Karnak, une statue en granit noir
de la desse Mout, desse de la maternit, et a
galement dcouvert un tableau en pierre
sablonneuse sur lequel est inscrit un texte
hiroglyphique remontant lpoque de Ramss III,
fondateur de la XX
e
dynastie pharaonique (1186 -
1070 avant Jsus-Christ). Le Secrtaire gnral du
GABALLA, a dclar quau cours des fouilles qui ont
t effectues dans le temple pour excuter le projet
de sa restauration et damnagement de la rgion
qui lentoure, a t dcouverte la partie suprieure
de la desse Mout ayant le corps dune femme et le
visage dune lionne. Et dajouter quen effectuant
davantage de fouilles, a t dcouvert un tableau de
Hibat Ramss Nekht, ministre du roi Ramss III,
ayant une hauteur de 210 cm, une largeur de 106
cm et une paisseur de 55 cm.
Sur sa faade a t grave la trinit sacre
de Thbes, savoir le dieu Amon, son pouse Mout
et son fils Khensou. Ce tableau contient des
gravures sur toutes ses faades dont la plus
importante est celle reprsentant le roi Ramss III
prsentant des offrandes la trinit sacre de
Thbes, en prsence dun grand nombre de dieux,
parmi lesquels figurent Isis, Hathor, R Hor Ekhti,
Min, dieu de la fcondit, avec leur tte la desse
Wisaas sous forme dune femme qui est une desse
rarement mentionne dans les anciens textes
gyptiens. Cette desse tait aussi reprsente sous
forme dun cobra et son nom t souvent mentionn
avec celui du roi Ramss III.
Le directeur des Antiquits de Louxor, M.
Sabri ABDEL AZIZ, a dclar quun texte de 113
lignes a t grav horizontalement sur larrire-plan
du tableau indiquant le propritaire de ce tableau,
ses titres et les offrandes prsentes la trinit
sacre en lhonneur du roi Ramss III. Dr GABALLA
a affirm que le ministre de la Culture, M. Farouk
HOSNI, est intress cette dcouverte et a ordonn
de verser les sommes ncessaires pour restaurer le
tableau et la statue, tout en recommandant de les
exposer dans le Muse de Louxor. (Dcouverte
dune statue de la desse Mout, Le Progrs
gyptien du 9 dcembre 2001 ; Mushra MSA,
Dcouverte au sud du temple de Karnak dune
statue en granit noir de la desse Mout, al-Ahrm
du 3 dcembre).
-
- -
Dr Ab al-Nag
Tombe de Nub-Khper-Re Inyotef
Une mission archologique allemande a
mis au jour la tombe dun pharaon qui avait lanc
une guerre contre les Hyksos, il y a environ 2600
ans, a annonc jeudi dernier un responsable des
Antiquits. La mission a dcouvert la tombe de
Nubkeperre Iniotef sur la rive ouest du Nil prs de
la ville de Louxor, laide dun ancien manuscrit
en papyrus qui pourrait servir la dcouverte
dautres vestiges. Il sagit dune trs intressante
dcouverte du point de vue historique, a dclar le
Antiquits, le Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA. La tombe
tait mentionne dans le manuscrit appel Papyrus
Abbot qui remonte la XX
e
dynastie et qui se
trouve au British Museum Londres. Le papyrus
donne les dtails sur des tombes royales pilles
durant une priode danarchie du temps de cette
dynastie, selon le Dr GABALLA.
Grce ce document, la mission allemande
a pu retrouver les fondations de la pyramide du
pharaon et lentre de sa chambre funraire. Elle a
dcouvert aussi la tte brise dune statue et les
restes dune pierre grave dinscriptions portant le
nom de Nubkeperre Iniotef, a-t-il prcis. Le
pharaon a rgn la fin de la XVII
e
dynastie (1660
1567 avant Jsus-Christ). Grce cette
dcouverte, les archologues sont maintenant
presque srs que les tombes royales de la XVII
e
dynastie se trouvent toutes dans la rgion de Dra
Aboul Naga, prs de lentre de la Valle des Rois,
a-t-il dclar. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Une tombe de
lancienne gypte retrouve grce un papyrus,
Le Progrs gyptien du 1
er
juillet 2001. Voir
galement Amil KHAN, The Mummy returns!,
Middle East Times du 6 juillet).
This is actually the second time that Nub-
Khper-Res tomb has been discovered in modern
times, the last known discovery being in the last
half of the 19
th
century by Auguste MARIETTE.
Then he found a wooden sarcophagus, two bows
and six arrows. But the tomb was subsequently lost,
and with it, its treasures. While contemporary
archeologists do not believe that they are likely to
find many treasures in the area, they are
nevertheless excited at the historical significance of
the find. This king was the first of the line who
started the war of liberation against the Hyksos,
enthuses GABALLAH. The culmination of the war
was achieved at the hands of Ahmose, the great-
grandson of Nub-Khper-Re and the founder of the
XVIII dynasty.
The Nub-Khper-Re find, in confirming the
information contained in the Abbott Papyrus, can
be seen as the beginning of further discoveries in
the same area of West Thebes. If the exploration
continues, hopes LEBLANC, they will probably
find the other tombs. For this, todays
archeologists have to thank their counter-parts from
the 20
th
dynasty, who will, 3500 years after their
conscientious work, find their little spot in the
limelight. (Issandr ELAMRANI, A hint from the
pharaohs, Cairo Times du 5 juillet. Voir galement
Sammar A. EZZAT, Base of first pyramid in
89
Luxors west bank unearthed, The Egyptian
Gazette du 12 juillet).
-
- -
Dsert Oriental
Wd Bakkr
Une dlgation gypto-belge commune
prpare une tude sur les mines dor et les
anciennes habitations des res pharaoniques dans
la valle de Bakari dans le dsert de lEst, a
dclar le Dr Gaballah Ali GABALLAH, Secrtaire
gnral du Conseil Suprieur des Antiquits. Il a
ajout que ltude vise connatre la mthode avec
laquelle les pharaons faisaient extraire lor des
mines ainsi que la faon de vivre des ouvriers prs
des lieux de leur travail.
Il a mentionn que le dsert de lEst
comporte environ vingt mines utilises autrefois par
les pharaons pour extraire lor. On a ainsi dcouvert
prs de ces mines des usines et des moulins de
pierres. Il a galement soulign que le plan de
reconstitution contient aussi les anciennes maisons
des res romaines et islamiques. Il a galement
affirm que ces places seront transformes en des
rgions attirant des touristes. Selon lui, le Comit
permanent des Antiquits gyptiennes a accept que
la dlgation franaise examine les rgions de
Gabal Ettaba et Gabal Agama au Sina. En effet,
elles contiennent des rgions dhabitations et des
cimetire construites en pierres. (Les anciens
mines gyptiens dans le dsert de lEst, L e
Progrs gyptien du 23 septembre 2001 ; Al
ABD AL-HD, Une mission archologique belge
fouille les mines dor des pharaons, al-Akhbr du
20 septembre ; Tha ABD AL-RAHMN,
Programme dextraction dor des mines du Dsert
oriental, al-Ahrr du 23 septembre).
-
- -
Dsert Occidental
Wd Sra
Researchers at the Astronomical Research
Centre revealed that Wadi Sura (Sura valley) that
lies west of the Al Galf Al Kabir plateau in the New
Valley was one of the important housing
agglomerations in ancient Egypt at the end of the
Stone Age. These gatherings depended on plants
that grew on rains and around ponds. Researchers
say the ancient Egyptians built small houses,
practised rituals and drew pictures of animals and
birds on stones.
As researcher Ali BARAKAT of the
Geological Survey Institute said rain fell by 200 to
600 mm annually at the time, an amount quite
sufficient for establishing human life there.
Geological, biological, and archaeological signs
indicate that the area had been dwelled in different
periods 4000 years ago. Researchers found traces of
roads trodden by man and drawings picturing daily
life on rocks and in caves. Researchers reported
finding three caves in good condition lying to the
right side of the valley from the west including
drawings in two of them. There is also a wrecked
cave the walls of which bear drawings. Strangely
the excavating team in the area found pictures of
people swimming reflecting a high artistic standard.
The drawings actually indicate that the people had
settled there.
Scientists argue that the reason behind the
perishing of the antiquities of Wadi Sura is that the
area suffers from drought due to strong winds that
are 30 kilometres in velocity. Erosion then played a
role in wiping out these antiquities. On the other
hand the high temperature in the morning and low
temperature at night together with the accumulation
of residues helped in the process of rock
disintegration. (Sammar A. EZZAT, Ancient
Egyptians lived settled life in New Valley, The
Egyptian Gazette du 20 septembre 2001; Wagh AL-
SAQQR, Les vestiges de Wd Sra dvoile la vie
des gyptiens lge de la pierre, al-Ahrm du 17
septembre).
-
- -
Oasis de Sw
Ncropole de Bild al-Rm
Une mission du Conseil suprieur des
Antiquits a dcouvert, dans la rgion de Bilad El-
Roum dans loasis de Siwa, un grand nombre de
tombes remontant lpoque romaine, lintrieur
desquelles se trouvent des sarcophages, des linceuls
et des meubles funraires. Le Secrtaire gnral du
Conseil des Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali GABALLA, a
dclar que ces tombes sont dun style architectural
unique, tant donn quelles sont tailles dans le
rocher et sont riges sur trois niveaux ressemblant
la pente dune montagne.
Leurs faades ont t conues
semblablement celles des temples de cette
poque. Dr GABALLA a indiqu que ces tombes
contiennent des sarcophages et des linceuls, ainsi
que des restes dos des morts. Des sarcophages en
bois ont t trouvs en bon tat, avec sur elles des
gravures reprsentant le dfunt pendant sa vie. Dr
GABALLA a not que la mission a galement
dcouvert des ustensiles et des meubles comprenant
des tables, des poteries et des tableaux remontant
90
lpoque grco-romaine. Dr GABALLA a affirm
quil y a un plan pour amnager la rgion de la
dcouverte pour quelle soit ouverte aux visiteurs.
(Dcouverte de tombes Siwa, Le Progrs
gyptien du 31 octobre 2001. Voir galement Tha
ABD AL-RAHMN, Dcouverte de tombes
romaines dans loasis de Swa, al-Ahrr du 29
octobre).
-
- -
Oasis de Bahariyya
Paralititan Stromeri
Al-Ahram Hebdo revient sur la dcouverte
du Paralititan Stromeri, nouvelle espce de
dinosaure gant vivant il y a quelque 94
millions dannes dans les environs de
Bahariyya :
Pendant les annes 1990, dans le but de
ridentifier les dinosaures du monde entier, le
professeur ROSAL, Canadien, a rdig un livre. Par
manque total de la moindre information sur
lgypte, il a mis un grand point dinterrogation.
Par la suite, lOrganisme de la surface gologique
lui a demand de rexcaver les sites de STROMERI
au dbut du XX
e
sicle. Professeur ROSAL est venu
en 1998 en gypte, mais il na pas pu y travailler, Il
tait dj occup par ses excavations au Maroc. De
plus, ces excavations sont trs coteuses. Il tait
indispensable alors de sadresser dautres
universits. Ainsi le professeur amricain Robert
GLEGENGACK, directeur de la section de
palontologie lUniversit de Pennsylvanie a
sign un contrat avec lorganisme de la surface
gologique.
Les rcents travaux dexcavation ont
commenc en 2000. Les deux quipes ont trouv
quatre sites dj traits par STROMERI et 18 autres
sites rcents. Les palontologues travaillent pour le
moment sur les quatre premiers sites. Le Paralititan
Stromeri a t dvoil dans lun deux. Le
deuxime contient des fossiles de gigantesques
Lungfish (poissons aux poumons) et de petits
reptiles. Le troisime renferme un squelette que
lon croyait appartenir lEgyptosaurus, lespce
qui a t dvoile par STROMERI. Quant au dernier,
il comprend des feuilles darbres fossilises qui
informent sur le rgime alimentaire des dinosaures.
(Doaa ELHAMI, Les dinosaures gyptiens, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 11 juillet 2001).
Trois vertbres cervicales, deux vertbres
dorsales, deux humrus, quelques ctes et une
phalange de 30 cm de longueur. Ce sont les fossiles
identifis du second gigantesque animal aprs
lArgentinosaurus. Il sagit de Paralititan Stromeri,
ou la princesse de la mer, un dinosaure herbivore
qui a t dcouvert par une mission gypto-
amricaine Bahariya, dans le Dsert occidental.
Une rvlation au vrai sens du terme puisquelle
dmontre que lgypte a t lune des terres de
prdilection de ces animaux quasi mythiques. Selon
les palontologistes, la taille de la princesse de la
mer dpasse les 27 mtres et elle pse 75 tonnes. Ce
dinosaure date de lpoque crtace (97 millions
81 millions dannes). Lensemble des fossiles
dcouverts ne reprsente que 25 % du Paralititan
Stromeri.
Dautre part, le crne dun autre
dinosaure a t gaIement dcouvert avec les
fossiles, assure Yousri Saad ATTIYA, directeur de
la mission gyptienne de lorganisme de la surface
gologique. De mme, des feuilles darbres
fossiliss ont t trouves pendant les excavations.
Ce site se trouve 9 km de Bouity, capitale de
loasis Bahariya et 4 km au cur du dsert. Ce
dernier comprend plusieurs collines, Al-Dest
(rcipient) et Maghrafa (cuillre) en sont les plus
connues. Daprs les tudes, on a constat que
lpoque crtace, ce grand dsert tait la cte de
la mer Tythes, lanctre de la Mditerranne,
explique Saad ATTIYA. Prs de la cte, plusieurs
les taient parpilles sur lesquelles poussaient les
herbes et la mangrove. La prsence des les
engendrait la formation dtangs. cette poque,
les averses de pluie taient trs frquentes, et le
milieu fertile a favoris lapparition de plusieurs
espces de fougres sur la cte et lapparition, pour
la premire fois, darbres fleuris et fruitiers. La
princesse de la mer vivait alors dans un paradis que
son homologue de lpoque jurassique na pas
connu. Paralititan Stromeri vivait alors dans la
boue, allongeait son long cou et dvorait de
gigantesques plantes.
La princesse de la mer faisait partie dune
faune distinctive, beaucoup dautres espces de
dinosaures herbivores comme lAegyptosaurus ont
t rpertoris, et dautres carnivores dont la taille
ne dpassait pas les 12,5 m comme le
Carcharodontosaurus, Bahareasaurus e t
Spinosaurus. Les carnivores dvoraient les
herbivores, des petits reptiles comme le lzard et le
crocodile marin et deau douce, ainsi que les
poissons, surtout les Lungfishs, poissons
amphibiens. Ces poissons avaient la capacit de
vivre dans leau douce et sur terre, car ils
respiraient par leur peau.
Ces carnivores mettaient la vie du
Paralititan Stromeri en danger. Il se protgeait
alors en senfonant dans la boue. Cest pour cette
raison que sa peau tait trs paisse, afin de ne
pas se blesser facilement, explique Saad ATTIYA.
Selon lui, la dcouverte du crne du dinosaure
Carcharadontosaurus au-dessus du fossile de la
princesse de la mer pouvait laisser penser quelle
avait t dvore. Mais, aprs de srieuses
recherches, aucune trace de dents na t
91
retrouve sur le fossile. Il tait intact, affirme le
directeur. Lensemble de ces fossiles tait le fruit de
la saison janvier et fvrier 2000, Une fois
dcouverts, ils ont t exposs au risque dtre
endommags ou de disparatre. Les traiter et les
fortifier sur place est lunique solution de les
conserver, ajoute ATTIYA. On ajoute alors des
matires chimiques pour les consolider.
Les fossiles retrouvs ont t envoys aux
tats-Unis afin dtre soumis des examens
minutieux avec des instruments technologiques
nouveaux. Aprs les avoir tudis luniversit de
Pennsylvanie, lquipe de travail, compose de 60
Amricains et gyptiens, sest assure que la
princesse de la mer est bien le second gigantesque
animal qui a mis les pieds sur terre, a affirm
ATTIYA. Selon lui, le dpart des fossiles tait
indispensable. Notre laboratoire primitif ne peut
pas examiner les fossiles gigantesques mis au jour
lanne dernire, dplore le directeur. Ltude
dun seul fossile avec des outils primitifs peut
prendre au moins sept ans avant dobtenir des
rsultats. Mais avec lutilisation de technologies
rcentes, en trois ans, les rsultats pourraient tre
concluants. Dautre part, on a besoin de plusieurs
spcialistes. Actuellement, Yousri Saad ATTIYA ne
forme que trois palontologistes gyptiens. Deux
parmi eux ont t entrans utiliser de rcents
instruments lanne dernire. Le directeur espre
que son laboratoire sera quip de tous les
instruments ncessaires en 2002 avec le retour des
fossiles du Paralititan Stromeri.
Dici l, nos palontologues suivent leur
mthode manuelle et traditionnelle dans leur
modeste laboratoire. Ces derniers travaillent sur
quelques ctes fossilises dun autre dinosaure
trouv galement en janvier et fvrier 2001. Un
travail de titan qui exige de la patience, de longues
dures pour enrichir le patrimoine gyptien. (Doaa
ELHAMI , Bahariya terre des dinosaures, Al-
Ahram Hebdo du 11 juillet 2001. Voir galement
Izzat AL-SADAN , Voyage vers le monde
disparu !, al-Ahrm du 14 juillet ; Ihb FATH,
Lhistoire complte de la fuite du dinosaure
gyptien vers les tats-Unis !, khir Sa du 25
juillet).
-
- -
Oasis de Dakhla
Al-Muzawwaqa
Une mission archologique gyptienne a
dcouvert trois mille faucons momifis lintrieur
des tombes dal-Muzawwaqa, situes dans la ville
de Dakhla, dans la Nouvelle Valle. Le secrtaire
gnral du Conseil Suprme des Antiquits, Dr
Gballah Al GBALLAH, a dclar hier que les
faucons mis au jour remontent lpoque romaine
et sont en bon tat de conservation. Le directeur des
Antiquits de la Nouvelle Valle, Bahgat AHMAD, a
soulign que les fouilles archologiques entreprises
sur le site depuis 1984 ont conduit la dcouverte
de monnaies, de bliers et de quelques amulettes et
papyrus. Une mission archologique canadienne
attend lautorisation du Comit permanent du CSA
pour commencer la restauration de la ncropole.
(Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Dcouverte de trois
mille faucons momifis dans la Nouvelle Valle,
al-Ahrr du 4 octobre 2001).
-
- -
Izbat Bashand
The team of excavators working at Al
Dakhla oasis in the New Valley have recently
rediscovered four Roman tombs in good condition
one of which was found to retain its dome, making
it the only of its kind across the country. The late
archaeologist Ahmed FAKHRI was the first to draw
the attention to this archaeological site. Some of the
residents of Ezbet Bashandi village, where the
tombs were found, have been actually living in
archaeological tombs. According to archaeologist
Sayed YAMANI one of those tombs built with sand
stone had no mural paintings and inscriptions. But
the door does bear funerary scenes.
He said that the latest of such tombs
belongs to Sheikh BASHANDI, a pious man who
dwelled the area during the Ottoman age. He was
buried in the archaeological tomb, which is the only
one in Egypt to have a dome. The dome was
perhaps retained till date because in a later stage a
mud dome was moulded on top of the original rock
dome. As such the tomb bears a combination of
Roman and Islamic features.
Preliminary studies conducted by
researchers indicate that the houses of Ezbet
Bashandi are built on a Roman cemetery a matter
which made it necessary to resume excavations on a
larger scale. However, a report to this effect has
been referred to the Minister of Culture Faruk
HOSNI for the allocation of an extra budget.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, 4 Roman tombs unearthed
again at Dakhla oasis, The Egyptian Gazette du 11
octobre 2001, Al ABD AL-HD, Dcouverte de
quatre tombes romaines au-dessous des maisons
Dakhla, al-Akhbr du 7 octobre).
-
- -
Tushk
Al-Nabta
92
An Egyptian-American team of excavators
has unearthed the oldest archaeological spot ever
dwelt by the ancient Egyptians in the pre-dynasties
age. They lived a primitive life in the area of Nabta
in Toshka depending on pasturing. But they held
the first observatory in history. According to Dr
Musallam SHALTUT of the Astronomical Research
Centre the new find ascertains that the ancient
Egyptians lived there since 11,000 years, exposed
to summer seasonal winds blowing on central
Africa. They lived on wild animals in areas were
grass grew. Dr SHALTUT said that Nabta which lies
in central Toshka was mainly a 10x7 kilometre lake
which used to be filled with water in the rainy
season.
The discovered observatory, made of sand
stone takes the shape of a circle with four windows.
The ancient Egyptians, according to Dr SHALTUT,
realised that June 21 represents the beginning of
summer while December 21
s t
represents the
beginning of winter. The team discovered remains
of a village that used to be dwelt by pasturing
tribes. The remains include 18 houses distributed
over three rows and a number of wells dug to
provide dwellers with water. The team has also
unearthed stoves with bones of deers, hares and
small mammals.
He further said that those shepherds of the
Stone Age used cattle in their religious rituals and
depended on their milk. Although the team found
tombs of cattle with mud walls and wooden ceiling
covered with sand stone there are no traces so far of
human tombs, said Dr SHALTUT. When drought hit
the place the people who were a mixture of
Mediterranean and African species had to leave the
place to settle on the banks of the Nile where they
started to learn about agriculture. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Egyptians started as shepherds in Toshka
before learning agriculture, The Egyptian Gazette
du 30 aot 2001; Wagh AL-SAQQR, Une mission
gypto-amricaine met au jour le premier village de
Tushk, al-Ahrm du 24 aot. Voir galement
Hla Ahmad ZAK, Que dit Tushk?, al-Ahrm
du 13 juillet).
- - -
Prsid par le secrtaire gnral du Conseil
GBALLAH, le Comit permanent des Antiquits
gyptiennes a approuv la demande prsente par
lUniversit Yeel amricaine pour la poursuite des
travaux de fouilles des Antiquits de Tushk et
dtude des Antiquits dj dcouvertes au cours
des anciennes campagnes de la mission, sous la
direction du Dr John DARNELL. Ce programme se
poursuit jusquen janvier 2002. Par ailleurs, le CSA
tudie actuellement la possibilit de crer un muse
archologique Tushk. (Muse pour les
Antiquits de Tushk, khir Sa du 25 juillet
2001).
-
- -
Sina
En raison de la dcouverte dun grand
nombre dAntiquits submerges devant les ctes
du Sina, il a t dcid de crer une Direction pour
les Antiquits submerges sigeant au nord du
Sina. Cette Direction sera charge de travailler tout
au long du littoral au nord et au sud du Sina, Port
Sad et Ras El-Bar. Cest ce qua dclar le
directeur gnral des antiquits de la Basse-gypte,
le Dr Mohamed ABDEL MAKSOUD, avant dajouter
que la nouvelle direction sera soutenue
matriellement par un montant dun million de
Livres faisant partie du budget du projet national
pour le dveloppement du Sina. Ce montant sera
consacr lachat des quipements ncessaires pour
les travaux. Les gyptologues seront choisis des
rgions proches de la Basse-gypte.
Le Dr ABDEL MAKSOUD a inform que les
travaux de fouilles archologiques commenceront
aprs la formation des cadres techniques parmi les
travailleurs, et ce en coordination avec lOrganisme
gyptien du Canal de Suez. Parmi les rgions les
plus clbres abritant des Antiquits submerges au
Sina figure la zone dEl-Mohamadiat se trouvant
une distance de 35 kilomtres lest du Canal de
Suez. Cette zone connue sous le nom de forteresse
submerge remonte lpoque romaine. Il y a
aussi un certain nombre de navires submergs
devant les ctes dEl-Ariche, de Ras El-Bar et de
Port Sad. Un certain nombre de navires engloutis
remontant aux poques romaine et islamique ont t
dtects devant les ctes du sud du Sina. Des
fouilles archologiques seront aussi effectues dans
la rgion des lacs, comme ceux dEl-Bardaouil et
dEl-Timsah, en raison de lexistence dun certain
nombre de pices dAntiquits comprenant des
statues. Ceci dmontre lexistence dune cit
engloutie sous les eaux. (Hassan SAADALLAH,
Recherche des Antiquits submerges devant les
ctes du Sina, Le Progrs gyptien du 22 juillet
2001).
-
- -
Nord-Sina
Citadelle de Zarou
Une mission de fouilles archologiques du
Conseil suprieur des Antiquits a dcouvert
rcemment une srie de dpts militaires
appartenant aux armes gyptiennes de la XIX
e
dynastie de lEmpire moderne, situs dans le Sina
du Nord. Les dpts bien fortifis mis au jour,
93
couvrant une superficie totale de 12.000 mtres
carrs, sont construits en briques crues, a indiqu le
directeur des Antiquits du Delta, Dr Mohamed
ABDEL MAKSOUD, prcisant que les remparts de ces
dpts, en forme rectangulaires, sont dune largeur
de deux mtres.
Des dpts furent consacrs
emmagasiner les ravitaillements et les armes des
armes charges de dfendre les frontires
orientales de lgypte et du Sina lre de la XIX
e
dynastie, constituant une citadelle connue sous le
nom de Zarou, dont le nom figure sur le temple de
Karnak Louxor, a ajout M. ABDEL MAKSOUD.
Selon lui, la mission a galement dcouvert une
srie de pices dAntiquits notamment une
statuette en bronze du dieu Horus. Un rapport a t
soumis au ministre de la Culture sur ces
dcouvertes, afin dallouer les crdits ncessaires
pour la poursuite des fouilles dans cette rgion.
(Dcouverte de dpts au Sina du Nord, Le
Progrs gyptien du 9 dcembre 2001, Al ABD
AL-HD, Dcouverte au Sina dentrepts de
larme gyptienne vieux de 3500 ans, al-Akhbr
du 26 novembre ; Ashraf MUFD, Dcouverte au
Sina dentrepts militaires archologiques
remontant 3500 ans, al-Ahrm du 26 novembre).
-
- -
Rs al-Qals
Les fouilles effectues dans la province du
Sina du Nord ont men la dcouverte dun
btiment construit en calcaire sur le littoral de la
mer Mditerrane au nord de lle dEl-Qels Deir
El-Nassara. Ce btiment remonte lpoque
romaine (II
e
sicle). Le directeur de la rgion dEl-
Ariche pour les Antiquits islamiques et coptes, M.
Mohamed Magdi AMI N, a dclar que le plan
architectural et le style de la construction est
semblable celui du reste des btiments se trouvant
dans le palais de Wit. Ce btiment pourrait tre le
monument commmoratif qui a t construit par
lempereur ADRIEN en lhonneur du commandant
romain POMPEI.
M. AMIN a inform que lle dEl-Qels
tait connue dans les rfrences historiques sous le
nom de Ras El-Qels ou Deir El-Nassar. Il y avait un
grand monastre pour les chrtiens et ctait un port
important au nord du Sina. Cette le a tmoign de
la mort du prestigieux commandant romain POMPEI
et elle tait clbre par son industrie de textiles. Le
gouverneur dgypte EL-MOUQAOUAS a offert au
Prophte un tissu confectionn dans cette le. Cette
rgion a galement tmoign du passage de la
Sainte Famille au cours de son voyage en gypte.
Le port dEl-Qels a perdu son importance aprs
loccupation ottomane de lgypte. (Dcouverte
dun ancien btiment sur une le dans le Sina, Le
Progrs gyptien du 29 juillet 2001. Voir
galement Sammar A. EZZAT, 2
nd
century AD
Roman tomb discovered in North Sinai, The
Egyptian Gazette du 19 juillet).
-
- -
Al-Khuwaynt
Les fouilles effectues par la mission
dpendant du Conseil Suprieur des Antiquits ont
men la dcouverte dun ancien btiment dans la
rgion dEl-Khoueinat au nord du Sina. Le
directeur de la rgion dEl-Ariche pour les
Antiquits islamiques et coptes, M. Mohamed
Magdi AMIN, a dclar que le btiment dcouvert
tait un endroit o se reposaient les voyageurs qui
parcouraient cette route ctire. Ladite route servait
le commerce entre lgypte et les pays voisins. Il
sagit dun btiment sous forme de carr dune
superficie de 54 mtres carres, et se compose de 4
pavillons au milieu desquels se trouve une cour
ciel ouvert. (Dcouverte au Sina, Le Progrs
gyptien du 29 juillet 2001).
-
- -
Tell al-Ll
Some distance to the north-east in Tel EL-
Lulli, another archaeological area, the Egyptian
mission also came upon two magnificent Graeco-
Roman public baths with polychrome mosaic floors
in geometric designs. The baths date back to the
third century AD. A number of water basins and
water channels to bring cold and hot water into the
baths were also discovered. Refaat EL-GUINDI, the
chief inspector responsible for the excavation, told
Al-Ahram Weekly that a complete ancient drainage
system including pipes and dried-out water
channels has been unearthed around both baths.
The Egyptian excavation team will
continue their work in the area. The long military
road running from Qantara to Rafah shows the
different types of military architecture in Egypt.
The road and the new discoveries reveal more about
the history of Egypts eastern gateway than ever
before. (Nevine EL-AREF, Unearthing Sinai, Al-
Ahram Weekly du 20 dcembre 2001. Voir
galement Mushra MSA, Dcouverte dun bain
romain dans la rgion de Tell al-Ll au Nord-
Sina, al-Ahrm du 15 dcembre).
-
- -
Tell al-Burg
94
But this week, it seems that North Sinai
has also become an extremely fruitful
archaeological site. It all started when an Egyptian
mission carrying out routine excavation in Tel
Habuwa, an archaeological site located five
kilometres from Qantara East in north Sinai
chanced upon a unique mud-brick temple dating
back to the Pharaonic era. The discovery created
great excitement. It is an important find because
Pharaonic temples constructed with mud-brick are
a medium not commonly used by the ancient
Egyptians, who built their temples with limestone
blocks, said Mohamed ABDEL-MAQSOUD, head of
Antiquities in Lower Egypt. The temple is 2,400
metres wide and is comprised of a huge entrance
gate leading to a pillar hall and the Holy of Holies,
where a collection of bronze statues depicting the
after-life god Osiris was unearthed. A number of
bronze and limestone scarabs featuring Osiris and
Horus were also among the artifacts discovered.
According to Ramadan HELMI, chief
inspector at Qantara East, some archaeological
remains found inside the temple reveal that it was
also used to worship Osiris during the late
Pharaonic period. But the most important discovery
of all is a black granite dyad, or a pair statue,
showing an embracing couple. (Nevine EL-AREF,
Unearthing Sinai, Al-Ahram Weekly du 20
dcembre 2001).
-
- -
Tell Habwa
Recent excavations at Tel Habwa, an
archaeological site in Qantara Sharq have proved
the presence of a rare pharaonic temple made of
sun-dried brick. According to Dr Mohamed ABDUL
MAQSSOUD, head of Lower Egypt Antiquities, the
temple that occupies an area of 2400 metres was the
first ancient Egyptian temple to be discovered in
North Sinai along the old military route known as
Horous. The temple was unearthed at the city of
Taro which was considered the eastern Egyptian
gate through the Delta, as illustrated by the
inscriptions on the statues discovered inside the
temple.
North Sinai had witnessed limited
commercial activities in the Old Kingdom and the
Intermediate State. It was not until Egypt was
attacked by the Hyksos that it realised the
importance of reinforcing the eastern borders on the
old Horous route. The area was then fortified by a
series of castles and fortresses. Dr ABDUL
MAQSSOUD said that Horous route starts from the
modem city of Qantara Sharq to Rafah. Illustrations
of the route is inscribed on the walls of Al Karnak
in Luxor where King Siti was officially received at
Taro Citadel (Tel Habwa citadel). The mural
inscription of Al Karnak also illustrated a number
of citadels built along the road.
Modern excavations are still discovering
these fortresses described at Al Karnak Temple
complex. King Siti I was not the only royalty to use
the road and determine its features. There was also
Ramsis II and Tohotmos III who used the route to
secure the eastern borders. Archaeologist Ramadan
HELMI explains that the temple is built of sun-dried
brick except for some parts of the floor. He added
that the walls of the temple were 4 metres thick
while the temple itself was surrounded by a ten-
metre thick wall. Inside the temple there was found
a number of bronze statues representing god Osoris.
He added that a number of units that changed the
original plan of the temple were added in a latter
stage giving proof that the worship of the god of the
temple was revived up until late pharaonic ages.
During excavations several items were
found, said Mr HELMI, including a double statue of
black granite representing a couple standing arm in
arm. An incomplete statue of sand stone perhaps
representing a priest in a kneeling position offering
sacrifice was also found. In addition there were a
number of bronze amulets of god Osoris, a granite
mass that was prepared for sculpturing, an amulet
of god Horous and a bronze coin that dates back to
the Ptolemaic age. The found artifacts were all
moved to the display storehouse at Qantara Sharq.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, First Pharaonic temple in
Sinai discovered along ancient Horous route, The
Egyptian Gazette du 20 dcembre 2001; Mushra
MSA, Dcouverte du premier temple pharaonique
Qantara Est au Nord-Sina, al-Ahrm du 13
dcembre).
-
- -
Sud Sina
Khashm al-Triq
La mission archologique gypto-
amricaine travaillant dans la rgion de Khashm al-
Triq et la valle dal-Q au Sud Sina a exhum
des restes de tombes circulaires et de sarcophages
datant de la prhistoire. Ont t mis au jour trois
cents sarcophages et des dizaines de tombes dont
certaines sont dtruites et dautres en bon tat,
renfermant des ossements et des inhumations
primitives. Le secrtaire gnral du Conseil
GBALLAH, a dclar hier que le ministre de la
Culture, Frq HUNS, a approuv la dcision du
Comit permanent des Antiquits gyptiennes de
soumettre cette zone importante la loi sur la
protection des Antiquits, afin de mieux assurer sa
prservation, sa restauration et son ramnagement,
en vue de la mettre sur la carte touristique
95
internationale. (Al ABD AL-HD, Des tombes
prhistoriques au Sina, al-Akhbr du 3 octobre
2001. Voir galement Ruz al-Ysuf du 20 octobre).
-
- -
Mer Rouge
La quantit dAntiquits datant des
diffrentes poques de la civilisation gyptienne
enfouies au fond de la mer gale celle qui existe sur
terre. Cest du moins ce quaffirme un groupe de
jeunes archologues-plongeurs qui vient de fonder
en France, en fvrier 2000, lassociation In Situ
pour larchologie itinrante. Cette association
aura pour objectif les fouilles archologiques
subaquatiques. Notre objectif est de raliser un
nouveau concept dans ce domaine des fouilles,
explique Mourad AL-AMOURI, lun des membres
fondateurs de lassociation.
En effet, larchologie itinrante est: Une
archologie vivante, dynamique et active, en
mouvement, qui voyage et ne sarrte pas aux
frontires, et simplique dans le monde
daujourdhui, a-t-il ajout. Projet Premier, est
le nom de la premire activit de lassociation, qui a
choisi lgypte en raison de ses richesses
subaquatiques. Le projet tire son intrt du choix de
la mer Rouge comme thtre de fouilles. Ce choix
est justifi par le fait que personne jusqu prsent
na tent de fouiller la mer Rouge, qui comme la
Mditerrane est riche en vestiges, explique
encore AL-AMOURI.
Or, la zone choisie connat actuellement un
dveloppement des diffrentes activits
touristiques, ce qui risque dexposer au danger les
vestiges sils ne sont pas rapidement inventoris et
protgs. Dote de tout le matriel ncessaire la
ralisation de fouilles archologiques en
mouvement, cette quipe envisage de mettre en
place une structure dintervention archologique
mobile au service de la sauvegarde dun patrimoine
menac, voire ignor, faute de moyens. En effet,
lgypte a connu une navigation maritime qui
gale, sinon dpasse celle nilotique, non seulement
dans la Mditerrane, mais aussi en mer Rouge qui
reliait la Valle du Nil aux autres pays africains et
asiatiques. Il est donc trs possible de trouver des
vestiges de ces diffrentes poques. La navigation
en mer Rouge est donc pratique ds la priode
prdynastique et connat un essor durable de
lpoque pharaonique lpoque romaine en
passant par les poques phnicienne et grecque.
Elle consiste en une circulation mixte liant voyage
en terre et sur mer.
Lassociation In Situ aura donc le loisir de
prospecter sur 200 km entre le Wadi Gawasis (nord
de Qosseir) et Marsa Alam. Cette partie de la mer
Rouge est la plus proche de la Valle du Nil en
Haute-gypte. Elle correspond priori la zone
privilgie depuis lpoque pharaonique pour les
navigations dexploration ou de commerce. On
aura sans doute de quoi nous informer sur les
relations commerciales et la vie durant ces
poques, estime Myriam SECO ALVAREZ, lune
des membres de lquipe. En fait, la mer Rouge et
son littoral ont longtemps t dlaisss des
archologues au profit des vestiges terrestres et
ceux de la Mditerrane. Larchitecture navale
maritime prdynastique et pharaonique constitue
une lacune dans les connaissances archologiques
actuelles, ajoute-t-elle.
En effet, aucun navire de ces poques
recules na encore t retrouv dans son contexte
naturel dutilisation, savoir la mer. Do
limportance de notre travail qui jette la lumire
sur ces lacunes, a-t-elle prcis. Or, parmi les
destinations de ces expditions pharaoniques de
circulation mixte, il y en a une dont on ignore tout
encore: le mystrieux royaume de Pount. Cette
expdition aurait pu partir soit du Golfe de Suez,
soit de Qosseir selon un texte hiroglyphique datant
du rgne de Ppi II (vers 2100 av. J.-C.). La
localisation gographique du mystrieux pays de
Pount na pas encore t dcouverte. Il est
gnralement plac soit dans la rgion de la cte
des Somalis actuelle entre Djibouti et le cap
Guerdafi, soit plus au Nord sur la cte
thiopienne de la mer Rouge, estime Mourad AL-
AMOURI . Dresser une carte archologique
reprsente lobjectif majeur de lassociation, afin de
rpertorier les vestiges des routes de navigation
empruntes depuis lpoque pharaonique. Le
travail de cartographie doubl dune valuation
archologique des paves et des sites rencontrs
ncessi t era l ut i l i sat i on dun l ogi ci el
cartographique particulier, commente Mourad
AL-AMOURI.
En effet, lensemble des informations ainsi
collectes lors de la prospection ira directement
alimenter un Systme dInformation Gographique
(SIG), base de donnes cartographiques interactive
permettant lextraction des cartes thmatiques par
poque, par type de vestiges, par zone, par
profondeur, etc. Ces diffrents critres permettront
de dfinir les bases dune rflexion densemble sur
les navigations qua connues la mer Rouge. En
ralisant ce travail de cartographie, In Situ espre
contribuer la mise en place dune vritable
politique de protection du patrimoine archologique
sous-marin de cette partie inexplore de la mer
Rouge. (Nada AL-HAGRASSY & Aliaa AL-KORACHI,
la dcouverte de fonds inconnus, Al-Ahram
Hebdo du 15 aot 2001 ; Les trsors inconnus de
la mer Rouge, al-Ahrm du 7 septembre).
96
- - -
The Supreme Council for Antiquities is
currently studying a proposal to establish three
specialised centres for sunken antiquities. The first
is to be located in Hurghada to cover the coast of
the Red Sea, the second will be in Qantara Sharq to
supervise the Mediterranean coast from north Sinai
to Damietta, whereas the third is to be situated in
Matruh having to cover the distance from Seidi
Abdul Rahman to the Egyptian borders at Sallum.
The centres will be assigned to detect and
determine archaeological sites and sunken vessels
in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean considering
that such artifacts underwater are an Egyptian
treasure that should be preserved and utilised to
promote diving tourism. Such trend of tourism is
actually on the rise across the world.
According to Ibrahim DARWISH Director
of the Sunken Antiquities Department in
Alexandria, a comprehensive survey of the
Egyptian coast will be completed in the course of
two years. Accordingly, he added, sites of sunken
antiquities and their content are to be determined
before dealing with each site independently
according to its importance. He explained that the
Mediterranean seabed and that of the Red Sea
embrace a number of vessels belonging to the
Greek, Roman and Islamic ages. (Sammar A.
EZZAT, Plan to establish 3 specialised centres for
sunken antiquities, The Egyptian Gazette du 18
octobre 2001).
- - -
LInstitut darchologie nautique de
lUniversit du Texas, renomm pour ses fouilles
sous-marines, a organis ces dernires annes des
recherches en mer Rouge: un bateau mdival de la
priode islamique a t retrouv. Cette pave
contient un grand nombre dustensiles en mtal et
de la poterie, qui sont en conservation dans le
laboratoire de cet institut amricain. Une nouvelle
fouille de ce mme institut a t aussi annonce
dans la rgion de Marsa Matrouh. (Gisle BOULAD,
Une archologie en plein essor, Al-Ahram Hebdo
du 15 aot 2001).
-
- -
Al-Qusayr
Trade is one of the oldest forms of
relations between countries. For the sake of getting
access to more information on the trade route
between Rome, Egypt and India in the period
between the first century BC and the first century
AD a group of British and American experts have
embarked upon an ambitious programme to survey
a Roman vessel lying underwater in the Red Sea
opposite the coast of Al Qosseir.
International mass media had referred to
the surveillance work maintained by the team to
excavate the wreckage of a sunken Roman ship.
The team has expressed hope of finding a treasure
of gold and silver on board. The ship sunk shortly
after setting sail towards India in the period
between the end of the first century BC and the
beginning of the first century AD. Experts affirmed
that the ship was owned by the famous Roman
Emperor Augustus who ruled Egypt after achieving
victory over the common forces of Anthony and
Cleopatra in Actium in 31 BC.
Wreckage of the ship was found eight
years ago. The team of archaeologists pin hope on
finding a thread that would yield information on the
first maritime commercial route linking Europe to
south India via the Egyptian territories in Qosseir
harbour. Experts believe that sand at the seabed has
protected the vessel from the detrimental effect of
water currents. There is great possibility that the
ship is in good condition and so the team is likely to
find the cargo on board.
The team of archaeologists have already
reported finding a number of huge earthenware
which turned to be used in storing wine and olive
oil. They believe that the rest of the cargo included
wine transported from south Italy, jewellery and
gold coins. It is believed that the vessel was
considered among the huge pieces of the Roman
commercial fleet at the time.
Experts, however, expect that excavations
are to be carried on for four years. Lying 200 feet
deep underwater diving periods will not exceed 30
minutes at a time in order to protect the divers from
the adverse effect of working at such depth.
(Sammar A. EZZAT, Wreckage of Roman ship in
Red Sea might reveal first maritime commercial
route, The Egyptian Gazette du 2 aot 2001; Triq
AL-SHAYKH, Des trsors dans un navire chou
devant al-Qusayr, al-Ahrm du 27 juillet).
-
- -
Mines dor
An Egyptian archaeologist has revealed
that the ancient Egyptians who lived in the southern
parts of the country and the Red Sea area were the
first to extract and use gold for making jewellery.
Hundreds of mines had been discovered since the
pre-dynasties age in the valley and the Red Sea area
stretching to Halayeb and Shalatin. They had also
reached an advanced stage of mining especially in
the eastern desert. However, the peak of mining
97
was during the New Kingdom and during the rule
of King Siti I.
According to Researcher Ali BARAKAT of
the Geological Survey Authority, the ancient
Egyptians were the first to map a geological chart
of these mines. They worked out techniques that
helped in the process of sedimentation. Gold is
found in these areas in sediments in the form of
granules in quartz veins. Field studies in an area as
the Valley of Daghbeg denoted the methods they
designed to extract gold by grinding the material
and then concentrating it as well as the tools used in
the process. BARAKAT added that the gold sites
were often in the vicinity of wells that were lying in
the distance between the Red Sea and the eastern
side of the Nile where quartz veins bearing gold
were available. The business also flourished during
the Roman Age for which a housing and industrial
complex was built.
He said that this particular area embraces a
large number of mine openings revealing that the
ancient Egyptians were grinding the rocks that bear
gold and then smoothed it until it became powder.
He said that excavators had been able to unearth a
number of grinds and other tools in addition to
remains of houses where workers engaged on the
site used to dwell. Their houses were made of
stones gathered from among the hard rocks brought
to the valley by torrents. The ground powder mixed
with gold used to be placed in running water so that
deposits would be melted leaving the gold granules.
The ancient Egyptians usually dug ditches 30 cms
deep with shallow holes for the sedimentation of
the gold. The water was left to pour into square
shaped basins and the gold was gathered instantly
from the holes, explained Ali BARAKAT. (Sammar
A. EZZAT, Ancient Egyptians were the first to use
gold in jewellery, The Egyptian Gazette du 23
aot 2001).
II Confrences & colloques
Parmi les nombreuses communications
scientifiques qui ont eu lieu durant ce second
semestre 2001, nous avons retenu les cent
soixante confrences suivantes:
Rsultats des fouilles archologiques dans le
Delta
Un colloque sur lvaluation des rsultats
des fouilles archologiques dans le Delta dgypte
pour lan 2000-2001, sest ouvert El-Qantara
Chark, tenu sous le patronage du Dr Gaballah Ali
GABALLAH, Secrtaire gnral du Conseil
Suprieur des Antiquits. Le but de ce colloque, de
quatre jours, est dexaminer les rsultats des
fouilles menes dans les divers sites archologiques
des gouvernorats du Delta, a affirm le Dr
GABALLAH, ajoutant que les dcouvertes
archologiques seront values dans la perspective
daffecter les fonds ncessaires pour chaque zone
archologique en fonction de limportance de
chacune delle. Le colloque comprend galement
des confrences, des discussions sur les dcouvertes
archologiques ralises au long de lan 2000-2001,
leurs circonstances et les obstacles layant
rencontrs. Les participants ce colloque slvent
20 jeunes archologues et directeurs des
diffrentes zones archologiques dans le Delta
dgypte. (Hassan SAADALLAH, Colloque sur les
rsultats des fouilles dans le Delta, Le Progrs
gyptien du 22 juillet 2001. Voir galement
Congrs sur les dernires dcouvertes
archologiques, al-Ahrr du 11 juillet).
-
- -
Rle des mdias dans la protection des
Antiquits
Un colloque aura lieu la fin de la semaine
prochaine au Centre de Documentation des
Antiquits sous le titre Le rle de la presse et des
mdias dans le rehaussement de la conscience
archologique. Ce colloque se tiendra sous les
auspices du Dr Gballah Al GBALLAH, secrtaire
gnral du CSA, avec la participation des
responsables des rubriques archologiques et
touristiques dans la presse nationale. En effet, les
mas mdia assument une grande responsabilit dans
la prise de conscience archologique parmi les
citoyens. (Un colloque sur le rle des mdias dans
la protection des Antiquits, al-Ahrr du 31 juillet
2001. Voir galement Rle des mdias dans la
conscience archologique, al-Ahrm du 3 aot ;
Tha ABD AL-RAHMN, Un colloque mettant en
garde contre les violations des Antiquits, al-
Ahrr du 7 septembre).
-
- -
Oasis & dserts dgypte
La confrence internationale sur les oasis
et dserts dgypte sest droule au niveau des
experts. Elle a t prside par le Secrtaire gnral
du Conseil Suprieur des Antiquits, Dr Gaballa Ali
GABALLA. Y ont particip notamment le
gouverneur de la Nouvelle Valle, le Gnral
Medhat ABDEL RAHMAN, et le directeur gnral de
la Commission du patrimoine international de
lUnesco.
La confrence a recommand, lors de la
sance de clture, dtablir une troite coordination
entre les ministres du Tourisme, de la Culture et de
lEnvironnement des pays membres de lUnesco, en
prservant les zones dsertiques pour garder leur
caractre traditionnel. (Hassan SAADALLAH,
Confrence sur les oasis et les dserts dgypte,
Le Progrs gyptien du 30 septembre 2001).
-
- -
Association des
archologues arabes
Les travaux du IV
e
rassemblement
scientifique de lAssociation des archologues
arabes seront inaugurs le 27 du mois courant
lUniversit du Caire et se poursuivront pendant
trois jours, avec la participation de 500 scientifiques
et chercheurs des diffrents coins du monde arabe.
Ledit rassemblement discutera 107 recherches
scientifiques dans les domaines des Antiquits dans
le monde arabe et examinera de rcentes tudes et
recherches scientifiques dans les domaines de
larchitecture, des arts, de lentretien et de la
restauration des Antiquits, de la gestion des sites
historiques et des Antiquits submerges, ainsi que
la continuit civilisationnelle entre les pays arabes
dans les diverses poques historiques
not er que l Associ at i on des
archologues arabes a t fonde au Caire en 1998
et comprend 870 scientifiques et chercheurs
spcialiss dans les domaines de larchologie dans
le monde arabe. Elle est lun des organismes du
Conseil arabe dpendant de lUnion des universits
arabes.
Ladite Association a pour objectif de
consolider les efforts de recherches scientifiques en
gypte et dans le monde arabe et la coopration
entre les universits et les centres de recherches
arabes concerns par les tudes archologiques, tout
99
en uvrant tablir un langage commun pour les
termes archologiques dans le monde arabe. Outre
la sensibilisation archologique et la prservation
du patrimoine dans le monde arabe. (Hassan
SAADALLAH, Travaux de lAssociation des
archologues arabes, Le Progrs gyptien du 21
octobre 2001. Voir galement Tha ABD AL-
RAHMN, Les archologues arabes discutent leurs
causes au Caire, al-Ahrr du 26 octobre ; Ihb AL-
KHUDAR, Les archologues arabes examinent le
changement du terme les dialectes smites,
Akhbr al-adab du 4 novembre).
-
- -
Dr. P. NICHOLSON, [Lecturer in the Dep. of
Archaeology at Cardiff University, Memphis],
Faience Factory, The Egypt Exploration
Society, 27/08/2001.
Prof. M. EL- GAMI LI , [Professor of Applied
Geophysics, Mansura University, gypte],
Drilling in Sais: as a window to its
Geoarchaeol ogy, The Egypt Exploration
Society, 10/09/2001.
Frdric BAUDE N, [University of Liege,
Belgique], A Medieval historian at work: AL
MAQRIZIs working method in the light of his
unpublished notebook, Nederlands-Vlaams
Instituut in Cairo, 13/09/2001.
Nozomu KAWAI, A Study in the Monuments of
Tutankhamun, American Research Center in
Egypt, 19/09/2001.
Agnieszka DOBROWOLSKA, [Conservation
Architect], A Divine Gift of Blessed Water: The
Sabil-Madrasa Muhammad Ali (Tusun Pasha)
Conservation Project, American Research
Center in Egypt, 19/09/2001.
Textes des Pyramides versus Textes des
Sarcophages, Table ronde, Institut franais
d'archologie orientale, 24-26 septembre 2001:
Prof. Dr. Bernard MATHIEU,
[directeur de lIfao, France], La
distinction entre Textes des
Pyramides et Textes des Sarcophages
est-elle lgitime?, 24/09/2001.
James P. AL L E N, Des traits
dialectaux dans les exemplaires des
Textes des Pyramides du Moyen
Empire, 24/09/2001.
Prof. Pascal VERNUS, [France], Le
cardinal dans les plus anciens corpus
funraires, 24/09/2001.
Prof. Dr. Nathalie BEAUX-GRIMAL,
[France], Comparaison des modes de
dtermination dans les Textes des
Pyramides et dans les Textes des
Sarcophages, 24/09/2001.
John BA I N E S , Sources and
Production of Early Mortuary Texts,
25/09/2001.
Catherine BERGER- EL N AGGAR,
[France], Un papyrus de la XII
e
dynastie inscrit sur les deux faces de
Textes des Pyramides (trouv dans le
temple de Ppy I
er
en 1985),
25/09/2001.
Isabelle PIERRE-CROISIAU, [France],
Nouvelles identifications de Textes
des Sarcophages parmi les nouveaux
Textes des Pyramides prsents chez
Ppi I
er
et Mrenr, 25/09/2001.
Harold M. HAYS, Transformation of
Context: the Field of Rushes in Old
and Middle Kingdom Mortuary
Literature, 25/09/2001.
Susanne BICKEL, [Suisse], Dun
monde lautre: les formules
concernant le passeur et son bac,
25/09/2001.
lise BNE & Nadine GUILHOU,
[France], Le Grand Dpart et la Suite
A dans les Textes des Sarcophages,
26/09/2001.
Katja GOEBS, The Cannibal Spell:
Continuities and Changes in the
Pyramid Text and Coffin Text
Versions and their Implications,
26/09/2001.
Laurent CO U L O N , [France],
Rhtorique et stratgies du discours
dans les Textes des Pyramides et les
Textes des Sarcophages, 26/09/2001.
Harco WILLEMS, Democracy and
the Coffin Texts, 26/09/2001.
Nozomu KAWAI, [ARCE Fellow, The Johns
Hopkins University], A Study of Monuments of
Tutankhamun, American Research Center in
Egypt, 26/09/2001.
Dr. Shhanda KARM, [Universit amricaine du
Caire, gypte], Les monuments de la rue al-
Muiz, Forum dchange des informations,
29/09/2001.
100
Dr. Jocelyn GOHARY, Gods, Myths and Mysteries,
American Research Center in Egypt, 1/10/2001.
Dr. Mostafa FOUDA, [Director of Nature
Conservation Sector, EEA, gypte], Egypt
Protected Areas, The Egypt Exploration
Society, 1/10/2001.
Dr. Cornelis VON PELGRIM, [Deputy Director of
the Swiss Institute for Architectural and
Archaeological Research on Ancient Egypt
(Cairo)], Strategraphy of a Temple: the Khnum
Temple of Elephantine from the New Kingdom
to the Ptolemaic Period, Nederlands-Vlaams
M. Stphane PRADINES, [membre scientifique
lIfao, France], Gedi, une cit islamique
dAfrique orientale (XI
e
-XVII
e
sicles), Institut
franais darchologie orientale, 7/10/2001.
Dr. Jocelyn GOHARY, The Temples and Their
Function, American Research Center in Egypt,
8/10/2001.
Prof. Karol MYSLIWIEC, [Polish Academy and
Warsaw University; Director of Excavations at
Saqqara, Pologne], Saqqara 2000 The Newest
Discoveries and Conservation Work, Polish
Centre of Archaeology in Cairo, 9/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Gaballa A. GABALLA, [Secretary
General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities,
gypte], Marine Archaeology in Egypt,
American Research Center in Egypt,
10/10/2001.
Dr. Huub PRAGT, [Egyptologist and runs a
consultancy bureau for egyptology and
archaeology in the Netherlands], Slaying the
Umbilical Snake, Nederlands-Vlaams Instituut
in Cairo, 11/10/2001.
M. Paolo GALLO, [Universit de Turin, Italie], Les
fouilles rcentes sur lle de Canope, Institut
franais darchologie orientale, 14/10/2001.
Dr. Jocelyn GOHARY, Life After Death, American
Research Center in Egypt, 15/10/2001.
Dr. B. VACHALA, [Deputy Field Director of the
Czech mission at Abu-Sir, Tchque], The Tomb
of INTI in South Abu-Sir, The Egypt
Exploration Society, 15/10/2001.
Dominique HARRE-ROGERS, [Chercheur associ
au Cedej, France], Les marchs agricoles
gyptiens au dbut du XIX
e
sicle, Centre
dtudes et de Documentation conomiques,
Juridiques et Sociales, 16/10/2001.
Prof. Elwyn SIMONS, [Prof. and Head of Primate
Center, Duke University, N. Carolina, USA],
The meaning of evaluating 4-6 million years old
human relatives from East Africa, American
Dr Mamdh AL-DAMT, [directeur gnral du
Muse gyptien, Le Caire], Introduction
larchologie, Muse gyptien, 17/10/2001.
M
lle
Barbara TRATSAERT, [Assistant archaeology
at the Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo],
Wadi Bahariya & Sokari, Two Roman
goldmines in the Eastern Desert of Egypt,
Nederlands-Vlaams Instituut in Cairo,
18/10/2001.
Dr. Nadia LOQMAH, [Head of the Restoration
Department at the Egyptian Museum, gypte],
The Restoration of the Sixth Carriage of King
Tutankhamon in the Egyptian Museum, Forum
dchange des informations, 20/10/2001.
M. Laurent COULON, [membre scientifique
lIfao, France], Quand Amon parle Platon:
propos dune statue thbaine dpoque
ptolmaque, Institut franais darchologie
orientale, 21/10/2001.
Dr. Jocelyn GOHARY, Akhenaten and his One
God, American Research Center in Egypt,
22/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Salah ZA K I, [Architect, gypte],
Upgrading Historic Cairo, American Research
Center in Egypt, 24/10/2001.
M. Jaroslaw DOBROWOLSKI, [Architect and
Project Technical Director at the American
Reasearch Center in Egypt], Perspectives on
Egypt: 19
th
-Century Writers as Travellers,
25/10/2001.
Mohamed ABDEL SAMIE, [general director of
Middle Sinai Monuments, gypte], The
Monuments of Al-Farama in North Sinai, Forum
Marcel BENBOU, [historien, France], La rsistance
la romanisation en Afrique du Nord, Conseil
Suprme de la Culture, 27/10/2001.
III
e
colloque scientifique intitul tudes des
Antiquits du monde arabe, IV
e
rencontre de
lAssociation des archologues arabes,
Universit du Caire, 27-29 octobre 2001:
Dr. Ahmad SAD, [gypte], Les
monuments civils du Proche-Orient
ancien lpoque prhistorique,
27/10/2001.
101
Dr. Georges b. FIQ NAHHS,
Quelques emblmes animaliers
persistant dans les civilisations du
Proche-Orient asiatique, de lan
6000 av. J.-C la fin du VII
e
sicle,
27/10/2001.
Dr. Khlid AB GHANIMA, Les
styles architecturaux du nolithique
en Jordanie, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Rid Muhammad SAYYID,
[gypte], Lutilisation de livoire
dans le mobilier funraire du roi
Toutankhamon, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Ftima Abd al-Ghan SLIM,
La femme dans le systme
successoral dans l gypt e
pharaonique et lIraq ancien,
27/10/2001.
Prof. Lamy AL-HAD D , La
reprsentation de lhippopotame et
du crocodile dans les gravures
rupestres et la cramique lpoque
prhistorique en gypte, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Magd Muhammad FIKR,
[gypte], Les gardiens des chambres
funraires dans la Valle des Reines,
27/10/2001.
Dr. Hadb Hayw GHAZLA, Les
relations entre les pays du Tigre et de
lEuphrate et la Syrie 3500-2800 av.
J.-C., 27/10/2001.
Dr. Ibrhm Ibrhm MIR,
[gypte], Approche archologique et
architecturale du palais dUmar
Pacha TSN Shubr, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Hasan Muhammad ABDALLAH,
[gypte], Al-Silw f akhbr Kilw:
approche architecturale, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Khalaf Fris AL-TARWNA, Le
palais al-Tba, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Khall Hasan AL-ZARKN, La
conception architecturale de lhabitat
dans la ville arabo-musulmane,
27/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Abd al-Hd AL-TZ,
Les ermitages de forme octogonale
du Nord du Maroc sont-ils une
inspiration de la forme de la coupole
al-Sakhra de la mosque de
Jrusalem?, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad al-Tayyib AQQB,
Le palais al-Qandisa: un monument
du dsert algrien, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Marf BILHG, Complexe
architecturale al-Abbd: une tude
analytique compare, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Wil Munr AL-RCHIDN, Les
forteresses ottomanes en Jordanie:
une tude architecturale compare,
27/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Al-Abbs Sayyid
AHMAD, Les changement s
climatiques et lhabitat dans le Nord
du dsert 2000-2500 av. J.-C.,
27/10/2001.
Dr. Gaml Gafar ABBS,
[gypte], Les dplacements des
populations du Nil durant la fin de
lpoque de Mro et au cours de
lpoque suivante, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Sabr Tha HASANAYN,
[gypte], La lgislation juridique
dans lgypte ancienne la lumire
de la lgislation contemporaine,
27/10/2001.
Dr. Abd al-Hamd Sad AZAB,
[gypte], tude des deux statutes de
sphinx dcouvertes dans la zone
archologique de Tell al-Farin,
27/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Abd al-Munim Abd al-
Halm SAYYI D, [gypte], t ude
comparative des textes de mise en
garde contre la violation des
spultures, inscrits dans les tombes
de lgypte ancienne et de la
pninsule arabe ant-islamique,
27/10/2001.
Dr. d ABD AL-AZZ, [gypte],
Aspects de la vie du paysan dans
lgypte ancienne, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Fyza Mahmd SAQR, [gypte],
Youi: un fonctionnaire du Moyen
Empire, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad al-Sayyid ABD AL-
HAMD, [gypte], La fonction de
prtresse et sa dimension sociale
dans la socit iraquienne ancienne
en comparaison avec lgypte
ancienne, 27/10/2001.
102
Dr. Nr Gall ABD AL-HAMD,
[gypte], valuation des ralisations
durant les poques de lgypte
ancienne, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Yusr SADDQ, [gypte], La
montage arabe de Qf et le tertre
primordial gyptien, 27/10/2001.
Dr. ml Mansr MAHMD,
[gypte], Outils utiliss dans la
fabrication des poteries et de la
cramique islamique du VIII
e
au X
e
sicle de lhgire, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Gaml Ahmad HADD,
[gypte], Trois lanternes en verre de
la mosque al-Rif, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Hasan Muhamad NR,
[gypte], Nouvelles contributions
lartisanat de bois datant de lpoque
mamelouke, 27/10/2001.
Dr. icha Abd al-Azz AL-
TUHM, [gypte], Les inscriptions
des pierres tombales mameloukes des
tombes archologiques la lumire
de la collection du Muse dart
islamique du Caire, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Mun Muhammad BADR,
[gypte], Manifestations de la
tristesse et du pangyrique dans les
arts islamiques, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Mirvat IS, [gypte],
Nouveaux morceaux dtoffe datant
de lpoque fatimide, 27/10/2001.
Dr. Ndir Mahmd ABD AL-
DYIM, [gypte], Nouvelle tude des
boiseries de limm al-Husayn au
Caire, 27/10/2001.
Dr. San Guma AL-RACHD,
[gypte], Le feu comme lment
influent dans le procesus de cration,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Gib SAYF AL-DN, Travaux de
fouilles archologiques raliss au
cours des dernires annes dans la
rgion al-Gazra en Syrie et leur
importance, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Subh Atiyya YNIS, [gypte],
Per-Mrit Nucratis: nouvelle lecture
de la topographie urbaine lpoque
sate (644-525 av. J.-C.), 28/10/2001.
Dr. Azza Frq SAYYID, [gypte],
Quelques rares dtails dans les
scnes dlevage des animaux,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad Abd al-Fatth AL-
SAYYI D, [gypte], Les Antiquits
gyptiennes lpoque tardive et au
dbut de lpoque copte, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad Mustafa ABD AL-
HAMD, [gypte], Les villes, les
villages et les ports gyptiens de la
cte Nord-Ouest depuis lAntiquit
j usqu l a conqut e arabe,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Usma MAHMD, [gypte],
propos des changements de la forme
des quatre fils dHorus Mesou-Her,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Ashraf Muhammad FATH,
[gypte], Remarques sur quelques
termes du dictionnaire al-Sab et
leurs quivalences en gyptien,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Abd al-Hamd Ahmad ZYID,
[gypte], Les noms de lgypte,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad A L-SHAHT,
[gypte], Lquivalence vocale de la
lettre ch dans lgyptien ancien,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad SHARF, [gypte],
Remarques sur lcriture al-sniyya,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Mufda Hasan AL-WISHH,
[gypte], Le dieu Hor-Haknou,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Mah Samr ABD AL-SALM,
[gypte], Nouveau point de vue sur
lun des aspects du dieu Bes,
28/10/2001.
Prof. Maysara Abdallah HASAN,
Crime de sang dans le Proche-Orient
ancien, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Ab al-Hamd FARGHAL,
[gypte], Les centres de lart du livre
lpoque mamlouke, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Slih Mahd AL-KHUDAYR, Les
rcits de voyage et leurs effets sur les
changes de civilisation dans le
royaume andalou, 28/10/2001.
103
Dr. tif Mansr Muhammad
RAMADN, La monnaie dans le
Maroc et lAndalousie (625-668 ap.
J.-C.), 28/10/2001.
Dr. Abd al-Hamd HGIYT, tat
des lieux des Antiquits islamiques de
la ville de Telmesen et les besoins de
leur prservation, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Abdallah Atiy ABD AL-
HFIZ, Les noms des sultans et des
princes mamelouks en gypte et en
Syrie, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Nsir b. Al AL-HRS, Pierres
tombales rcemment dcouvertes
dans la tombe al-Muallh la
Mecque, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Nsir b. Husayn AL-ABBD,
Gilvar travers les rcentes
dcouvert es archol ogi ques,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Al-Saghr MA B R A W ,
I nves t i gat i ons et f oui l l es
archologiques au Maroc: lpoque
islamique, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Rab Hmid KHALFA, Le
manuscrit dIBN DIR. Les conqutes
de Murd dans les rgions
yamanites: une source importante
pour ltude de larchitecture au
Ymen, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Abd al-Azz, LARAG,
Limage de lhabitat marocain
travers les textes historiques,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Mighid Al SHARB,
Lenceinte et les portails de la ville
de Jrusalem travers les sicles,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad Hshim ISML,
Documents dEsna remontant au
XI I I
e
sicle de lhgire: tude
archologique, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Man SDIQ, Les monuments
de la ville de Jrusalem entre les
pioches des fouilleurs et les
interprtations des falsificateurs,
28/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Nhid Abd al-Rziq
DAFTAR, [Iraq], Les gravures et les
inscriptions numismatiques du dbut
de lislam et de lpoque amaouite,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Bahiya Muhammad Shhn,
[gypte], Chapiteaux de style pr-
copt e d Ashmounei n: t ude
a r c h o l o g i q u e c o mp a r e,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Husayn Muhammad AHMAD,
[gypte], Les garanties fournies dans
les contrats demprunt montaire en
gypte lpoque romaine,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Sida Muhammad AFNA,
Reprsentation de ladoption sur les
pices de monnaie dpoque romaine,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Salw HUSAYN, [gypte], tude
archologqiue analytique de la
collection de bijoux en or dcouverte
dans la zone du port Est et dAbqr
Alexandrie, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Rid ABD AL-GAWWD,
[gypte], pithtes du dfunt la
lumire des inscriptions funraires
des poques ptolmaque et romaine,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Abr Abd al-Muhsin QSIM,
Lagriculture au Nord de lAfrique
travers les mosaques, 28/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Inyt Muhammad
AHMAD, [gypte], Lancienne ville
de Louqsor comme elle apparat dans
une mosaque, 28/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad al-Sayyid
ABD AL- GHAN , Partialit des
sources romaines contre lempereur
Philippe lArabe: tude critique,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Nazr Al AL-TARSHN, Le site
de Yamn lpoque byzantine,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Bah al-Dn MUHAMMAD,
[gypte], Relev microbiologique des
manuscrits de la bibliothque de
Rafa AL-TAHTW, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Husm al-Dn ABD AL-HAMD,
Ahmad SHUAYB & Sarwat HIGZ,
[gypte], Traitement immdiat des
pices archologiques dcouvertes
rcemment dans les chantiers de
fouilles, 28/10/2001.
104
Dr. Abd al-Zhir Abd al-Sattr
Ab al-il, tude de restauration et
de prservation du sabl Ruqayya
dd, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Umar ABD AL-KAR M,
[gypte], Dtrioration mycologique
des anciens textiles gyptiens,
28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-HD,
Ahmad SHUAYB, Zh HAWWS &
Nuha ABD AL-HAFZ, [gypte],
tude de prservation et de
restauration des scnes murales
ralises sur un support en briques
crues, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Muhammad Al Hasan
ZAYNHUM & Ahmad SHUAYB,
[ gypt e] , Le s p r i n c i p e s
technologiques de la restauration
dlicate de la coupole du Khdive
Muhammad TAWFQ dans la mosque
de sayyida Zaynab, 28/10/2001.
Dr. Ndya LUQMA, [gypte],
Reconstruction et rassemblage
dune srie de maquettes en bois
dat ant du Moyen Empi re,
28/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad b. Umar AL-
ZAL, [Arabie Saoudite], Des
inscriptions islamiques du Muse de
limm dans la rgion Est,
29/10/2001.
Dr. Usma Mustafa AL-NAHHS,
[gypte], Les ports submergs sur les
ct es al exandr i nes : l eur s
importances et leurs dveloppements,
29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Husayn AL-SHAYKH, Les
religions des mystres dans lhistoire
anc i e nne : or i e nt al e s ou
occidentales?, 29/10/2001.
Dr. Hamd b. SARY, Histoire des
fouilles archologiques dans les
mirats: points positifs et ngatifs,
rsultats et suggestions, 29/10/2001.
Dr. Khadga MANSR, Les sites
archologiques dpoque romaine au
Maroc et en Algrie, 29/10/2001.
Dr. Zakariy Tama QUDT, Les
mosaques de pavement en Jordanie:
problmes et moyens dy remdier,
29/10/2001.
Dr. Zaydn ABD AL- KF ,
[Jordanie], Les activits et les
mouvements des populations dans le
Sud de la Syrie, lIraq et le Nord de
la pninsule arabique au cours des
cinquime et quatrime millnaires
avant J.-C., 29/10/2001.
Dr. Abd al-Qdir MAHMD &
Ysuf A L- AM N, [Soudan], L e
Soudan ancien: confusion des noms,
29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Izat Zak QDS, Les
quatre saisons dans la mosaque
romaine, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad al-Bashr AL-
SHNT, [Algrie], L l p h a n t
mauritanien: vie et mort, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sayyid SHUAYB
& Adil AKRISH, [gypte], Les
raisons de la dtrioration des
tombes rupestres dans la rgion de
Saqqra et dans le dsert Occidental
en gypte, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-
HD & Hassn AL-AMR, [gypte],
Les conditions spcifiques de
conservation et de prservation des
pices mtalliques dans les sites de
fouilles archologiques, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ysn ZAYDN, Tuhfa
HANDSA & Ibrhm MUHAMMAD,
[gypte], Traitement et prservation
de la momie dun faucon conserve
dans le Muse de lagriculture au
Caire, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ysn ZAYDN & Harb
IZZ AL-DN, [gypte], tude de
traitement et de prservation dun
tissu de soie n12014 conserv dans
l e Muse dart i sl ami que,
29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ysn ZAYDN, Tuhfa
HANDSA & Abla ABD AL-SALM,
[gypte], tude de restauration et de
pr s e r v at i on d un t i s s u
archologique enregistr sous le
nC46526 conserv dans le Muse
gyptien du Caire, 29/10/2001.
Prof. Dr. Ysn ZAYDN, Ahmad
IS & Aly ATTIY, [gypte],
t ude de t rai t ement et de
prservation dun sarcophage
anthropode en bois recouvert dune
105
couche de pltre colorie conserv
dans le Muse gyptien du Caire,
29/10/2001.
M
l l e
Milna PERRAUD, [France], Nouvelles
perspectives de recherche autour des appuies-
tte en gypte ancienne, Institut franais
darchologie orientale, 28/10/2001.
Mahmd AL-HALWAG, [Muse gyptien, Le
Caire], La cramique prdynastique, Muse
gyptien, 28/10/2001.
I. MATHIESON, [director of the National Museum
of Scotland Saqqara project, Angleterre],
National Museums of Scotland: An Update on
Work at Saqqara 2001, The Egypt Exploration
Society, 29/10/2001.
Dr. Jocelyn GOHARY, The Gods of Graeco-Roman
Egypt, American Research Center in Egypt,
29/10/2001.
Prof. Lech KRZYZANI AK, [Director of
Archaeological Museum Poznan, Pologne],
Excavations of the Neolithic Site at Kadero
(Central Sudan), Polish Centre of Archaeology
in Cairo, 30/10/2001.
Dr. Nadia LO K M A, [General Director of
Conservation, Egyptian Museum, gypte], The
Reconstruction of a Group of a Wooden Models
from the Tomb of Djehutinakht at Deir El
Bersha, American Research Center in Egypt,
31/10/2001.
Dr. Miroslav BARTA, 10 Years of Archaeological
Exploration at Abusir South, Mubarak Public
Library, 31/10/2001.
Dr. Laszlo KAKOSY, [Professor at the Egyptology
Department of Eotvos Lorand University,
Budapest], Horus and Bes, Nederlands-Vlaams
Dr. Muhammad Ibrhm BAKR, [ex-prsident de
lOrganisme des Antiquits, gypte], Les
inhumations pharaoniques lEst du Delta,
Forum dchange des informations, 3/11/2001.
Prof. Anthony MILLS, [Director of the Dakhla
Oasis Project], Art in the Dakhla Oasis, Polish
Centre of Archaeology in Cairo, 6/11/2001.
Dr. Ann Macy ROTH, [Director, Giza Cemetery
Project, Howard University, USA], What
REISNER missed: New work at Giza, American
M. Ayman Fouad SAYYED, [gypte], Mon
exprience dans ldition de textes historiques,
Institut franais darchologie orientale,
8/11/2001.
Dr. Ahmed ETMAN, [Head of the Graeco-Roman
Studies Department, Faculty of Arts, Cairo
University, gypte], Papyrus, Forum dchange
des informations, 10/11/2001.
M. Richard MC GRGOR, Le concept de saintet
au Caire lpoque mdivale: la confrrie de
la Wafaiyya, Institut franais darchologie
Dr. Karel C. INNEMEE, [Assistant professor at the
Faculties of Arts and Archaeology, Leiden
University and field-director of the Deir al-
Baramus excavation and the wall-paintings
project at Deir al-Sourian, Pays-Bas], Where
angels fear to tread... The disappearing
Monastic sites of Wadi al-Natrun, Nederlands-
Vlaams Instituut in Cairo, 15/11/2001.
Hani HAL M, [Tourist guide, gypte], The
Construction of the Pyramids, Forum dchange
des informations, 17/11/2001.
R.P. Giuseppe SCATTOLIN, [Italie], Towards a
Critical Edition of the Diwan of the Sufi
Egyptian Poet Umar IBN A L FARID, Istituto
Italiano di Cultura per la R.A.E., 18/11/2001.
M
lle
R. SHAW, [Assistant curator, Royal Ontario
Museum, Canada], They Walked in Beauty:
Personal Adornment in Ancient Egypt, Egypt
Exploration Society, 19/11/2001.
Dr. Luc LIMME, [Head of the Section Egyptian,
Near-Eastern and Iranian Antiquities of the
Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels
and Secretary-General of the Egyptological
Foundation Queen Elisabeth, Belgique], Elkab
(Upper Egypt) and its rock necropolis,
22/11/2001.
M. Salah OMAR, [Tourist guide, gypte],
Tutankhamens Collection in the Egyptian
Museum, Forum dchange des informations,
24/11/2001.
Quelques aspects de la priode coloniale dans
lhistoire de lAfrique (1850-1950),
Ateliers/confrences organiss par le NVIC et
lIFAO, 25-26 novembre 2001:
Prof. Dr. Henk WESSELING,
[Rector, Netherlands Institute for
Advanced Study in the Humanities
and Social Sciences (NIAS),
Professor of Contemporary History,
Leiden University, Pays-Bas], Les
Pays-Bas et le partage de lAfrique,
106
Institut franais darchologie
Prof. Dr. Henk WESSELING,
[Rector, Netherlands Institute for
Advanced Study in the Humanities
and Social Sciences (NIAS),
Professor of Contemporary History,
Leiden University, Pays-Bas], Some
reflections on the partition of Africa
(1880-1914), Istituto Italiano di
Cultura per la R.A.E., 26/11/2001.
Samir HASSANEIN, [Tourist guide, gypte], The
Impact of Religious and Scientific Thought on
Creating Civilizations (Part II), Forum
M. Michel CUYPERS, [IDEO], L anal yse
rhtorique du Coran, Institut franais
darchologie orientale, 9/12/2001.
Muhammad ABD AL-AZZ, [directeur gnral
des Antiquits islamiques du Ouest Delta, CSA,
gypte], Les rcentes dcouvertes ralises
dans la citadelle de Qytby, Socit
archologique dAlexandrie, 19/12/2001.

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