“Repatriated Objects: 2014 – 2015” is the theme title of an exhibition at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo, held from 14 January till 29 February. The opening of the exhibition coincides with Archaeologists Day.
Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damati is visibly proud of the exhibition. “It allows visitors to be more aware of the ancient Egyptian civilisation and antiquities, and offers them a chance to see pieces we had ‘lost’ but we now have them home again,” he said.
Dr Damati highlighted his ministry’s tireless efforts to bring back home Egyptian antiquities that had at one time or the other been smuggled outside the country. “This exhibition,” he reminded, “is also the fruit of the concerted efforts of security and diplomatic authorities not only in Egypt, but also in the whole world.”
Curator of the Egyptian Museum Khaled al-Anani, explained that the exhibition displays some 226 antiquities which the Antiquities Ministry had succeeded in repatriating during 2014 and 2015 from several places outside Egypt, among them Denmark, England, France, Germany, and USA.
“We received in our museum stores,” Mr Anani noted, “the repatriated pieces, and made the necessary restoration before displaying them.
“This exhibition is not the first of its kind,” he added, “several others were held in 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015.”
Watani International
13 January 2016