The recent Egypt – Italy 2014 conference held at Wekalit al-Ghouri in Cairo reviewed the results achieved by Italian archaeological missions in Egypt. The conference was opened by Italy’s Ambassadorto Cairo Maurizio Massari, Egyptian Minister of Tourism Hisham Zaazou and Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh al-Damaty.
“Italian passion with Egyptology dates back to the 19th century after the discoveries of Ippolito Rosellini between 1828 and 1829. And since 110 in 1904 by Schiaparelli,” said Massari. He added that Bernardino Drovetti compiled the items that were the first to be shown in the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The ancient Egyptian civilisation is a big source for local and tourist development.”.
I remember here some of the areas of Egyptian-Italian cooperation in the development of the region and the development of archeology such as the establishment of the first archaeological environmental protected area in Fayoum, which includes the city of Wadi Rayan and Madinet Madi, and also the University of Pisa’s mpping of Saqqara. “
The conference saw the launching of the Luxor Times magazine was in Italian, in cooperation with Atrapos Cultural Association in Florence.
Luxor Times Italia is not just a magazine but a cultural project that includes cultural events to be organised in Italy and Egypt and works on studying, documenting and archiving the collection of the first collection of Egyptian photos, about 2500 photos, which dates back to 1907 and is considered the most complete collection that shows the sites between Abu-Simbel to Abydos, with some photos of Islamic Cairo and Giza.
The launch of the first issue of Luxor Times Italia will be a part of the celebration of 110 years of the discovery of Nefertari in Luxor on 24 November.
In contemporary times, Egyptian-Italian cooperation witnessed numerous archaeological feats. In Fayoum, the University of Pisa discovered a tomb that dates back to the Middle Kingdom, as well as the tomb excavated in Huwarah in Upper Egypt. A tomb of the pre-dynastic period in Maadi area was also discovered in addition to another that dates back to the stone age in Farafra Oasis.
At the end of the conference a group of music tracks were played that reflect the cultural connection between the Egyptian and Italian people. The music tracks included Napoli music represented by the music of Eleonora Iannotta and the Middle East music by Fathy Salama band which was awarded a Grammy Award for music.
Watani International
9 November 2014