Tarek Adel, Egypt’s Ambassador in London, has been handed three pieces of antiquity dating back to Pharaonic and Greek eras, before their intended sale in auction in a famous London galleries. Egyptian authorities were able to furnish proof that these pieces had been illegally smuggled out of Egypt.
The Egyptian Embassy worked in close coordination with the British Museum that got in contact with the London gallery to ensure the safe return of the artefacts to Egypt
Shaaban Abdel-Gawad, head of the Administration of Repatriated Antiquities, explained that the artefacts included an alabaster headless and legless statue dating to the Greco-Roman era; part of a wooden sarcophagus that dates back to the late period (664 – 332BC), and a third piece that is likely part of a sarcophagus yet to be dated.
Mr Gawad dded that the three artefacts were not taken from museums or archaeological stores that belong to the Supreme Council of Antiquities, but came out of illegal excavations. He said that they are will be returned to Egypt soon.
Watani International
27 June 2021