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Egypt Cancels Contentious Pyramid Restoration Project
Egypt Cancels Contentious Pyramid Restoration Project
Sputnik Africa
The Pyramids of Giza are relics of Egypt's Old Kingdom and were built about 4,500 years ago. Egyptian pharaohs believed they would become gods in the... 18.02.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-02-18T11:58+0100
2024-02-18T11:58+0100
2024-02-18T12:33+0100
egypt
north africa
culture
heritage
sudan
khartoum
rapid support forces (rsf)
archeology
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Egypt turned down a proposal to replace the granite facing stones that had been scattered over the base of the smallest of the three Pyramids of Giza for thousands of years, the Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee (MPRC) said on Friday.Egypt's antiquities authority has reportedly reviewed the renovation plan after an international uproar over the possibility of altering the ancient landmark. Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids are the only ones left standing.Menkaure, unlike the other pyramids, was meant to be coated in granite rather than limestone. Only 16 to 18 layers of granite were laid before work was halted, presumably due to pharaoh Menkaure's death in around 2503 BC.Over time, theft, erosion, and structural failure led to the disappearance of many layers, and today only seven remain. However, many pieces of fallen granite can still be found scattered around the pyramid's base.Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, reportedly said that the renovation project would only proceed after a year of scanning and documentation.Another African country, Sudan, is also trying to preserve its heritage amid the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Last June, the Heritage for Peace association prepared evacuation plans for a number of museums, documented damage to various sites and even stationed guards near archaeological sites outside the capital, Khartoum.
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egypt, north africa, culture, heritage, sudan, khartoum, rapid support forces (rsf), archeology
egypt, north africa, culture, heritage, sudan, khartoum, rapid support forces (rsf), archeology
Egypt Cancels Contentious Pyramid Restoration Project
11:58 18.02.2024 (Updated: 12:33 18.02.2024) The Pyramids of Giza are relics of Egypt's Old Kingdom and were built about 4,500 years ago. Egyptian pharaohs believed they would become gods in the afterlife, therefore, they built temples for the gods and large pyramid tombs for themselves.
Egypt turned down a proposal to replace the granite facing stones that had been scattered over the base of the smallest of the three
Pyramids of Giza for thousands of years, the Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee (MPRC) said on Friday.
“It would be impossible to ascertain the exact original position of any of the casing blocks. Therefore, it is impossible to return any of them to their original location on the pyramid. Consequently, any re-installation of the casing blocks would change the ancient, original fabric and appearance of the pyramid, which would conceal important evidence of how the ancient Egyptians designed and built the Pyramids,” the MPRC stated.
Egypt's antiquities authority has reportedly reviewed the
renovation plan after an international uproar over the possibility of altering the ancient landmark. Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the pyramids are the only ones left standing.
Menkaure, unlike the other pyramids, was meant to be coated in granite rather than limestone. Only 16 to 18 layers of granite were laid before work was halted, presumably due to pharaoh Menkaure's death in around 2503 BC.
Over time, theft, erosion, and structural failure led to the disappearance of many layers, and today only seven remain. However, many pieces of fallen granite can still be found scattered around the pyramid's base.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, reportedly said that the renovation project would only proceed after a year of scanning and
documentation.
Another African country,
Sudan, is also trying to preserve its heritage amid the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Last June, the Heritage for Peace association prepared evacuation plans for a number of museums, documented damage to various sites and even stationed guards near archaeological sites outside the capital, Khartoum.
