Pharaoh’s tomb in Egypt reopened after 20 year renovation
One of the largest tombs in the famous Valley of the Kings reopened to the public in Egypt after a 20-year-long renovation period on October 4th, reported Africa news via Associated Press.
The tomb housed the remains of Amenhotep III, one of the most prominent pharaohs of ancient Egypt, who reigned between 1390 and 1350 BC. His rule marked a time of prosperity for the kingdom and helped Egypt achieve its longstanding artistic and international influence in the ancient world.
The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, said that the tomb was discovered in 1799 and then rediscovered in 1915 by British archaeologist Howard Carter. It was, however, empty. “Only the lid of the sarcophagus is still there, and it was broken into more than 200 pieces.”
The restoration was led by a Japanese team, with the support of UNESCO, who worked for over 20 years to preserve the 3,000-year-old tomb. The process included the preservation of wall paintings depicting the pharaoh and his wife, considered some of the “most exquisite” found in the royal tomb of the Eighteenth Dynasty.
The reopening of Amenhotep III’s tomb comes less than a month before the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids. These openings and restoration efforts are part of Egypt’s plans to attract more foreign visitors and revive its tourism sector, a major source of foreign currency, which depends heavily on the country’s ancient monuments and cultural artefacts.
Sherif Fathi, the Minister for Tourism and Antiquities for Egypt, stated that the tourism industry is doing well and on track to fully recover from the downturn suffered after the political turmoil of 2011 and the recent impacts of the Israel-Gaza war. “We continue our growth at the rate of 20-plus per cent and we expect this to continue to the end of the year, thanks to the stability and the wisdom in managing and also positioning Egypt within this unrest around Egypt in general.”
Africa news via Associated Press, Maghrebi
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