The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Arabic: وزارة السياحة والآثار, romanized: Wizārat al-Siyāḥah wa-al-Āthār) is the Egyptian government organization which serves to protect and preserve the heritage and ancient history of Egypt. In December 2019 it was merged into the Ministry of Tourism with Khaled al-Anani retaining his function.[1] He was replaced by Ahmed Issa as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in a cabinet reshuffle on 13 August 2022.
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Egypt |
| Headquarters | Zamalek, Cairo |
| Agency executive |
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| Child agency |
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| Website | mota.gov.eg |
History
editIt was formed from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2011[2] during the presidency of Hosni Mubarak to deal with the security and theft of Egyptian antiquities.
Grave robbers have been looting ancient Egyptian tombs nearly continuously for well over 4 thousand years.[3] The Ministry of Antiquities works to get the items restored back to Egypt, whenever possible. Over the years, thousands of stolen antiquities have made their way back to Egypt. For instance, in late 2016, the ministry recovered and repatriated two of four Islamic era lamps which had been stolen in 2015.[4] In 2018, a carving in the shape of Osiris which had been hidden in furniture and shipped to Kuwait was repatriated to Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities.[5]
In 2023, the ministry prohibited a group of archaeologists from the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Netherlands from conducting excavations in Saqqara after the museum unveiled an exhibit about ancient Egyptian music that Egyptian authorities criticized for its Afrocentric depictions of certain figures, claiming it was historical negationism.[6]
Projects
editFrom 2009 to 2014, the ministry worked with the Getty Conservation Institute on the management and conservation of the tomb of Tutankhamun.[7]
Past ministers
edit- Zahi Hawass 31 January 2011 – 3 March 2011[8][9][10]
- Mamdouh Eldamaty June 2014[11][12] - March 2016[13]
- Khaled al-Anani 23 March 2016[14] - 13 August 2022
Duties and goals
editIn 2016, the minister, Khaled El-Anany, stated his primary focus would be on solving the budget deficit of the ministry, given that many projects were stalled for lack of funding.[15]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Profile – Khaled al-Anany, the first Minister of Antiquities and Tourism". Egypt Independent. 23 December 2019.
- ^ "A Brief History of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA): 1858 to present". SCA Egypt. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ Mueller, Tom (June 2016). "How tomb raiders are stealing our history". National Geographic Magazine. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016.
- ^ El-Aref, Nevine (15 December 2016). "Egypt antiquities ministry receives two stolen Islamic-era lamps from UAE". ahram online.
- ^ El-Aref, Nevine (10 October 2018). "Egypt receives coffin lid seized at Kuwait International Airport". Ahram Online. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Ebrahim, Nadeen (2023-06-07). "Egypt bans Dutch archaeology team from Saqqara due to museum's 'Afrocentric' exhibition". CNN. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Conservation and Management of the Tomb of Tutankhamen". Getty. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Egyptology: Zahi Hawass confirms resignation, Dan Vergano, USA Today, March 5, 2011
- ^ Hawass loyalists call for him to stay on, Nevine El Aref ,Ahram Online, March 6, 2011
- ^ Why Dr. Hawass Resigned Archived 2014-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, Zahi Hawass blog, March 6, 2011
- ^ "BREAKING: New government swears in". Cairo Post. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ "Egypt's new Cabinet: What changed and what didn't?". Mada Masr. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
- ^ "Who's who: Meet Egypt's 10 new ministers in Sherif Ismail's cabinet". Ahram Online. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "Who's who: Meet Egypt's 10 new ministers in Sherif Ismail's cabinet". Ahram Online. March 23, 2016.
- ^ El-Aref, Nevine (23 Mar 2016). "New Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany vows to tackle budget gaps: Interview". ahram online.