The Animal Mummy Database is a searchable database of Ancient Egyptian animal mummies. Animal mummies were created by the millions during the Late-Roman Periods in Egypt, mostly to be used as votive offerings at temples of gods associated with those animals. Some were extravagantly made with decorations and colorful wrappings to be sold at... »
Egypt tackles antiquities budget crisis
The Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) has decided to exempt bazaar, cafeteria and gift shop owners in museums and archaeological sites from paying rent for June and August. As part of the ministry’s move, any legal action that has been initiated against the owners of affected businesses will be stopped. The council also decided... »
Avenue of sphinxes to open in March
Minister of State for Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim announced that the Avenue of Sphinxes will be partly opened to public by mid March. He explained that a 150 meter long section out of the 2,700 meters of the avenue will be ready for the public after restoration, promising to solve all technical and financial problems in... »
Napoleon Bonaparte and Egypt
One of Napoleon’s most ambitious attempts to prove himself a cultural as well as military titan was to commission a team of scholars to produce the legendary Description de l’Egypte. This was the first thorough attempt to study the antiquities and geography of this ancient civilization, a vast artistic and scientific work that was... »
Three original copies of “Description de l’Egypte” in Egypt
Egypt has three original copies of the historic book “Description de l’Egypte” (Description of Egypt) other than the one that was consumed by fire at the Scientific Academy in Downtown Cairo, Culture Minister Shaker Abdel-Hamid said. An original copy is stored at the National Library and Archives, another at the Egyptian Geographic Society and an... »
OCI/BESIX joint venture chosen for Egyptian Grand Museum
Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) announced today that a 50/50 joint venture with the BESIX Group has been selected for the award of the third phase of the Egyptian Grand Museum valued at approximately US$ 810 million. The project is 65% funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A joint venture between Hill International and EHAF... »
Historic library in Cairo set on fire
A fire that erupted on Saturday in Egypt’s Institute for the Advancement of Scientific Research amid clashes between protestors and the military has resulted in the loss of several precious manuscripts. The original manuscript of Napoleon’s historic “Description De L’Egypt” was reportedly among the losses. Nearly 30,000 books were reportedly rescued. The institute is considered... »
