Zahi Hawass strikes again
Oct 7th, 2009 | By Bikya Masr Staff | Category: Culture, Egyptology
CAIRO: As part of Egypt’s chief Egyptologist’s effort to have all artifacts returned to the country, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, has cut ties with France’s Louvre museum, marking the first time one of the outspoken Egyptologist’s threats have been followed through. It comes as Hawass continues to put forward an international effort to return the country’s pieces that are currently housed abroad.
His office told Bikya Masr that this is part of the ongoing pressure to “get all pieces back into the country of their origin. It only makes sense that Egypt have what is historically hers.” The official, who said the office would make a further statement on the issue, says the Louvre had refused to deal with Hawass in coming to “terms of a return, so we followed through with the only steps possible.”
Hawass himself issued a statement saying that no archaeological expeditions sponsored by France’s premier museum would be allowed to work in Egypt due to the disagreement, which could put dozens of French Egyptologists out of work.
“It is unfortunate that they would do this because the museum administration is different from us workers who continue to do great stuff and deal positively with the Supreme Council of Antiquities,” began one French archaeologist, who had planned to spend the winter excavating a site in southern Egypt, but is now uncertain of their future. “I don’t know if I will be allowed to stay, or if I will be forced to leave the country. We have always worked with Egyptians under Hawass’ command, so it doesn’t make sense.”
Hawass is making a statement, most believe, where continued threats of expelling archaeologists from the country have been met without consequences. Until now.
Hawass told the Associated Press Wednesday that the Louvre had ignored repeated Egyptian requests for the return of four reliefs the Egyptologist says were stolen from a tomb in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings in the 1980s.
The Supreme Council of Antiquities said that the French museum had acquired the artifacts last year, but had not been open to returning them to Egypt.
Since 2002, when Hawass took over as head of the SCA, he has been pushing hard for foreign museums to return artifacts to Egypt ahead of the construction of a massive new museum near the pyramids.
Hawass has been in the spotlight of late, after coming under fire from rights groups, who have accused the chief of attempting to silence those whose views differ from his own.
BM
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This is a shame really.
If you think this is a good idea, do 2 things:
1. Go to the Louvre.
Notice the proper lighting. The proper climate control. The proper labeling.
2. Then go to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Notice the missing panes of glass.
Notice the total lack of climate control.
Notice the amount of dirt and grime.
Notice the lack of labeling.
Notice the lack of proper lighting.
Notice the lack of organization.
Notice the graft that allows one to take photos in forbidden areas.
Notice mummies just stacked on shelves, unprotected.
I used to think it was a shame that so many antiquities were stolen from Egypt.
But now I am thankful, because at least they are treated with the proper respect.
Dear sir/Madame,
I would to say,from a security point of view, that stolen items are stolen items,period,This is a crime that is punshiable by law,the louvre must be charged in a court of law with the crime of dealing in stolen artifacts and made to explain as to where,how and why they obtained them from a sovereign state,however,The statements made by Mr,hawass tantamounts to threats,which lack protocol and are out of order.I strongly recomend the louvre taken to task legally and Mr.Hawass cautioned by the relevant ministry.
Thank you.
Max Hassouna
[...] “It is unfortunate that they would do this because the museum administration is different from us workers who continue to do great stuff and deal positively with the Supreme Council of Antiquities,†stated one French archaeologist, “…We have always worked with Egyptians under Hawass’ command, so it doesn’t make sense†(source: Bikya Masr, Zahi Hawass Strikes Again). [...]
Foreign missions have always and are still working hard in Egypt and without their discoveries and passion, there would not be resurrected monuments and tombs to attract the tourists. Everything either was lost, stolen and melted down, or destroyed by the people now occupying the lands. Officials working for the Egyptian government considered an amount of the discoveries as a fare share of the finds, to be taken back by the scholars, to their museums. This now cannot be called ‘stolen’ by a present administration. If it were not for the foreigners, giving their lives work to discover these, then there would be no high paying job for Hawass to hold. How about cleaning up their own backyard first. The pyramids stood for centuries, then the present day Egyptians ripped the casing stones from them, to build walls and mosques. Give that back. One out, all out. If the French are not allowed to dig, then all countries should support them, and withdrawn the huge amounts of skill and money that foreigners provide, to give life again to the past.
The Egyptian National Treasures are safer in any foreign museums and or private collections than in Egypt. If you remember that ALL Mohamed Ali and King Farouk jeweleries were stolen by the current gang, their friends and relatives. It hurt me to see it out of Egypt, but until we get a consciences, scientific and democratic government, lets keep it away from the hungry thieves.
[...] allegedly stolen from the North African country after Egypt had cut ties with the museum on Wednesday. The French move was met with a promise from Zahi Hawass, the head of the Supreme Council of [...]