January 4, 2023
Egypt has recovered a green wooden sarcophagus lid from the United States this week as part of Cairo’s efforts to stop the trafficking of its antiquities.
The return of the artifact was announced at a press conference in Cairo on Monday. Egypt has recovered about 30,000 antiquities over the past decade that were smuggled out of the country illegally, according to the AFP.
The 3,000-year-old sarcophagus lid was displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. It is believed to have belonged to a priest named Ankhenmaat. During the press conference, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the lid comes from one of the largest wooden sarcophagi from Ancient Egypt.
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid thanked the US authorities for their cooperation in facilitating the item’s return.
In light of Egypt’s commitment to return its smuggled antiquities, MFA hosted a ceremony today on the occasion of handing over the “green sarcophagus” to @TourismandAntiq. Our sincere thanks to USA authorities for their cooperation in returning this precious piece @USEmbassyCairo pic.twitter.com/cULX20yXHW — Egypt MFA Spokesperson (@MfaEgypt) January 2, 2023
Last December, Al-Monitor reported on yet another successful repatriation effort from the University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. Following 100 years of displaying a mummified body, a sarcophagus, four canopic jars, and a set of coverings (cartonnage), the objects were returned to Egypt.
Last September, Egypt recovered another wooden coffin lid from the United States along with 16 other artifacts. In the same month, two statues were recovered from Belgium.
In 2021, Egypt repatriated from Israel over 95 relics.
According to the IMF country focus report on Egypt issued in 2021, its tourism industry employs 10% of the population with a 12% contribution to the GDP pre-COVID-19.
“Egypt ranks first in Africa, fifth in MENA, and 51st globally in the travel and tourism development index (TTDI). It is a top performer in the MENA region with regards to environmental sustainability, natural and cultural resources, and business and cultural travel.”
Egypt heavily relies on the travel and tourism industry as a source of foreign currency; it is sparing no effort to revive it following the pandemic. The Egyptian government is currently investing in opportunities and plans to facilitate travel to Egypt and movement within the country. Various museums are opening in 2023, among them the Grand Egyptian Museum, considered the largest museum of Egyptology, which has been in the works for almost 20 years.
A new administrative capital, malls, bridges, Nile activities, and more are all being planned and executed to attract visitors and recast Egypt as home to more than just its magical pyramids and eternal pharaohs.
Egypt repatriates ancient ‘Green Sarcophagus’ from US
