Faced with controversy, Egypt will eventually review its copy. The Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism announced on Saturday that it has formed a study committee around the renovation of the Mycarinos pyramid on the Giza plateau.
A week ago, the head of Egyptian antiquities, Mustafa Waziri, released a video showing workers setting granite blocks at the base of the lowest of the three pyramids at Giza. Immediately, many Egyptologists and Egyptologists revolted, condemning the attack on the heritage and calling on UNESCO and scholars to mobilize.
Work is already underway
Trying to play down the debate in a country where the tourism sector accounts for 10% of GDP, the ministry announced that a high-level scientific committee headed by Zahi Hawass, the country’s best-known Egyptologist, would study the project. Renovation “with Egyptian, American, Czech and German engineering and archeology experts”.
“A decision will be taken to decide whether or not to carry out this project” of renovation, the ministry assured, adding that the committee will also take care of the “necessary procedures for coordination with UNESCO”. At the foot of the Mycarinos pyramid, however, AFP reporters have already noted that work was underway during the past week.
Find the original granite
When it was built, the base of the Mycarinos pyramid was covered with granite. Over time, it has lost part of its covering. The current project aims to restore this layer of granite to restore the pyramid to its original appearance.
The question of heritage preservation in Egypt – home to the Cheops Pyramid, the only one of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity still standing today – is often a hotly debated topic. The recent destruction of entire sections of historic Cairo has strongly mobilized a civil society that is almost barred from political activity and which now focuses much of the fight against the regime in the areas of town planning and heritage.
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