Menufia steps up care of its ancient monuments
Egypt, History, 9/13/2001

Menufia governorate is currently witnessing intensive activities to revive its antiquities by launching restoration operation and excavating the old moundo, most of which lie within the city cordon and on agricultural land.

The Supreme Council for antiquities is currently implementing an urgent plan in order to save these antiquities the detrimental effect of humidity and underground water.

Most of the so far unearthed antiquities in the governorate belong to the Coptic and Islamic ages for which an open museum has been established.

According to Abdullah al attar some structures pertaining to the Coptic age were unearthed at Tel al bend aria in addition to a collection of earthenware utensils, coins and statues.

At tel Babel structures, water wells, coins and ceramics were also found.

Al attar said that each excavation team consists of several restorers, archaeologists, a photographer and a painter as well as a number of trained labor and technicians.

"The unearthed artifacts are restored on spot whenever possible, said AL Attar explaining that severely damaged items are restored at the lab in Al bend aria.

According to Mohamed Salah Eddin, director of delta antiquities the latest display garden is underway at the entrance of Shebin Al kom on the Nile Corniche.

The garden, nearly complete, will be mainly allocated for huge statues and other items discovered at the mounds of Menufia.

The garden, said salah eddin was the third of its kind in the delta next to those of Rosetta and Tanta.

The garden will be supplied with pergolas, a library and a movie screen for featuring documentary films on monuments.

The largest mosque in Menufia belonging to prince of armies' Mohamed Shebl has also been restored.

It is related that shebl was leader of the army and had led a battle against the Romans who found refuge in niqios fortress and the Muslims army won the battle, but shebl was killed.

He also said that a rare collection of icons at the church of mar Gergis in Tokh, the oldest church in the governorate has been restored.

Previous Stories:
  Ibn Toloun mosque restoration completed within 12 months   (9/12/2001)
  Howard Carter the Path to Tutankhamun   (9/10/2001)
  Archaeological find in Sakkara   (9/10/2001)

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