Akhenaton Sarcophagus returns
Egypt, Local, 1/28/2002

At last, the sarcophagus of the great Ancient King Akhenaton, husband of the far-famed beautiful Queen Nefertiti, retuned home after 90-year expatriation, in which it was smuggle d to Switzerland then to Germany to be shown at Munich Museum for Egyptian Monuments.

Akhenaton, who belonged to the 18 Dynasty of the Modern Kingdom, was the first to call for monotheism in Ancient Egypt. He moved the Egyptian capital to Akhet Aton, i.e. Sun's Horizon, during his 17-year rule. The story of this sarcophagus dates back to the early 20th century, specifically in 1907, when Tomb No.55 at the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, was discovered. Most of the monuments unearthed then went back to the rule of King Akhenaton, namely in about 1340 BC.

Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities, Dr. Gaballah Ali Gaballah explained that among the monuments of the Tomb No.55 was a royal sarcophagus with its cover in a good shape. Besides, gold plates, pieces of wood and Hieroglyphic inscriptions on glass were the only remaining on its lower part.

That sarcophagus, continues Dr. Gaballah, was taken in 1910 to the Egyptian Museum where the cover was restored, save the lower part, and shown there.

In February 16, 1931, an English supervisor in the Egyptian museum reported the disappearance of the gold plates of the lower part, Dr. Gaballah said.

He added that about 50 years later, in 1980, Egyptian Monuments' Authority got information that the stolen sarcophagus came to a Swiss monument vendor, called Nicolas Otulax, who delivered it to the Director of the Museum of Egyptian Monuments in Munich for restoration. Then, his daughter donated it to the Museum, which started assembling its parts.

The golden plates were delicately fixed on an acrylic shape resembling the lower part of the original sarcophagus, he noted.

Dr. Gaballah elaborated that serious negotiations for getting the sarcophagus back started in 1983. However, those negotiations stopped since the offers of the German side to return the sarcophagus against having another one as compensation was unaccepted.

Yet, when the new German ambassador in Cairo took over, things began to change as President Mubarak received a letter in February 2001 from Prime Minister of Bavaria offering the return of the sarcophagus against no compensation whatsoever. He further suggested organizing an exhibition in Munich on this occasion, with Egyptian participation, to display some monuments of Tomb No.55.

In May 2001, Bavaria PM visited Egypt and committed himself, in a meeting with the Egyptian PM Dr. Atif Ebeid, to the return of the sarcophagus.

In fact, the day of receiving the sarcophagus from Munich Museum was exceptional as emergency case was declared all over the Museum and German newspaper reporters crowded to cover that great event. The following day, the sarcophagus was cat-scanned at Munich hospital, with press and TV reporters and journalists attending.

Here returned Akhenaton's sarcophagus and will be shown at the Egyptian Museum for the time being, till it is displayed in a suitable hall in the great Egyptian Museum to be established on Al Fayyoum Road.

Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni will hold on Sunday an international press conference at the Egyptian Museum on the occasion of the return of Akhenaton sarcophagus from Germany after 90 years. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Hosni has recently been shouldering the issue of getting all stolen Egyptian monuments back to Egypt.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt restores Akhenaton sarcophagus after 90 year-old absence   (1/22/2002)
  High Dam power stations renovation kicks off   (1/21/2002)
  Egypt to retrieve smuggled Akhenaton sarcophagus base on January 25   (1/17/2002)

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