Additional sum may give impetus to Akhmim Temple project
Egypt, History, 2/14/2002

Undoubtedly President Mubarak's decision to allocate LE5 million in addition to the LE5 million already channelled by the Supreme Council of Antiquity (SCA) to start the project for unearthing the Akhmim Temple in Upper Egypt gives a strong push to the project, which has almost come to a complete halt.

The allocation will give impetus to the huge project that started some years back to remove the cemetery under which a great archeological potential lies waiting for excavators. According to experts, said the governor of Suhag Mamduh Al Kedwani, the find is expected to be as great as Luxor's archaeological potentials.

He said that the removal of the cemetery and the establishment of a new one cost some LE 32 million .

Some ten years ago excavators found important structures on a site adjacent to the cemetery.

They were able to unearth a part of a colossal of Ramsis II whereas the rest of it still lies underground.

It is therefore necessary to remove the cemetery elsewhere. The governorate of Suhag decided at the time to allocate 70 feddans at the eastern mountain in Al Hawawish area for the purpose.

The Ministry of Culture was able to earmark LE5 million from the revenues of the Antiquities Projects Fund and a company was assigned three years ago to start the project at costs of LE 3l,9l6,000 provided that it would be completed within 36 months.

Although the deadline came to an end six months ago the implemented work covers only l5 per cent of the total volume.

Meanwhile, Dr Gaballah Ali Gaballah Secretary General SCA has brought about this week a surprise saying that the famous statue of Merit Amon found in Akhmim in l981 did not belong to her but rather to a queen of the l8th dynasty.

It was reused in the age of Ramsis of the l9th dynasty as it was customary at the time to reuse statues of previous dynasties after changing the cartouche and adding new names.

Dr Gaballah said that the artistic features characterising the ll.5 metres high statue bore the sculptural stamp of the age of Akhnaten of the l8th dynasty. Thick lips, almond-like eyes and big bellies prevailed in the age of Amenhoteb Akhnaten's father.

Director of Upper Egyptian Antiquities Dr Yehia Al Masri said that Akhmim, the capital of the 9th Upper Egyptian province had always raised many question marks as to its history especially after the discovery of l3 stone blocks dating back to the Amerna age.

He added that the project to be embarked upon soon would show whether these blocks belong to Akhnaten Temple or had been brought from other temples built by Akhnaten.

Previous Stories:
  5200-Year- old tomb unearthed in khazendaria mountain   (2/12/2002)
  Archaeological committee inspects king Ramses' temple in Akhmim, Sohag   (2/11/2002)
  Akhenaten's sarcophagus finally back home   (2/4/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search