Hatshepsut returns to her temple in January

The Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni will open early next month two important archaeological projects in Luxor for tourist visits after the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) finished their restoration and refurbishment with a cost of LE 20 million. SCA Secretary-General Gaballah Ali Gaballah said the first project is relevant to restoration of the third gallery of Queen Hatshepsut's Temple in Luxor in association with the Polish mission.

The refurbishment included removal of the destruction by King Thutmose III during his conflict with Queen Hatshepsut (his sister) over power. The project also involved re-installation of 16 columns, with a statue of the Queen on each of them, and thus returning her to her temple once again after an absence of 3500 years.

Sabri Abdul-Aziz, Director of Upper Egypt Antiquities Department, said another project is relevant to restoration of King Hormoheb's Tomb, which dates back to the 18th Dynasty era. The tomb, 140 meters long, is the longest royal one in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Abdul-Aziz said.