President opens archaeological sites in Qena, Luxor in days

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will open in days several archaeological sites in Qena and Luxor following rejuvenation and preparation for visit, including queen Hatshepsut temple, Hormoheb tomb that dates back to the 18th dynasty era, and the outdoor museum attached to the Karnak temple.

Minister of culture Farouq Hosni said restoration of Hatshepsut temple and its third gallery cost LE 14 million in tandem with the polish archaeological mission.

The minister had toured Sunday the Abu Simbel temple after operating a modern lighting system.

Gaballah Ali Gaballah, secretary-general of the supreme council of antiquities (SCA), said the President will inaugurate the open museum in the Karnak temple which houses several royal galleries, including queen Hatshepsut red gallery.

The Egyptian French centre had started re-installation of this gallery four years ago, he added.

The president will also inaugurate the project to develop Dandara temple, west of the river Nile in Qena, one of the most beautiful upper Egyptian temples that manifest the greatness of the Ptolemaists and their advancement in astronomy.