Arish Citadel still waits caring hand to revive its magnificence

Despite efforts exerted to restore Egyptian monuments especially in archaeologically-rich areas there are many sites across the country that still suffer negligence and are in need of upgrading.

In order to preserve these treasures they have to be incorporated in long-term plans since they constitute a major feature of the Egyptian identity.

The Arish Citadel which goes back to the pharaonic age is among these sites.The part existing above the ground has almost turned to ruins, while there is a great part of it still under the ground, needing excavation.

In old times the citadel used to be a great defence spot on the eastern borders. It is also located on a spot that represents the meeting point of the commercial convoys coming from Syria.

Moreover it represented the linking chain on the route of Arab convoys whether commercial or cultural. Owing to the movement of these convoys to the Nile Valley from the Arab peninsula and Syria, the Arabic language has become in use in Egypt even before the Islamic conquest of Egypt.

The market held on the spot every Thursday is now the main obstacle facing the Supreme Council of Antiquities to start excavation. It is unacceptable that the Citadel remain buried under the ground at a time when Al Arish has become a major city under the national project for the development of Sinai.

Arish is planned to be a trade, tourist and economic capital for North Sinai and the Suez Canal region by 20l7. Therefore it has become a necessity to rediscover the features of the old Arish and to move the market elsewhere so that excavations could be launched.

The situation has been deadlocked for a long time now and the SCA is content with providing the Citadel site with barbed wire.

Another site that yearns for the intervention of archaeologists is Hawara Pyramid (Imnemhat III), which was opened by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority in l994 although it was discovered by a foreign excavator l08 years ago.

The surprise that stunned members of the Egyptian team is that underground water fills the pyramid from inside and is only three metres from the entrance.

For eight years now officials at the Supreme Council for Antiquities release statements every now and then about studies conducted to get rid of the water.

But nothing of the sort has taken place so far to protect the pyramid, which was described by its discoverer, Flander, as exceeding the Giza pyramids in beauty and accuracy of design.

The pyramid, found in Fayum, was built by Imnemhat III of the l2th dynasty with sun-dried brick covered with lime stone.The length of each side of the pyramid base is l00 metres while the pyramid itself is 73 metres high.

The rooms were established from the inside of solid stone, while the burial chamber was found to be made of a single mass of transparent yellow quartzite that weighs l00 tons.

The pyramid is different from other pyramids in that its entrance is on the southern rather than the northern side and its chamber opens upwards ? to protect it from plundering?unlike the pyramids built by the kings of the Old Kingdom.