‘Egypt’s Sunken Treasures’ to be exhibited in three European countries

The Board of Directors of the Supreme Council of Antiquities agreed in its last session, chaired by Mamdouh Al-Damaty, Minister of Antiquities, to hold an exhibition entitled the "Secrets of Sunken Egypt" in three European capitals, including Paris and London.

 

The exhibition will run for one year.

 

President of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology Franck Goddio requested holding the exhibition for 600 thousand euros, with the addition of one euro on each ticket after the number of visitors exceeds 100 thousand visitors. 

 

Damaty said in a statement on Tuesday that the Ministry of Antiquities has taken all legal procedures and insurance to protect the effects of the exhibition against any kind of damage, loss, theft, or confiscation including in cases of natural disasters, wars or emergency reasons.

 

"The value of insurance for the exhibition is more than US$150 million," said Damaty.

 

Holding the exhibition in European capitals will promote tourism in Egypt and strengthen cultural ties between Egypt and the European Union countries, in addition to the revenues the exhibition will make in light of the ministry's lack of income in the current period, according to Damaty.

 

Ahmed Sharaf, head of the Museums Sector, said the exhibition will feature 293 artifacts that have been selected from several museums in Egypt. Eighteen pieces will be from the Egyptian Museum, 22 from the Greco-Roman Museum, 31 from the the Alexandria National Museum, and 15 from the Museum of the Library of Alexandria, and 207 pieces from the Department of Underwater Antiquities.

 

Sharaf pointed out that the first exhibition will be at the Arab World Institute in Paris, during the period from 7 September 2015 until 7 January  2016. The exhibition will then move to the Martin-Gropius-Bau museum in Berlin from 15 April until 15 August 2016.

 

It will finally be moved to London as of 15 November 2016 until 15 March 2017.