The Museums targeted by looters intent on plundering the nation's priceless archaeological treasures.
Soldiers have detained scores of people caught trying to break into the famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo, with several exhibits damaged.
Amid fears that the chaos sweeping the city could engulf the nation's heritage, the military has stationed snipers on the roof of the museum, with dozens of troops patrolling its grounds.
A military general said soldiers arrested about 35 men trying to break into the building on Sunday, and another 15 yesterday.
While the majority of the museum was not damaged in the incident, there were signs of an earlier break-in. On the second floor, one case containing a gold trinket, two small rods and other small artefacts was broken, and another case was smashed on the first floor.
The cases were next to the gated room containing the gold funeral mask of King Tutankhamun, an artefact which draws millions of tourists a year. The damage was also evident in the museum's gift shop, with broken glass, souvenirs and postcards littering the ground.
Zahi Hawass, Egypt's antiquities chief, toured the complex yesterday and expressed confidence it was sufficiently protected.
Mr Hawass, who was appointed minister of state antiquities yesterday as part of the cabinet reshuffle, said: "If the museum is safe, Egypt is safe."
Looters were able to break into the museum on Friday, ripping the heads off two mummies and damaging about 75 small artefacts before soldiers caught them. Mr Hawass said the broken artefacts could be restored.
Museum director Tarek El Awady said the thieves appeared to be looking for gold, and did not understand the value of other artefacts.
The museum houses thousands of objects spanning the full sweep of Egypt's rich pharaonic history.
Amid fears that the chaos sweeping the city could engulf the nation's heritage, the military has stationed snipers on the roof of the museum, with dozens of troops patrolling its grounds.
A military general said soldiers arrested about 35 men trying to break into the building on Sunday, and another 15 yesterday.
While the majority of the museum was not damaged in the incident, there were signs of an earlier break-in. On the second floor, one case containing a gold trinket, two small rods and other small artefacts was broken, and another case was smashed on the first floor.
The cases were next to the gated room containing the gold funeral mask of King Tutankhamun, an artefact which draws millions of tourists a year. The damage was also evident in the museum's gift shop, with broken glass, souvenirs and postcards littering the ground.
Zahi Hawass, Egypt's antiquities chief, toured the complex yesterday and expressed confidence it was sufficiently protected.
Mr Hawass, who was appointed minister of state antiquities yesterday as part of the cabinet reshuffle, said: "If the museum is safe, Egypt is safe."
Looters were able to break into the museum on Friday, ripping the heads off two mummies and damaging about 75 small artefacts before soldiers caught them. Mr Hawass said the broken artefacts could be restored.
Museum director Tarek El Awady said the thieves appeared to be looking for gold, and did not understand the value of other artefacts.
The museum houses thousands of objects spanning the full sweep of Egypt's rich pharaonic history.
The Egyptian Museum was first built in Boulak. In 1891, it was moved to Giza Palace of "Ismail Pasha" which housed the antiquities that were later moved to the present building. The Egyptian Museum is situated at Tahrir square in Cairo. It was built during the reign of Khedive Abbass Helmi II in 1897, and opened on November 15, 1902. It has 107 halls and more than 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. At the ground floor there are the huge statues. The upper floor houses small statues, jewels, Tutankhamon treasures and the mummies.
The museum's Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, was closed on the orders of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was reopened, with a slightly curtailed display of New Kingdom kings and queens in 1985. Today there are about 9 mummies displayed. One of them is the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut.
The Museum also comprises a photography section and a large library. The Egyptian museum comprises many sections arranged in chronological order.
The museum's Royal Mummy Room, containing 27 royal mummies from pharaonic times, was closed on the orders of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. It was reopened, with a slightly curtailed display of New Kingdom kings and queens in 1985. Today there are about 9 mummies displayed. One of them is the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut.
The Museum also comprises a photography section and a large library. The Egyptian museum comprises many sections arranged in chronological order.
- The first section houses Tutankhamon’s treasures.
- The second section houses the pre-dynasty and the Old Kingdom monuments.
- The third section houses the first intermediate period and the Middle Kingdom monuments.
- The forth section houses the monuments of the Modern Kingdom.
- The fifth section houses the monuments of the late period and the Greek and Roman periods.
- The sixth section houses coins and papyrus.
- The seventh section houses sarcophagi and scrabs.
A hall for the royal mummies was opened at the museum, housing eleven kings and queens. More than a million and half tourists visit the museum annually, in addition to half a million Egyptians.
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