Al-Sisi stressed that the cemetery will include a museum of works of art and archeology found in the current cemeteries, on the condition that it be transferred by specialists and experts, so that the museum includes “the biographies of the greats of the country and their property. ”
Ongoing construction works in Egypt, with the aim of developing Cairo and its surroundings, have raised fears of damage to ancient tombs and created a controversy that has been reflected on social media platforms.
And the chief archaeologist of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Magdi Shaker, believes that “the cemetery of the immortals must take into account a number of important requirements, such as moving the urban component of the cemetery with the remains, in order to for it to be an integrated cultural city.”
Shaker continued, in his interview with “Sky News Arabia”, that “Egypt did almost the same thing in the sixties of the last century, when about 16 temples were moved with all their historical tombs during this period”.
He pointed out that “a number of countries, such as Greece and France, have cities of the same shape and take advantage of them to promote tourism, so we must take advantage of their experiences”.
The expert said: “I hope there will be a theater and a large library for the works of these symbols, and their historical era will be remodeled in a modern technological way. The tombs should also be moved with the same architectural elements, and not counting on a new building so as not to lose their value.”
Shaker stressed the need to “take care of the same arrangement of the cemeteries in the present situation, and not to be far from Cairo”, and that “the presence of a museum in the city is very important, in which some of the the assets brought by the family of the deceased are displayed, so that it is an integrated cultural city.”
He continued, “If we could transfer 70% of the architectural elements, that would be wonderful and distinctive, and there are modern ways to implement that.”
He considered that “the governorate of Giza is the most suitable place for the establishment of the city, because this region was known in ancient Egypt as the world of the dead”.
Cemetery Details
The official spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic, Ahmed Fahmy, said that this stems “from Egypt’s concern to properly appreciate its historical symbols and ancient heritage”. A committee will be formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, comprising all the authorities concerned, specialized archaeologists and technical study offices, to assess the situation regarding the transfer of the tombs. The committee will announce its recommendations to the public before next July 1st.
Read the Latest World News Today on The Eastern Herald.
