The pyramid of Menkaure (son of King Khafre) was likely completed in the 26th century BC (Shutterstock)

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism decided to form a scientific committee composed of Egyptian and foreign antiquities specialists to review the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ project to restore and re-cover the Small Pyramid with granite after it sparked controversy that reached the point of ridicule among citizens and experts.

The ministry's statement - Saturday - reported the decision issued "to form a higher scientific committee to review the joint project between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Japanese Waseda University delegation to conduct architectural restoration work for the Pyramid of Menkaure in the pyramid's antiquities area."

According to the statement, the committee is headed by archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass, and includes “a number of senior Egyptian and foreign scholars specializing in antiquities.”

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Waziri, posted on his official Facebook page a short clip explaining the “Menkaure” pyramid restoration project, describing it as “the project of the century.”

He said that the project "represents the re-installation of the granite blocks that represented the outer covering of the Menkaure Pyramid," explaining the progression of the work steps, starting with "a study of the stone blocks, then a survey of the area, a laser scan, and then re-installing the blocks."

Waziri described the project as "it will take 3 years... until it becomes as it was with the ancient Egyptians... and it will be Egypt's gift to the world in the 21st century."

According to the ministry’s statement on Saturday, the formed committee “will, after completing the review of the project, prepare a detailed scientific report on the results of its work, the conclusions of the scientific review it conducted, and take a decision on whether to move forward with the project or not.”

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the only one in Egypt among more than 124 pyramids whose design included an outer covering of granite, according to Waziri.

Argument

The project sparked controversy on social media platforms, and Egyptologist Monica Hanna wrote on her Facebook account, “It is not possible. In fact, what is missing from the restoration of the antiquities is the paving of the Pyramid of Menkaure. Will not the tampering with Egypt’s antiquities end?”

The Egyptian scientist added, "All international conventions in restoration reject this interference in all its forms, and I hope that all university professors in antiquities and restoration will stand against this project immediately."

A Facebook user mocked the project by posting a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy with the comment, “A project to restore the Leaning Tower of Pisa to its existing position.”

Another wrote, "I think we should paint the pyramid instead of paving it, then cover it with wallpaper."

According to Waziri, the date of the fall of these stone blocks that covered the pyramid is unknown, and only seven blocks remain.

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the only one in Egypt among more than 124 pyramids whose design included an outer covering of granite, according to Waziri.

It is noteworthy that the Pyramid of Menkaure was built during the Fourth Dynasty, and it is the last and smallest of the pyramids of Giza. The length of its base side is 108.5 meters, and its height is 66.5 meters. Its entrance is located on the northern side, as was the practice in the Fourth Dynasty. The entrance leads to a descending corridor 31 meters long, which in turn leads to another corridor that leads to the burial chamber, which was constructed of granite stone.

Alexandria Mosque restoration controversy

In addition, the website of the government newspaper Al-Ahram reported - on Saturday - the Alexandria Governorate’s decision to appoint a committee specialized in heritage to investigate what happened in one of the oldest mosques in the coastal city, “Abu Abbas Al-Morsi.”

The newspaper reported that a contractor affiliated with the Endowments Directorate in the governorate was entrusted with restoring the roof of the main mosque, known as “Shakhshikha,” to erase the decorations and colors on it and replace them with white paint.

The Abu Abbas Al-Morsi Mosque is the largest in Alexandria and was built in the year 1775 in memory of the Andalusian sheikh who was buried in the place and the mosque was named after him.

On Friday, the “Diwan Architects” page wrote on Facebook, “The ornaments of the rattles of the Al-Morsi Abu Al-Abbas Mosque in Alexandria were obliterated during its restoration work. We are losing an important artistic element due to assigning the work to unqualified people.”

Source: Agencies