Friday, March 24, 2006

LE28m to restore Coptic Museum

http://www.algomhuria.net.eg/gazette/2/
President Hosni Mubarak is due to inaugurate the recently renovated Coptic Museum, part of the Religious Complex at Old Cairo, within the next few days. The Museum has been overhauled and restored by the Ministry of Culture and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). 'The Coptic Museum is one of the most important museums in Egypt, as well as internationally. It contains many unique antiquities dating back to early Coptic times. The restoration work was done by top Egyptian and Italian archaeologists,' stressed Minister of Culture Farouq Hosni.SCA Chairman Zahi Hawass said that the old building has been completely restored, including the walls, ceilings, doors and windows. 'A number of new glass displays have been added, with state-of-the-art lighting and security. Meanwhile, restoration work on the new building of the Museum, which opened in 1947, is currently underway.' It consists of 17 showrooms and is linked to the old building by an interior passageway, which is very convenient for visitors," he explained, adding that the inaugural ceremony will include the screening of a documentary about the history of the Museum and an exhibition of rare photos. There will also be a book containing the names everyone involved in the restoration. The upgrading of the Coptic Museum, founded by Morqos Pasha in 1908, has hit LE28 million, including better security in the showrooms; improving the gardens surrounding it and the creation of a data centre and lab for restoration work."

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