Egyptians are expressing intense outrage following revelations that a priceless 3,000-year-old bracelet, once owned by the ancient Pharaoh Amenemope, has been stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and subsequently melted down for gold. The announcement, made by Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy in a televised address, disclosed that the theft took place on September 9 while museum officials were in the process of preparing artifacts for an upcoming exhibition in Italy.
In his comments, Minister Fathy attributed the incident to “laxity” in adhering to security protocols at the museum, emphasizing that an investigation by prosecutors is currently underway. The bracelet, which notably features a lapis lazuli bead and is an artifact from a time long past, was taken from a restoration lab within the museum, which reportedly lacks security camera coverage.
The investigation has led to the arrest of four suspects, including a restoration specialist employed at the museum. The Interior Ministry revealed that this specialist confessed to having transferred the bracelet to an acquaintance who owns a silver shop in Cairo’s Sayyeda Zainab district. This acquaintance then sold the bracelet to the proprietor of a gold workshop for approximately US$3,800. Ultimately, the bracelet was resold for around US$4,000 to another worker at a different gold workshop who melted it down to fabricate new gold jewelry.
This incident has not only raised questions about the security measures in place at one of the world’s most renowned museums but also sparked a national conversation about the protection of Egypt’s invaluable cultural heritage. The theft of such a significant historical artifact has left many people outraged, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced in preserving the country’s rich archaeological treasures.
