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Treasures of ancient Egypt discovered at bank
The Al-Ahly Bank has recently handed over two hundred ancient Egyptian artifacts that have been sitting in safety deposit boxes for a century.The artifacts were collected by expats and visitors in Egypt and deposited in the bank in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were never recovered and sat untouched for years. The artifacts include Islamic coins and statues of Egyptian deities such as Hathor, pictured here.
Egypt has been fighting for the return of archaeological treasures taken by various countries in the past. Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has spearheaded the fight and got an unexpected victory when the bank announced it had artifacts and was handing them over.
The artifacts are now being studied and will hopefully appear in one of Egypt's museums sometime soon.
[Image courtesy user Néfermaâtvia Wikimedia Commons. This is an image of a Hathor statue from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and not one of the recovered artifacts]
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Africa, Egypt, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Retired Editor Nov 30th 2010 10:41PM
In your first sentence, the correct term is "safe deposit" boxes, not "safety deposit" boxes.
Sean McLachlan Dec 1st 2010 10:44AM
The dictionary lists both variants. You should look it up sometime.
Are you sure you retired and weren't fired?
Retired Editor Dec 3rd 2010 10:47AM
This is a response to Sean McLachlan, who replied to my original comment about the incorrect term "safety deposit" boxes: Some dictionaries list all common variants of a word or term, even if some may be incorrect or make no sense, on the theory that a reader who encounters them for the first time (for example, a foreign student) would be able to look them up and determine the correct term. My Webster's New World Dictionary and Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary both list the term "safe-deposit" as the main entry, with "also safety- deposit" at the end of the definition. That doesn't mean it's correct, just that the term is often seen. My Webster's Third New International Dictionary lists the incorrect term separately, like this: "safety-deposit (adj): SAFE-DEPOSIT" -- i.e., "for the correct term and its definition, see the latter entry." Other dictionaries do not list the incorrect version at all, such as the American Heritage Dictionary and my Scott, Foresman Advanced Dictionary (Doubleday Edition). I will admit to one error in my original post, by failing to add that the term "safe deposit" should be hyphenated when used as a compound adjective for the word "box."
Sean McLachlan Dec 3rd 2010 12:04PM
Wrong.
Bob Nov 30th 2010 9:11PM
I am glad to see those artifacts go back where they belong. Dr. Hawass is a credit to his country, to archaeology, and to all mankind for what he does. Really enjoy his T.V. programs on the History Channel.
el Nov 30th 2010 9:37PM
Dr. Bob Brier is just as extraordinary, if not even more so then Dr.Hawass. I love watching him on television. He is a gifted storyteller of Ancient Egypt and a brilliant and down to earth man.
ELEONORA Nov 30th 2010 9:36PM
I meant to say than not then...sorry
Denisehh Nov 30th 2010 11:00PM
How absolutely EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Edgar Longenecker Nov 30th 2010 11:42PM
I wonder how many King Tuts artifacts, are bogus; for what they could generate in museum tours...? He was an ugly buck toothed, guy, yet, the masks used to imitate him, were sensible looking . Would anyone have dared, making such a depiction;
oh yeah, this is a modification of his face, because he could stop a clock, with that face... And, why hasn't a rubberized mold, been taken of his face, and, blown up, inflated, to show what he really looked like, before years of shrinkage ? Huh...?
fredo Dec 1st 2010 1:30AM
i think that is probably the dumbest post i have ever read. wow. i've read a lot of stupid things, but that is the dumbest. i hope you put no thought or effort into it because you will have wasted time in doing so. i believe i am now less intelligent for reading it.
BTDT Nov 30th 2010 11:55PM
Death will come on swift wings to those who disturb the tomb.
KC Dec 1st 2010 1:00AM
Hee Hee....ahh ahh ughhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhh
stop it Mom!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Kevin Dec 1st 2010 4:20AM
That is why they never came back to pick up their plunder (already dead).
Its obvious, now that you explained it.