Egyptians still chip away at rocks used for building in Pharaonic times

Record ID: 1369035

  • Title: Egyptians still chip away at rocks used for building in Pharaonic times
  • Date: 19th December 2018
  • Summary: LUXOR, EGYPT (RECENT - NOVEMBER 25, 2018) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEN CARVING AND SANDING SURFACE OF ALABASTER MAN SANDING ALABASTER MEN WORKING ON ALABASTER ARTEFACTS VARIOUS OF MAN CARVING ALABASTER ROCK ALABASTER ITEMS VARIOUS OF MAN DRAWING PHARAONIC IMAGES ON ALABASTER PLATES VARIOUS OF MAN SMOOTHING EDGES OF ALABASTER STATUETTES OF CAT VARIOUS OF ALABASTER HANDIWORK ON DISPLAY IN SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALABASTER MAKER AND SHOP OWNER, ABDALLAH, SAYING: "The Alabaster industry is declining because there is no care, there is no tourism. Tourism is, of course, very reduced. Instead of, for example, trading ten pieces, we trade two pieces. There is no financial support for me to be able to do the job and sustain the work. If I do not sustain this job, how will I eat?" MAN CARVING ROCK WITH TOOL TOOL TURNING MAN TURNING TOOL VARIOUS OF MAN SMOOTHENING EDGES OF CAT STATUETTES FINISHED STATUETTES PLACED ON GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALABASTER MAKER AND SHOP OWNER, ABDALLAH, SAYING: "It has been long, we found our grandparents doing this work and we worked in it and will continue to do so. No matter how much time passes, we still find ourselves doing this job. This type of rock is not something alien to us. We use this type of rock like a paste in our hands. No matter how rough it is, we still know how to use it." ALABASTER ITEMS ON DISPLAY AT SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALABASTER MAKER, ASHRAF MOHAMED EL-HAWY, SAYING: "The alabaster (industry) is the historical heritage that needs a lifeline to be saved. Why? Because when they (excavators) needed to take up the arts, they took up everything, but they left the alabaster behind, so it (alabaster) was wronged from that point onwards. They talked about everything, all the ancient artefacts and heritage but the alabaster is one of the things that are totally forgotten." PILE OF ALABASTER ROCKS VARIOUS OF MAN CARVING ALABASTER STATUETTE VARIOUS OF ABDALLAH WORKING FINISHED ALABASTER WORKS PLACED NEXT TO PIECES OF ALABASTER ROCKS VARIOUS ALABASTER HANDIWORK AND STATUES ON DISPLAY LUXOR, EGYPT (RECENT - NOVEMBER 24, 2018) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND TEMPLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS STANDING AROUND TWO COFFINS OPEN SARCOPHAGUS EGYPT'S MINISTER OF ANTIQUITIES, KHALED AL-ANANY, CHECKING SARCOPHAGUS ANCIENT SARCOPHAGUS ON TABLE ARCHAEOLOGISTS STANDING AROUND SARCOPHAGUS VARIOUS OF SMALL STATUES VARIOUS OF WALL PAINTINGS EXTERIOR OF HATSHEPSUT TEMPLE
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2019 08:58
  • Keywords: Egyptian statuettes Egyptian monuments ancient Egyptian heritage Luxor Pharaohs Egyptian temples Egyptian tombs
  • Location: LUXOR, EGYPT
  • City: LUXOR, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Living / Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0019BM1Q3B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: It takes several months and the labour of 10 craftsmen to produce one intricate replica of a Pharaonic sculpture out of alabaster, a craft whose artisans say is no longer reaping them the rewards it once did.
    In a small village located in the western bank of Egypt's ancient city of Luxor, works Abdallah who has been in the once flourishing alabaster industry for nearly 25 years.
    He runs a workshop where alabaster statuettes are made but is struggling to make ends meet. When more tourists made their way to his city some seven years ago, he used to sell 10 pieces per day.
    But the hit tourism took since 2011, coupled with a currency float in late 2016, have affected his work. Today, Abdallah can hardly sell two items in one day.
    "There is no financial support for me to be able to do the job and sustain the work. If I do not sustain this job, how will I eat?" he asked.
    Despite the hardships, Abdallah said his passion for the ancient craft pushes him to continue. Picking up a chisel to sharpen a piece of alabaster comforts him.
    The rocks are usually brought from quarries in the nearby governorates of Bani Suef, Sohag, Assuit and Qena. They are moved to the workshops in Luxor, where they are cut into smaller structures, shaped, heated at very high temperatures and polished before they are finally carved into detailed statues and vases, of various shapes and sizes.
    Craftsman, Ashraf El-Hawy, says the rock has been a significant part of ancient Egyptian heritage.
    Ancient sculptors used alabaster to create artefacts that were usually offered to the Gods. It was also used to build the shiny floors of ancient temples.
    But the rock is underrated, Hawy said, blaming foreign excavators for not highlighting its importance in the ancient Egyptian culture.
    "They took up everything, but they left the alabaster behind, so it (alabaster) was wronged from that point onwards," he said.
    The skilled craftsman has very ambitious plans for the ailing industry, including the building of an entire temple from alabaster only, but he bemoans the lack of state support.
    The price of one alabaster item made in the workshops in Luxor starts at 50 Egyptian pounds ($2.8) and goes all the way up to a few thousand, depending on its size.
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